In vivo mRNA delivery to virus-specific T cells by light-induced ligand exchange of MHC class I antigen-presenting nanoparticles

Simultaneous delivery of mRNA to multiple populations of antigen (Ag)-specific CD8(+) T cells is challenging given the diversity of peptide epitopes and polymorphism of class I major histocompatibility complexes (MHCI). We developed Ag-presenting nanoparticles (APNs) for mRNA delivery using pMHCI molecules that were refolded with photocleavable peptides to allow rapid ligand exchange by UV light and site-specifically conjugated with a lipid tail for postinsertion into preformed mRNA lipid nanoparticles. Across different TCR transgenic mouse models (P14, OT-1, and Pmel), UV-exchanged APNs bound and transfected their cognate Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells equivalent to APNs produced using conventionally refolded pMHCI molecules. In mice infected with PR8 influenza, multi-plexed delivery of UV-exchanged APNs against three immunodominant epitopes led to similar to 50% transfection of a VHH mRNA reporter in cognate Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells. Our data show that UV-mediated peptide exchange can be used to rapidly produce APNs for mRNA delivery to multiple populations of Ag-specific T cells in vivo.

Automated summary

In this study, we developed Ag-presenting nanoparticles (APNs) for mRNA delivery to multiple populations of antigen-specific CD8(+) T cells using UV-mediated peptide exchange and site-specific conjugation with lipid tails. The data demonstrate the successful transfection of cognate Ag-specific CD8(+) T cells with UV-exchanged APNs.