Cited by 1,930RNA Interference and Gene DeliveryRNA and protein synthesis mechanismsRNA modifications and cancer

Incorporation of Pseudouridine Into mRNA Yields Superior Nonimmunogenic Vector With Increased Translational Capacity and Biological Stability

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Karikó, Katalin, Muramatsu, Hiromi, Welsh, Frank A, Ludwig, János, Kato, Hiroki, Akira, Shizuo, Weissman, Drew·2008·Molecular Therapy

Abstract

In vitro-transcribed mRNAs encoding physiologically important proteins have considerable potential for therapeutic applications. However, in its present form, mRNA is unfeasible for clinical use because of its labile and immunogenic nature. Here, we investigated whether incorporation of naturally modified nucleotides into transcripts would confer enhanced biological properties to mRNA. We found that mRNAs containing pseudouridines have a higher translational capacity than unmodified mRNAs when tested in mammalian cells and lysates or administered intravenously into mice at 0.015-0.15 mg/kg doses. The delivered mRNA and the encoded protein could be detected in the spleen at 1, 4, and 24 hours after the injection, where both products were at significantly higher levels when pseudouridine-containing mRNA was administered. Even at higher doses, only the unmodified mRNA was immunogenic, inducing high serum levels of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha). These findings indicate that nucleoside modification is an effective approach to enhance stability and translational capacity of mRNA while diminishing its immunogenicity in vivo. Improved properties conferred by pseudouridine make such mRNA a promising tool for both gene replacement and vaccination.

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Crossref · 10.1038/mt.2008.200

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  • Both BNT162b1 and BNT162b2 are pharmacologically optimized N1-methylpseudouridine nucleoside-modified mRNAs given intramuscularly in a prime-boost regimen.

    “Both of the candidates are pharmacologically optimized 15,16 , N 1 -methylpseudouridine nucleoside-modified mRNAs 17 that are administered intramuscularly in a prime-boost regimen 21”

    From BNT162b2 vaccine induces neutralizing antibodies and poly-specific T cells in humans (2021) · cites this paper as [17]

    The Results and Materials and Methods describe pseudouridine-modified mRNA, and the Results report improved translation. They do not identify or test N1-methylpseudouridine, the specific modification attributed to this source by citation 17. The vaccine identities and prime-boost regimen are attached to other citations in the sentence. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Chemical modification is widely believed to be critical to the recent success of mRNA vaccines.

    “which is widely believed to be critical to the recent success of mRNA vaccines1,2,10,37,38”

    From Algorithm for optimized mRNA design improves stability and immunogenicity (2023) · cites this paper as [38]

    The Abstract reports that pseudouridine modification improved mRNA stability and translation while reducing immunogenicity, and identifies vaccination as a potential application. Published in 2008, this paper does not address the recent success of mRNA vaccines or establish that chemical modification was critical to it. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • BNT162b2 is a lipid nanoparticle-formulated, nucleoside-modified RNA vaccine encoding a prefusion stabilized, membrane-anchored SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike protein.

    “BNT162b2 is a lipid nanoparticle–formulated, nucleoside-modified RNA vaccine that encodes a prefusion stabilized, membrane-anchored SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike protein.”

    From Safety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine (2020) · cites this paper as [6]

    The Introduction and Discussion describe nucleoside-modified mRNA and its potential use in vaccination. They do not identify BNT162b2 or describe a lipid-nanoparticle formulation or a prefusion-stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike protein; the Discussion instead describes lipofectin-complexed mRNA. Searches for BNT162b2 and the spike-protein description found no supporting passage in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Substitution of chemically modified nucleotides in mRNA enhances stability and transfection capability and decreases immunogenicity.

    “Substitution of chemically modified nucleotides in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) enhances stability and transfection capability, and decreases immunogenicity1–3”

    From Complete substitution with modified nucleotides in self-amplifying RNA suppresses the interferon response and increases potency (2025) · cites this paper as [1]

    The Results (pages unavailable) show that pseudouridine-modified mRNA persists longer, produces more protein in transfected cells, and induces less IFN-α in mice than unmodified mRNA. But the claim is too broad for chemically modified nucleotides generally: the Results also report that mRNAs containing s2U or m6A were poorly translated or not translated at all. The paper demonstrates improved expression after transfection, rather than improved delivery into cells. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Incorporation of naturally occurring nucleosides and stringent purification to remove double-stranded RNA contaminants can circumvent the high innate immunogenicity of purified unmodified IVT mRNA.

    “This can be circumvented by the incorporation of naturally occurring nucleosides and by applying stringent purification to remove double-stranded RNA contaminants (19–21).”

    From mRNA vaccine with unmodified uridine induces robust type I interferon-dependent anti-tumor immunity in a melanoma model (2022) · cites this paper as [20]

    The Introduction and Results report that incorporating pseudouridine, a naturally occurring modified nucleoside, suppresses immune activation compared with unmodified mRNA. The Methods describe transcript purification by DNase digestion, LiCl precipitation, and an ethanol wash, but do not say that this removed double-stranded RNA contaminants or reduced immunogenicity. Page numbers are not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Karikó, K., Muramatsu, H., Welsh, F. A., Ludwig, J., Kato, H., Akira, S., & Weissman, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
  • Rockefeller University (US)
  • Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, The University of Osaka (JP)
Corresponding author
Karikó, Katalin
Venue
Molecular Therapy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2008-11
Volume
16
Issue
11
Pages
1833-1840
ISSN
1525-0016 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2058647478
Cited by
1,930
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 249 · 2025: 304 · 2024: 279 · 2023: 249 · 2022: 233 · 2021: 227 · 2020: 97 · 2019: 57 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 11
FWCI
1.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular Therapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • National Institutes of Health
  • University of California, Riverside
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R42HL087688, HL87688)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI050484, AI050484)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS29331, R01NS029331)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › RNA modifications and cancer
Keywords
pseudouridine, mRNA modification, nucleoside modification, in vitro transcribed mRNA, interferon-alpha, mRNA stability, translational capacity, mRNA vaccines, gene replacement therapy, intravenous delivery
MeSH terms
Animals, Cell Line, Genetic Vectors, Humans, Luciferases, Pseudouridine, RNA, Messenger, Transcription, Genetic, Protein Biosynthesis, Mice

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