An unintended immune response occurred in one third of the patients who received the mRNA Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19, but with no ill-effects.
Nucleotide modifications in mRNA-based therapeutics can cause +1 ribosomal frameshifting, leading to the production of unintended proteins and potential immune responses.
Researchers have redesigned mRNA sequences to avoid these off-target effects, enhancing the safety of future mRNA-based therapeutics.
Recent studies have highlighted a potential challenge in mRNA therapeutics, where nucleotide modifications can cause +1 ribosomal frameshifting during translation. This process can result in the production of unintended proteins, which may trigger immune responses. This discovery has significant implications for the future of mRNA-based therapeutics, as it could potentially lead to off-target effects.
Researchers from the Medical Research Council (MRC) Toxicology Unit have found that repeats of a chemical modification commonly found in mRNA therapeutics can lead to this unintended protein production. In response to this discovery, the researchers have redesigned mRNA sequences to avoid these effects, enhancing the safety of future mRNA-based therapeutics.
The study also found that an unintended immune response occurred in one third of the patients who received the mRNA Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19, but with no ill-effects. This finding further underscores the importance of understanding and mitigating potential off-target effects in mRNA therapeutics.
The researchers' solution to this challenge involves correcting the error-prone genetic sequences in the synthetic mRNA. By doing so, they were able to produce the intended protein without triggering off-target immune responses. This approach could significantly enhance the safety and efficacy of future mRNA treatments.
These findings represent a significant step forward in the field of mRNA therapeutics. By identifying and addressing potential off-target effects, researchers can ensure the safety and efficacy of these treatments, paving the way for their broader use in the medical field.
The study found that an unintended immune response occurred in one third of the patients who received the mRNA Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19, but with no ill-effects.
A study has found that nucleotide modifications in mRNA-based therapeutics can cause +1 ribosomal frameshifting during translation, resulting in products that can trigger immune responses.