Researchers have identified an 18-digit code that enables proteins to connect with exosomes—tiny cellular fragments that circulate throughout the body and transmit biochemical signals. This breakthrough could significantly advance the emerging area of exosome therapy, which aims to utilize exosomes for drug delivery in treating various illnesses.
A team from The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa has uncovered an 18-digit code that helps proteins attach to exosomes—minuscule pieces of cells that travel through the body and carry biochemical messages. This finding, detailed in Science Advances, holds considerable promise for the growing field of exosome therapy, which focuses on using exosomes to transport medications for different diseases.
“Proteins act as the body’s natural drugs, but they often struggle to move effectively throughout the body,” explained Dr. Michael Rudnicki, the study’s senior author and the Director of the Regenerative Medicine Program at The Ottawa Hospital, as well as a Professor at the University of Ottawa. “This discovery enables us to leverage exosomes for the distribution of any protein throughout the body. It paves the way for a new realm of drug development.”
Dr. Rudnicki’s team pinpointed the exosome-targeting code within a protein named Wnt7a, which is essential for processes like development, growth, regeneration, and cancer progression. They began by demonstrating that Wnt7a could attach to exosomes. Subsequently, they removed different segments of the Wnt7a protein to isolate the smallest segment responsible for this exosome binding. This segment, composed of 18 amino acids, was designated as the Exosome Binding Peptide (EBP). They further revealed that the EBP binds with proteins known as Coatomers present on exosomes, allowing EBP to guide any protein to exosomes.
“For many years, researchers have sought to convert Wnt7a into a drug for muscle regeneration, but delivering Wnt7a throughout the body has proven challenging due to its fatty molecular coating that doesn’t combine well with bodily fluids,” commented Dr. Uxia Gurriaran-Rodriguez, the study’s first author and a former postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Rudnicki’s lab, currently affiliated with the Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE) in Spain. “With the understanding of how Wnt7a connects with exosomes, we have addressed this issue and can now expedite the creation of treatments for severe conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy.”
Exosomes have emerged as a vital focus for academic institutions and biopharmaceutical companies alike, with DelveInsight forecasting substantial growth in this domain. The Ottawa Hospital, along with the University of Ottawa and other collaborators, is at the forefront of integrating exosomes with proteins, RNA, and various biomolecules to innovate new therapies. The Ottawa Hospital’s Biotherapeutics Manufacturing Centre will remain crucial in advancing this promising area of life science innovation for the benefit of patients.
