Importance

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Abstract

Disclosed herein are is a leukocyte-selective delivery agent comprising, a targeting moiety that selectively binds LFA-I, a protein carrier moiety covalently linked to the targeting moiety, and a therapeutic agent associated with the carrier moiety. The delivery agent may be further selective for activated leukocytes, wherein the targeting moiety selectively binds LFA-I in its activated conformation. The targeting moiety comprises an antibody or functional fragment thereof, such as an scFV. Examples of antibodies or fragments thereof which selectively bind LFA-I activated conformation bind to the locked open I domain of LFA-I, or binds to the leg domain of the β2 subunit of LFA-I ((ILP2)—The antibody or functional fragment thereof may alternatively bind non-selectively to both low affinity and high affinity LFA-I. Examples of a non-protein carrier are a basic polypeptide such as protamine or a functional fragment thereof. One such fragment is RSQSRSRYYRQRQRSRRRRRRS. The therapeutic agent may comprise one or more of a nucleic acid, a small molecule, a polypeptide, and an antibody or functional fragment thereof. An example of a nucleic acid delivery agent comprises an RNA interference molecule. Examples of RNA interference molecules are siRNA, dsRNA, StRNA, shRNA, miRNA, and combinations thereof. Specific siRNAs are provided. Other examples of a nucleic acid delivery agent are a small RNA, an antagomir, an LNA, and an antisense oligonucleotide. Methods for leukocyte-selective delivery, or activated leukocyte-selective delivery in vivo, in vitro and ex vivo are also provided.

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First Claim