Spleen-Targeted mRNA Nanoparticles for Modulating B Cell Hyperactivation in Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

Abstract

Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapies have emerged as a revolutionary strategy for treating various diseases. In autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), targeted mRNA delivery provides a potential intervention to modulate immune responses. However, achieving specific and efficient in vivo modulation of immune regulators, such as the inhibitory Fc gamma receptor, FcγRIIB, on B cells remains challenging. In this study, lipid polymer nanoparticles (LPNs) formulated with AMB-POC18 lipidoid and poly(ethylene glycol)-block-polylactide (PEG-PLA) are engineered to deliver FcγRIIB mRNA (mFcγRIIB) specifically to splenic B cells for RA treatment. Protein corona analysis indicated that selective adsorption of complement C3 on the LPNs' surface facilitated their targeted delivery to the spleen, enhancing transfection efficiency in B cells following intravenous administration. In a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model, mFcγRIIB/LPNs effectively upregulated FcγRIIB expression in splenic B cells, significantly reducing autoimmune responses and alleviating RA symptoms. Further mechanistic studies elucidated that increased FcγRIIB expression suppressed B cell activation via the FcγRIIB/Lyn/SHP-1 signaling pathway. This work underscored the potential of the spleen-targeted mRNA delivery system for RA therapy, providing a precise and targeted approach to modulate B cell activity and mitigate autoimmune diseases.