METHOD, COMPOSITIONS AND DEVICES FOR ADMINISTRATION OF NAKEDPOLYNUCLEOTIDES WHICH ENCODE BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE PEPTIDES

摘要

The invention encompasses methods of introducing biologically active peptide s into a host (particularly for vaccination or transitor y expression of a therapeutic peptide) or administration of polynucleotides wh ich operatively encode for the peptide. In most embodime nts, the polynucleotides are naked in the sense that they are neither complexed t o colloidal preparations such as liposomes or associated with a genomic integrating vector. In one embodiment, the naked polynucleotides are administered to host tissues which have a high concentr ation of antigen presenting cells in them relative to other host tissues. It is be lieved that the polynucleotides are taken up and express ed locally, systemically and/or at locations remote from their point of entry i n the host. In another embodiment, the polynucleotides e xpress peptides which are effective in retarding, treating and preventing age-assoc iated illnesses and loss of disease resistance in mammal s. In this embodiment, subtherapeutic levels of the peptides are expressed at appropria te stages of the host's development. Devices and composi tions for use in the methods of the invention are also described.