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Qin M, Deng C, Wen L, Luo G, Meng Y. CRISPR-Cas and CRISPR-based screening system for precise gene editing and targeted cancer therapy. J Transl Med 2024; 22:516. [PMID: 38816739 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05235-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Target cancer therapy has been developed for clinical cancer treatment based on the discovery of CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) -Cas system. This forefront and cutting-edge scientific technique improves the cancer research into molecular level and is currently widely utilized in genetic investigation and clinical precision cancer therapy. In this review, we summarized the genetic modification by CRISPR/Cas and CRISPR screening system, discussed key components for successful CRISPR screening, including Cas enzymes, guide RNA (gRNA) libraries, target cells or organs. Furthermore, we focused on the application for CAR-T cell therapy, drug target, drug screening, or drug selection in both ex vivo and in vivo with CRISPR screening system. In addition, we elucidated the advantages and potential obstacles of CRISPR system in precision clinical medicine and described the prospects for future genetic therapy.In summary, we provide a comprehensive and practical perspective on the development of CRISPR/Cas and CRISPR screening system for the treatment of cancer defects, aiming to further improve the precision and accuracy for clinical treatment and individualized gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Qin
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Foshan Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University (Foshan Women and Children Hospital), Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China
- Department of Developmental Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Chunhao Deng
- Chinese Medicine and Translational Medicine R&D center, Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519031, China
| | - Liewei Wen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, China
| | - Guoqun Luo
- Reproductive Medical Center, Affiliated Foshan Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University (Foshan Women and Children Hospital), Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China.
| | - Ya Meng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People's Hospital, Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519000, China.
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2
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Lazzarotto CR, Katta V, Li Y, Urbina E, Lee G, Tsai SQ. CHANGE-seq-BE enables simultaneously sensitive and unbiased in vitro profiling of base editor genome-wide activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.28.586621. [PMID: 38585919 PMCID: PMC10996588 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.28.586621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Base editors ( BE ) enable programmable conversion of nucleotides in genomic DNA without double-stranded breaks and have substantial promise to become new transformative genome editing medicines. Sensitive and unbiased detection of base editor off-target effects is important for identifying safety risks unique to base editors and translation to human therapeutics, as well as accurate use in life sciences research. However, current methods for understanding the global activities of base editors have limitations in terms of sensitivity or bias. Here we present CHANGE-seq-BE, a novel method to directly assess the off-target profile of base editors that is simultaneously sensitive and unbiased. CHANGE-seq-BE is based on the principle of selective sequencing of adenine base editor modified genomic DNA in vitro , and provides an accessible, rapid, and comprehensive method for identifying genome-wide off-target mutations of base editors.
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3
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Davis JR, Banskota S, Levy JM, Newby GA, Wang X, Anzalone AV, Nelson AT, Chen PJ, Hennes AD, An M, Roh H, Randolph PB, Musunuru K, Liu DR. Efficient prime editing in mouse brain, liver and heart with dual AAVs. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:253-264. [PMID: 37142705 PMCID: PMC10869272 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01758-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Realizing the promise of prime editing for the study and treatment of genetic disorders requires efficient methods for delivering prime editors (PEs) in vivo. Here we describe the identification of bottlenecks limiting adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated prime editing in vivo and the development of AAV-PE vectors with increased PE expression, prime editing guide RNA stability and modulation of DNA repair. The resulting dual-AAV systems, v1em and v3em PE-AAV, enable therapeutically relevant prime editing in mouse brain (up to 42% efficiency in cortex), liver (up to 46%) and heart (up to 11%). We apply these systems to install putative protective mutations in vivo for Alzheimer's disease in astrocytes and for coronary artery disease in hepatocytes. In vivo prime editing with v3em PE-AAV caused no detectable off-target effects or significant changes in liver enzymes or histology. Optimized PE-AAV systems support the highest unenriched levels of in vivo prime editing reported to date, facilitating the study and potential treatment of diseases with a genetic component.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie R Davis
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samagya Banskota
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan M Levy
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xiao Wang
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew V Anzalone
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew T Nelson
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peter J Chen
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Andrew D Hennes
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Meirui An
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Heejin Roh
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peyton B Randolph
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kiran Musunuru
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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4
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Torella L, Klermund J, Bilbao-Arribas M, Tamayo I, Andrieux G, Chmielewski KO, Vales A, Olagüe C, Moreno-Luqui D, Raimondi I, Abad A, Torrens-Baile J, Salido E, Huarte M, Hernaez M, Boerries M, Cathomen T, Zabaleta N, Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza G. Efficient and safe therapeutic use of paired Cas9-nickases for primary hyperoxaluria type 1. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:112-131. [PMID: 38182795 PMCID: PMC10897483 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00008-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic use of adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)-mediated gene disruption using CRISPR-Cas9 is limited by potential off-target modifications and the risk of uncontrolled integration of vector genomes into CRISPR-mediated double-strand breaks. To address these concerns, we explored the use of AAV-delivered paired Staphylococcus aureus nickases (D10ASaCas9) to target the Hao1 gene for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1). Our study demonstrated effective Hao1 gene disruption, a significant decrease in glycolate oxidase expression, and a therapeutic effect in PH1 mice. The assessment of undesired genetic modifications through CIRCLE-seq and CAST-Seq analyses revealed neither off-target activity nor chromosomal translocations. Importantly, the use of paired-D10ASaCas9 resulted in a significant reduction in AAV integration at the target site compared to SaCas9 nuclease. In addition, our study highlights the limitations of current analytical tools in characterizing modifications introduced by paired D10ASaCas9, necessitating the development of a custom pipeline for more accurate characterization. These results describe a positive advance towards a safe and effective potential long-term treatment for PH1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Torella
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Julia Klermund
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Bilbao-Arribas
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ibon Tamayo
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- Bioinformatics Core, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Geoffroy Andrieux
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kay O Chmielewski
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Africa Vales
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Cristina Olagüe
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Daniel Moreno-Luqui
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ivan Raimondi
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Amaya Abad
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Julen Torrens-Baile
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Eduardo Salido
- Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Universidad La Laguna, CIBERER, 38320, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Maite Huarte
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Mikel Hernaez
- IdISNA, Navarra Institute for Health Research, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
- Bioinformatics Core, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Nerea Zabaleta
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, 02114, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Gloria Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza
- DNA & RNA Medicine Division, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008, Pamplona, Spain.
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5
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Tsai HH, Kao HJ, Kuo MW, Lin CH, Chang CM, Chen YY, Chen HH, Kwok PY, Yu AL, Yu J. Whole genomic analysis reveals atypical non-homologous off-target large structural variants induced by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5183. [PMID: 37626063 PMCID: PMC10457329 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40901-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing has promising therapeutic potential for genetic diseases and cancers, but safety could be a concern. Here we use whole genomic analysis by 10x linked-read sequencing and optical genome mapping to interrogate the genome integrity after editing and in comparison to four parental cell lines. In addition to the previously reported large structural variants at on-target sites, we identify heretofore unexpected large chromosomal deletions (91.2 and 136 Kb) at atypical non-homologous off-target sites without sequence similarity to the sgRNA in two edited lines. The observed large structural variants induced by CRISPR-Cas9 editing in dividing cells may result in pathogenic consequences and thus limit the usefulness of the CRISPR-Cas9 editing system for disease modeling and gene therapy. In this work, our whole genomic analysis may provide a valuable strategy to ensure genome integrity after genomic editing to minimize the risk of unintended effects in research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiu-Hui Tsai
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Jung Kao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Wei Kuo
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Hsien Lin
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital and School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Min Chang
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Yin Chen
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Huei Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pui-Yan Kwok
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Institute for Human Genetics, and Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Alice L Yu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, USA
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - John Yu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Translational Cancer Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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6
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Peterson KA, Khalouei S, Hanafi N, Wood JA, Lanza DG, Lintott LG, Willis BJ, Seavitt JR, Braun RE, Dickinson ME, White JK, Lloyd KCK, Heaney JD, Murray SA, Ramani A, Nutter LMJ. Whole genome analysis for 163 gRNAs in Cas9-edited mice reveals minimal off-target activity. Commun Biol 2023; 6:626. [PMID: 37301944 PMCID: PMC10257658 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04974-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome editing with CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins holds exceptional promise for "correcting" variants causing genetic disease. To realize this promise, off-target genomic changes cannot occur during the editing process. Here, we use whole genome sequencing to compare the genomes of 50 Cas9-edited founder mice to 28 untreated control mice to assess the occurrence of S. pyogenes Cas9-induced off-target mutagenesis. Computational analysis of whole-genome sequencing data detects 26 unique sequence variants at 23 predicted off-target sites for 18/163 guides used. While computationally detected variants are identified in 30% (15/50) of Cas9 gene-edited founder animals, only 38% (10/26) of the variants in 8/15 founders validate by Sanger sequencing. In vitro assays for Cas9 off-target activity identify only two unpredicted off-target sites present in genome sequencing data. In total, only 4.9% (8/163) of guides tested have detectable off-target activity, a rate of 0.2 Cas9 off-target mutations per founder analyzed. In comparison, we observe ~1,100 unique variants in each mouse regardless of genome exposure to Cas9 indicating off-target variants comprise a small fraction of genetic heterogeneity in Cas9-edited mice. These findings will inform future design and use of Cas9-edited animal models as well as provide context for evaluating off-target potential in genetically diverse patient populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sam Khalouei
- The Centre for Computational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Personalis, Inc. 1330 O'Brien Drive, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Nour Hanafi
- The Centre for Computational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joshua A Wood
- Mouse Biology Program, University of California Davis, California, CA, USA
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, ME, USA
| | - Denise G Lanza
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lauri G Lintott
- The Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brandon J Willis
- Mouse Biology Program, University of California Davis, California, CA, USA
| | - John R Seavitt
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Mary E Dickinson
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - K C Kent Lloyd
- Mouse Biology Program, University of California Davis, California, CA, USA
| | - Jason D Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Arun Ramani
- The Centre for Computational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Invitae, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lauryl M J Nutter
- The Centre for Phenogenomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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7
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Arbab M, Matuszek Z, Kray KM, Du A, Newby GA, Blatnik AJ, Raguram A, Richter MF, Zhao KT, Levy JM, Shen MW, Arnold WD, Wang D, Xie J, Gao G, Burghes AHM, Liu DR. Base editing rescue of spinal muscular atrophy in cells and in mice. Science 2023; 380:eadg6518. [PMID: 36996170 PMCID: PMC10270003 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg6518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of infant mortality, arises from survival motor neuron (SMN) protein insufficiency resulting from SMN1 loss. Approved therapies circumvent endogenous SMN regulation and require repeated dosing or may wane. We describe genome editing of SMN2, an insufficient copy of SMN1 harboring a C6>T mutation, to permanently restore SMN protein levels and rescue SMA phenotypes. We used nucleases or base editors to modify five SMN2 regulatory regions. Base editing converted SMN2 T6>C, restoring SMN protein levels to wild type. Adeno-associated virus serotype 9-mediated base editor delivery in Δ7SMA mice yielded 87% average T6>C conversion, improved motor function, and extended average life span, which was enhanced by one-time base editor and nusinersen coadministration (111 versus 17 days untreated). These findings demonstrate the potential of a one-time base editing treatment for SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandana Arbab
- Department of Neurology, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Zaneta Matuszek
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Kaitlyn M. Kray
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 1060 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ailing Du
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gregory A. Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Anton J. Blatnik
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 1060 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Aditya Raguram
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Michelle F. Richter
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Kevin T. Zhao
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Levy
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Max W. Shen
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - W. David Arnold
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 1060 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- NextGen Precision Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Arthur H. M. Burghes
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 1060 Carmack Road, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - David R. Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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8
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Badat M, Ejaz A, Hua P, Rice S, Zhang W, Hentges LD, Fisher CA, Denny N, Schwessinger R, Yasara N, Roy NBA, Issa F, Roy A, Telfer P, Hughes J, Mettananda S, Higgs DR, Davies JOJ. Direct correction of haemoglobin E β-thalassaemia using base editors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2238. [PMID: 37076455 PMCID: PMC10115876 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37604-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Haemoglobin E (HbE) β-thalassaemia causes approximately 50% of all severe thalassaemia worldwide; equating to around 30,000 births per year. HbE β-thalassaemia is due to a point mutation in codon 26 of the human HBB gene on one allele (GAG; glutamatic acid → AAG; lysine, E26K), and any mutation causing severe β-thalassaemia on the other. When inherited together in compound heterozygosity these mutations can cause a severe thalassaemic phenotype. However, if only one allele is mutated individuals are carriers for the respective mutation and have an asymptomatic phenotype (β-thalassaemia trait). Here we describe a base editing strategy which corrects the HbE mutation either to wildtype (WT) or a normal variant haemoglobin (E26G) known as Hb Aubenas and thereby recreates the asymptomatic trait phenotype. We have achieved editing efficiencies in excess of 90% in primary human CD34 + cells. We demonstrate editing of long-term repopulating haematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) using serial xenotransplantation in NSG mice. We have profiled the off-target effects using a combination of circularization for in vitro reporting of cleavage effects by sequencing (CIRCLE-seq) and deep targeted capture and have developed machine-learning based methods to predict functional effects of candidate off-target mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsin Badat
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Ayesha Ejaz
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peng Hua
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Siobhan Rice
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Weijiao Zhang
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lance D Hentges
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christopher A Fisher
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nicholas Denny
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ron Schwessinger
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nirmani Yasara
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
| | - Noemi B A Roy
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fadi Issa
- Transplantation Research and Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andi Roy
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul Telfer
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Jim Hughes
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MRC WIMM Centre for Computational Biology, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Douglas R Higgs
- Laboratory of Gene Regulation, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James O J Davies
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Clinical Haematology, Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK.
- National Institute of Health Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Precision Cellular Therapeutics, Oxford, UK.
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9
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Reichart D, Newby GA, Wakimoto H, Lun M, Gorham JM, Curran JJ, Raguram A, DeLaughter DM, Conner DA, Marsiglia JDC, Kohli S, Chmatal L, Page DC, Zabaleta N, Vandenberghe L, Liu DR, Seidman JG, Seidman C. Efficient in vivo genome editing prevents hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in mice. Nat Med 2023; 29:412-421. [PMID: 36797483 PMCID: PMC9941048 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-02190-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Dominant missense pathogenic variants in cardiac myosin heavy chain cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a currently incurable disorder that increases risk for stroke, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. In this study, we assessed two different genetic therapies-an adenine base editor (ABE8e) and a potent Cas9 nuclease delivered by AAV9-to prevent disease in mice carrying the heterozygous HCM pathogenic variant myosin R403Q. One dose of dual-AAV9 vectors, each carrying one half of RNA-guided ABE8e, corrected the pathogenic variant in ≥70% of ventricular cardiomyocytes and maintained durable, normal cardiac structure and function. An additional dose provided more editing in the atria but also increased bystander editing. AAV9 delivery of RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease effectively inactivated the pathogenic allele, albeit with dose-dependent toxicities, necessitating a narrow therapeutic window to maintain health. These preclinical studies demonstrate considerable potential for single-dose genetic therapies to correct or silence pathogenic variants and prevent the development of HCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Reichart
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Hiroko Wakimoto
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mingyue Lun
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua M Gorham
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Justin J Curran
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aditya Raguram
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Daniel M DeLaughter
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - David A Conner
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sajeev Kohli
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | | | - David C Page
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nerea Zabaleta
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luk Vandenberghe
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | | | - Christine Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
- Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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10
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Wang H, Wang Y, Luo Z, Lin X, Liu M, Wu F, Shao H, Zhang W. Advances in Off-Target Detection for CRISPR-Based Genome Editing. Hum Gene Ther 2023; 34:112-128. [PMID: 36453226 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats)-based genome editing system exhibits marked potential for both gene editing and gene therapy, and its continuous improvement contributes to its great clinical potential. However, the largest hindrance to its application in clinical practice is the presence of off-target effects (OTEs). Thus, in addition to continuous optimization of the CRISPR system to reduce and eventually eliminate OTEs, further development of unbiased genome-wide detection of OTEs is key for its successful clinical application. This article summarizes detection strategies for OTEs of different CRISPR systems, to provide detailed guidance for the detection of OTEs in CRISPR-based genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haozheng Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and.,Department of Pharmacy, Meizhou People's Hospital, Meizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangmin Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Zhongtao Luo
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Xinjian Lin
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Meilin Liu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Fenglin Wu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Hongwei Shao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.,School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; and
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11
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Gene Editing in Human Haematopoietic Stem Cells for the Treatment of Primary Immunodeficiencies. Mol Diagn Ther 2023; 27:15-28. [PMID: 36239917 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-022-00618-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, gene-editing technologies have revolutionised precision medicine, and human trials of this technology have been reported in cell-based cancer therapies and other genetic disorders. The same techniques have the potential to reverse mutations in monogenic primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs), and transplantation of edited haematopoietic stem cells may provide a functional cure for these diseases. In this review, we discuss the methods of gene editing being explored and describe progress made so far with several PIDs. We also detail the remaining challenges, how to confidently detect off-target effects and chromosomal abnormalities in a timely manner, how to obtain long-term benefits, and how to achieve physiological levels of expression of the therapeutic gene. With advances in gene editing, we envisage a robust clinical translation of this technology in the coming decade.
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12
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Piotrowski-Daspit AS, Barone C, Lin CY, Deng Y, Wu D, Binns TC, Xu E, Ricciardi AS, Putman R, Garrison A, Nguyen R, Gupta A, Fan R, Glazer PM, Saltzman WM, Egan ME. In vivo correction of cystic fibrosis mediated by PNA nanoparticles. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo0522. [PMID: 36197984 PMCID: PMC9534507 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo0522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. We sought to correct the multiple organ dysfunction of the F508del CF-causing mutation using systemic delivery of peptide nucleic acid gene editing technology mediated by biocompatible polymeric nanoparticles. We confirmed phenotypic and genotypic modification in vitro in primary nasal epithelial cells from F508del mice grown at air-liquid interface and in vivo in F508del mice following intravenous delivery. In vivo treatment resulted in a partial gain of CFTR function in epithelia as measured by in situ potential differences and Ussing chamber assays and correction of CFTR in both airway and GI tissues with no off-target effects above background. Our studies demonstrate that systemic gene editing is possible, and more specifically that intravenous delivery of PNA NPs designed to correct CF-causing mutations is a viable option to ameliorate CF in multiple affected organs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina Barone
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Chun-Yu Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Yanxiang Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Douglas Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Thomas C. Binns
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Emily Xu
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Adele S. Ricciardi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Rachael Putman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Alannah Garrison
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Richard Nguyen
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Anisha Gupta
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Rong Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Peter M. Glazer
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - W. Mark Saltzman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Marie E. Egan
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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13
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Cui C, Wang D, Huang B, Wang F, Chen Y, Lv J, Zhang L, Han L, Liu D, Chen ZY, Li GL, Li H, Shu Y. Precise detection of CRISPR-Cas9 editing in hair cells in the treatment of autosomal dominant hearing loss. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 29:400-412. [PMID: 36035752 PMCID: PMC9386031 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy would benefit from the effective editing of targeted cells with CRISPR-Cas9 tools. However, it is difficult to precisely assess the editing performance in vivo because the tissues contain many non-targeted cells, which is one of the major barriers to clinical translation. Here, in the Atoh1-GFP;Kcnq4 +/G229D mice, recapitulating a novel mutation we identified in a hereditary hearing loss pedigree, the high-efficiency editing of CRISPR-Cas9 in hair cells (34.10% on average) was precisely detected by sorting out labeled cells compared with only 1.45% efficiency in the whole cochlear tissue. After injection of the developed AAV_SaCas9-KKH_sgRNA agents, the Kcnq4 +/G229D mice showed significantly lower auditory brainstem response (ABR) and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) thresholds, shorter ABR wave I latencies, higher ABR wave I amplitudes, increased number of surviving outer hair cells (OHCs), and more hyperpolarized resting membrane potentials of OHCs. These findings provide an innovative approach to accurately assess the underestimated editing efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 in vivo and offer a promising strategy for the treatment of KCNQ4-related deafness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Cui
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Daqi Wang
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Bowei Huang
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Fang Wang
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yuxin Chen
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jun Lv
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Luping Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong 226006, China
| | - Lei Han
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Dong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Zheng-Yi Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Graduate Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology and Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Eaton-Peabody Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, 243 Charles St., Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Geng-Lin Li
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Huawei Li
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yilai Shu
- ENT Institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China
- Corresponding author Yilai Shu, ENT institute and Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200031, China.
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14
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Emerging digital PCR technology in precision medicine. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 211:114344. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 04/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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15
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Kang Y, Dai S, Zeng Y, Wang F, Yang P, Yang Z, Pu Y, Li Z, Chen X, Tian B, Si W, Ji W, Niu Y. Cloning and base editing of GFP transgenic rhesus monkey and off-target analysis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabo3123. [PMID: 35867792 PMCID: PMC9307242 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abo3123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We report the cloning of a 12-year-old transgenic green fluorescent protein (GFP) monkey by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and base editing of the embryos, accompanied with safety evaluation of adenine base editors (ABEs). We first show the ability of ABEmax to silence GFP through A-to-G editing of the GFP sequence in 293T cells. Subsequently, using donor cells from a monkey expressing GFP, we have successfully generated 207 ABEmax-edited (SCNT-ABE) and 87 wild-type (SCNT) embryos for embryo transfer, genotyping, and genome and transcriptome analysis. SCNT-ABE and SCNT embryos are compared for off-target analysis without the interference of genetic variants using a new method named as OA-SCNT. ABEmax does not induce obvious off-target DNA mutations but induces widespread off-target RNA mutations, 35% of which are exonic, in edited monkey embryos. These results provide important references for clinical application of ABE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Shaoxing Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Yuqiang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Pengpeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Zhaohui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Youwei Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Zifan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Xinglong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Baohong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Wei Si
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Weizhi Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
| | - Yuyu Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China
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16
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Lainšček D, Forstnerič V, Mikolič V, Malenšek Š, Pečan P, Benčina M, Sever M, Podgornik H, Jerala R. Coiled-coil heterodimer-based recruitment of an exonuclease to CRISPR/Cas for enhanced gene editing. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3604. [PMID: 35739111 PMCID: PMC9226073 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31386-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas system has emerged as a powerful and versatile genome engineering tool, revolutionizing biological and biomedical sciences, where an improvement of efficiency could have a strong impact. Here we present a strategy to enhance gene editing based on the concerted action of Cas9 and an exonuclease. Non-covalent recruitment of exonuclease to Cas9/gRNA complex via genetically encoded coiled-coil based domains, termed CCExo, recruited the exonuclease to the cleavage site and robustly increased gene knock-out due to progressive DNA strand recession at the cleavage site, causing decreased re-ligation of the nonedited DNA. CCExo exhibited increased deletion size and enhanced gene inactivation efficiency in the context of several DNA targets, gRNA selection, Cas variants, tested cell lines and type of delivery. Targeting a sequence-specific oncogenic chromosomal translocation using CCExo in cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia patients and in an animal model led to the reduction or elimination of cancer, establishing it as a highly specific tool for treating CML and potentially other appropriate diseases with genetic etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duško Lainšček
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
- EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, Trg Osvobodilne fronte 13, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Vida Forstnerič
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Veronika Mikolič
- Department of Hematology, Division of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška 7, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Špela Malenšek
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Peter Pečan
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Mojca Benčina
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
- EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, Trg Osvobodilne fronte 13, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Matjaž Sever
- Department of Hematology, Division of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška 7, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Helena Podgornik
- Department of Hematology, Division of Internal Medicine, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška 7, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 7, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia
| | - Roman Jerala
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Immunology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia.
- EN-FIST Centre of Excellence, Trg Osvobodilne fronte 13, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia.
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17
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Abstract
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed world. In recent decades, extraordinary effort has been devoted to defining the molecular and pathophysiological characteristics of the diseased heart and vasculature. Mouse models have been especially powerful in illuminating the complex signaling pathways, genetic and epigenetic regulatory circuits, and multicellular interactions that underlie cardiovascular disease. The advent of CRISPR genome editing has ushered in a new era of cardiovascular research and possibilities for genetic correction of disease. Next-generation sequencing technologies have greatly accelerated the identification of disease-causing mutations, and advances in gene editing have enabled the rapid modeling of these mutations in mice and patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. The ability to correct the genetic drivers of cardiovascular disease through delivery of gene editing components in vivo, while still facing challenges, represents an exciting therapeutic frontier. In this review, we provide an overview of cardiovascular disease mechanisms and the potential applications of CRISPR genome editing for disease modeling and correction. We also discuss the extent to which mice can faithfully model cardiovascular disease and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
| | - Eric N Olson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
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18
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Peng L, Zhou N, Zhang CY, Li GC, Yuan XQ. eccDNAdb: a database of extrachromosomal circular DNA profiles in human cancers. Oncogene 2022; 41:2696-2705. [PMID: 35388171 PMCID: PMC9076536 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02286-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) elements are circular DNA molecules that are derived from but are independent of chromosomal DNA. EccDNA is emerging as a rising star because of its ubiquitous existence in cancers and its crucial role in oncogene amplification and tumor progression. In the present study, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data of cancer samples were downloaded from public repositories. Afterwards, eccDNAs were identified from WGS data via bioinformatic analyses. To leverage database coverage, eccDNAs were also collected by manual curation of literatures. Gene expression and clinical data were downloaded from TCGA and CCLE and then used to investigate the roles of eccDNAs in cancers. Finally, the first integrated database of eccDNAs, eccDNAdb, was developed. eccDNAdb currently includes 1270 eccDNAs, which were identified in 480 samples (of 42 cancers) after analyzing a total number of 3395 tumor samples (of 57 cancers) including patient tissues, patient-derived xenografts, and cancer cell lines. A total number of 54,901 eccDNA genes were annotated and included in the database as well. With the integration of gene expression, clinical information and chromatin accessibility data, eccDNAdb enables users to easily determine the biological function and clinical relevance of eccDNAs in human cancers. In conclusion, eccDNAdb is freely accessible at http://www.eccdnadb.org . To our knowledge, eccDNAdb is the first database in the eccDNA research field. It is expected to provide insight for novel cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Peng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Nan Zhou
- Department of Research, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine of Mental Disorders, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao-Yang Zhang
- Division of Functional Genome Analysis, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Guan-Cheng Li
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health and the Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Yuan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
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19
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In vivo base editing rescues cone photoreceptors in a mouse model of early-onset inherited retinal degeneration. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1830. [PMID: 35383196 PMCID: PMC8983734 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29490-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is the most common cause of inherited retinal degeneration in children. LCA patients with RPE65 mutations show accelerated cone photoreceptor dysfunction and death, resulting in early visual impairment. It is therefore crucial to develop a robust therapy that not only compensates for lost RPE65 function but also protects photoreceptors from further degeneration. Here, we show that in vivo correction of an Rpe65 mutation by adenine base editor (ABE) prolongs the survival of cones in an LCA mouse model. In vitro screening of ABEs and sgRNAs enables the identification of a variant that enhances in vivo correction efficiency. Subretinal delivery of ABE and sgRNA corrects up to 40% of Rpe65 transcripts, restores cone-mediated visual function, and preserves cones in LCA mice. Single-cell RNA-seq reveals upregulation of genes associated with cone phototransduction and survival. Our findings demonstrate base editing as a potential gene therapy that confers long-lasting retinal protection. Leber congenital amaurosis is caused by mutations in RPE65 and leads to retinal degeneration in children. Here, the authors show that in vivo base editing can prolong the survival of cone photoreceptors and rescue their function in a mouse model of the disease.
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20
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Uribe-Salazar JM, Kaya G, Sekar A, Weyenberg K, Ingamells C, Dennis MY. Evaluation of CRISPR gene-editing tools in zebrafish. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:12. [PMID: 34986794 PMCID: PMC8734261 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08238-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zebrafish have practical features that make them a useful model for higher-throughput tests of gene function using CRISPR/Cas9 editing to create 'knockout' models. In particular, the use of G0 mosaic mutants has potential to increase throughput of functional studies significantly but may suffer from transient effects of introducing Cas9 via microinjection. Further, a large number of computational and empirical tools exist to design CRISPR assays but often produce varied predictions across methods leaving uncertainty in choosing an optimal approach for zebrafish studies. METHODS To systematically assess accuracy of tool predictions of on- and off-target gene editing, we subjected zebrafish embryos to CRISPR/Cas9 with 50 different guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting 14 genes. We also investigate potential confounders of G0-based CRISPR screens by assaying control embryos for spurious mutations and altered gene expression. RESULTS We compared our experimental in vivo editing efficiencies in mosaic G0 embryos with those predicted by eight commonly used gRNA design tools and found large discrepancies between methods. Assessing off-target mutations (predicted in silico and in vitro) found that the majority of tested loci had low in vivo frequencies (< 1%). To characterize if commonly used 'mock' CRISPR controls (larvae injected with Cas9 enzyme or mRNA with no gRNA) exhibited spurious molecular features that might exacerbate studies of G0 mosaic CRISPR knockout fish, we generated an RNA-seq dataset of various control larvae at 5 days post fertilization. While we found no evidence of spontaneous somatic mutations of injected larvae, we did identify several hundred differentially-expressed genes with high variability between injection types. Network analyses of shared differentially-expressed genes in the 'mock' injected larvae implicated a number of key regulators of common metabolic pathways, and gene-ontology analysis revealed connections with response to wounding and cytoskeleton organization, highlighting a potentially lasting effect from the microinjection process that requires further investigation. CONCLUSION Overall, our results provide a valuable resource for the zebrafish community for the design and execution of CRISPR/Cas9 experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Uribe-Salazar
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Gulhan Kaya
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Aadithya Sekar
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - KaeChandra Weyenberg
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Cole Ingamells
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Megan Y Dennis
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
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21
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AlJanahi AA, Lazzarotto CR, Chen S, Shin TH, Cordes S, Fan X, Jabara I, Zhou Y, Young DJ, Lee BC, Yu KR, Li Y, Toms B, Tunc I, Hong SG, Truitt LL, Klermund J, Andrieux G, Kim MY, Cathomen T, Gill S, Tsai SQ, Dunbar CE. Prediction and validation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell off-target editing in transplanted rhesus macaques. Mol Ther 2022; 30:209-222. [PMID: 34174439 PMCID: PMC8753565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The programmable nuclease technology CRISPR-Cas9 has revolutionized gene editing in the last decade. Due to the risk of off-target editing, accurate and sensitive methods for off-target characterization are crucial prior to applying CRISPR-Cas9 therapeutically. Here, we utilized a rhesus macaque model to compare the predictive values of CIRCLE-seq, an in vitro off-target prediction method, with in silico prediction (ISP) based solely on genomic sequence comparisons. We use AmpliSeq HD error-corrected sequencing to validate off-target sites predicted by CIRCLE-seq and ISP for a CD33 guide RNA (gRNA) with thousands of off-target sites predicted by ISP and CIRCLE-seq. We found poor correlation between the sites predicted by the two methods. When almost 500 sites predicted by each method were analyzed by error-corrected sequencing of hematopoietic cells following transplantation, 19 off-target sites revealed insertion or deletion mutations. Of these sites, 8 were predicted by both methods, 8 by CIRCLE-seq only, and 3 by ISP only. The levels of cells with these off-target edits exhibited no expansion or abnormal behavior in vivo in animals followed for up to 2 years. In addition, we utilized an unbiased method termed CAST-seq to search for translocations between the on-target site and off-target sites present in animals following transplantation, detecting one specific translocation that persisted in blood cells for at least 1 year following transplantation. In conclusion, neither CIRCLE-seq or ISP predicted all sites, and a combination of careful gRNA design, followed by screening for predicted off-target sites in target cells by multiple methods, may be required for optimizing safety of clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha A AlJanahi
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Cicera R Lazzarotto
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shirley Chen
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tae-Hoon Shin
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Stefan Cordes
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xing Fan
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Isabel Jabara
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yifan Zhou
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David J Young
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Byung-Chul Lee
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kyung-Rok Yu
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yuesheng Li
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Ilker Tunc
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Laboratory, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - So Gun Hong
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lauren L Truitt
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Julia Klermund
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Geoffroy Andrieux
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Miriam Y Kim
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Saar Gill
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Shengdar Q Tsai
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Cynthia E Dunbar
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Building 10-CRC, 5E-3332, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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22
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Disruption of HIV-1 co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 in primary human T cells and hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells using base editing. Mol Ther 2022; 30:130-144. [PMID: 34737067 PMCID: PMC8753564 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Disruption of CCR5 or CXCR4, the main human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) co-receptors, has been shown to protect primary human CD4+ T cells from HIV-1 infection. Base editing can install targeted point mutations in cellular genomes, and can thus efficiently inactivate genes by introducing stop codons or eliminating start codons without double-stranded DNA break formation. Here, we applied base editors for individual and simultaneous disruption of both co-receptors in primary human CD4+ T cells. Using cytosine base editors we observed premature stop codon introduction in up to 89% of sequenced CCR5 or CXCR4 alleles. Using adenine base editors we eliminated the start codon in CCR5 in up to 95% of primary human CD4+ T cell and up to 88% of CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell target alleles. Genome-wide specificity analysis revealed low numbers of off-target mutations that were introduced by base editing, located predominantly in intergenic or intronic regions. We show that our editing strategies prevent transduction with CCR5-tropic and CXCR4-tropic viral vectors in up to 79% and 88% of human CD4+ T cells, respectively. The engineered T cells maintained functionality and overall our results demonstrate the effectiveness of base-editing strategies for efficient and specific ablation of HIV co-receptors in clinically relevant cell types.
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23
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Programmed genome editing by a miniature CRISPR-Cas12f nuclease. Nat Chem Biol 2021; 17:1132-1138. [PMID: 34475565 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-021-00868-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The RNA-guided CRISPR-associated (Cas) nucleases are versatile tools for genome editing in various organisms. The large sizes of the commonly used Cas9 and Cas12a nucleases restrict their flexibility in therapeutic applications that use the cargo-size-limited adeno-associated virus delivery vehicle. More compact systems would thus offer more therapeutic options and functionality for this field. Here, we report a miniature class 2 type V-F CRISPR-Cas genome-editing system from Acidibacillus sulfuroxidans (AsCas12f1, 422 amino acids). AsCas12f1 is an RNA-guided endonuclease that recognizes 5' T-rich protospacer adjacent motifs and creates staggered double-stranded breaks to target DNA. We show that AsCas12f1 functions as an effective genome-editing tool in both bacteria and human cells using various delivery methods, including plasmid, ribonucleoprotein and adeno-associated virus. The small size of AsCas12f1 offers advantages for cellular delivery, and characterizations of AsCas12f1 may facilitate engineering more compact genome-manipulation technologies.
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24
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Papanikolaou E, Bosio A. The Promise and the Hope of Gene Therapy. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:618346. [PMID: 34713249 PMCID: PMC8525363 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.618346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been over 30 years since visionary scientists came up with the term "Gene Therapy," suggesting that for certain indications, mostly monogenic diseases, substitution of the missing or mutated gene with the normal allele via gene addition could provide long-lasting therapeutic effect to the affected patients and consequently improve their quality of life. This notion has recently become a reality for certain diseases such as hemoglobinopathies and immunodeficiencies and other monogenic diseases. However, the therapeutic wave of gene therapies was not only applied in this context but was more broadly employed to treat cancer with the advent of CAR-T cell therapies. This review will summarize the gradual advent of gene therapies from bench to bedside with a main focus on hemopoietic stem cell gene therapy and genome editing and will provide some useful insights into the future of genetic therapies and their gradual integration in the everyday clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Papanikolaou
- Department of Molecular Technologies and Stem Cell Therapy, Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.,Laboratory of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Bosio
- Department of Molecular Technologies and Stem Cell Therapy, Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
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25
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Atkins A, Chung CH, Allen AG, Dampier W, Gurrola TE, Sariyer IK, Nonnemacher MR, Wigdahl B. Off-Target Analysis in Gene Editing and Applications for Clinical Translation of CRISPR/Cas9 in HIV-1 Therapy. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:673022. [PMID: 34713260 PMCID: PMC8525399 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.673022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
As genome-editing nucleases move toward broader clinical applications, the need to define the limits of their specificity and efficiency increases. A variety of approaches for nuclease cleavage detection have been developed, allowing a full-genome survey of the targeting landscape and the detection of a variety of repair outcomes for nuclease-induced double-strand breaks. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages relating to the means of target-site capture, target enrichment mechanism, cellular environment, false discovery, and validation of bona fide off-target cleavage sites in cells. This review examines the strengths, limitations, and origins of the different classes of off-target cleavage detection systems including anchored primer enrichment (GUIDE-seq), in situ detection (BLISS), in vitro selection libraries (CIRCLE-seq), chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) (DISCOVER-Seq), translocation sequencing (LAM PCR HTGTS), and in vitro genomic DNA digestion (Digenome-seq and SITE-Seq). Emphasis is placed on the specific modifications that give rise to the enhanced performance of contemporary techniques over their predecessors and the comparative performance of techniques for different applications. The clinical relevance of these techniques is discussed in the context of assessing the safety of novel CRISPR/Cas9 HIV-1 curative strategies. With the recent success of HIV-1 and SIV-1 viral suppression in humanized mice and non-human primates, respectively, using CRISPR/Cas9, rigorous exploration of potential off-target effects is of critical importance. Such analyses would benefit from the application of the techniques discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Atkins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Cheng-Han Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Alexander G. Allen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Will Dampier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Theodore E. Gurrola
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ilker K. Sariyer
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neurovirology, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Michael R. Nonnemacher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Brian Wigdahl
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,*Correspondence: Brian Wigdahl
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26
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Behr M, Zhou J, Xu B, Zhang H. In vivo delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 therapeutics: Progress and challenges. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:2150-2171. [PMID: 34522582 PMCID: PMC8424283 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Within less than a decade since its inception, CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing has been rapidly advanced to human clinical trials in multiple disease areas. Although it is highly anticipated that this revolutionary technology will bring novel therapeutic modalities to many diseases by precisely manipulating cellular DNA sequences, the low efficiency of in vivo delivery must be enhanced before its therapeutic potential can be fully realized. Here we discuss the most recent progress of in vivo delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 systems, highlight innovative viral and non-viral delivery technologies, emphasize outstanding delivery challenges, and provide the most updated perspectives.
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27
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Zhao Z, Li C, Tong F, Deng J, Huang G, Sang Y. Review of applications of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology in cancer research. Biol Proced Online 2021; 23:14. [PMID: 34261433 PMCID: PMC8281662 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-021-00151-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Characterized by multiple complex mutations, including activation by oncogenes and inhibition by tumor suppressors, cancer is one of the leading causes of death. Application of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology in cancer research has aroused great interest, promoting the exploration of the molecular mechanism of cancer progression and development of precise therapy. CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology provides a solid basis for identifying driver and passenger mutations in cancer genomes, which is of great value in genetic screening and for developing cancer models and treatments. This article reviews the current applications of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology in various cancer studies, the challenges faced, and the existing solutions, highlighting the potential of this technology for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Zhao
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330008, China
| | - Chenxi Li
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330008, China
| | - Fei Tong
- Orthodontic Department of Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330008, China
| | - Jingkuang Deng
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330008, China
| | - Guofu Huang
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330008, China.
| | - Yi Sang
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330008, China.
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28
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Gene Therapies for Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia. Indian Pediatr 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13312-021-2263-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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29
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Abstract
Therapeutic gene editing with the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas system offers significant improvements in specificity and programmability compared with previous methods. CRISPR editing strategies can be used ex vivo and in vivo with many theoretic disease applications. Off-target effects of CRISPR-mediated gene editing are an important outcome to be aware of, minimize, and detect. The current methods of regulatory approval for personalized therapies are complex and may be proved inefficient as these therapies are implemented more widely. The role of pathologists and laboratory medicine practitioners is vital to the clinical implementation of therapeutic gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elan Hahn
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, Room 6231, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada.
| | - Matthew Hiemenz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90027, USA; Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA
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30
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Newby GA, Yen JS, Woodard KJ, Mayuranathan T, Lazzarotto CR, Li Y, Sheppard-Tillman H, Porter SN, Yao Y, Mayberry K, Everette KA, Jang Y, Podracky CJ, Thaman E, Lechauve C, Sharma A, Henderson JM, Richter MF, Zhao KT, Miller SM, Wang T, Koblan LW, McCaffrey AP, Tisdale JF, Kalfa TA, Pruett-Miller SM, Tsai SQ, Weiss MJ, Liu DR. Base editing of haematopoietic stem cells rescues sickle cell disease in mice. Nature 2021; 595:295-302. [PMID: 34079130 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03609-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by a mutation in the β-globin gene HBB1. We used a custom adenine base editor (ABE8e-NRCH)2,3 to convert the SCD allele (HBBS) into Makassar β-globin (HBBG), a non-pathogenic variant4,5. Ex vivo delivery of mRNA encoding the base editor with a targeting guide RNA into haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from patients with SCD resulted in 80% conversion of HBBS to HBBG. Sixteen weeks after transplantation of edited human HSPCs into immunodeficient mice, the frequency of HBBG was 68% and hypoxia-induced sickling of bone marrow reticulocytes had decreased fivefold, indicating durable gene editing. To assess the physiological effects of HBBS base editing, we delivered ABE8e-NRCH and guide RNA into HSPCs from a humanized SCD mouse6 and then transplanted these cells into irradiated mice. After sixteen weeks, Makassar β-globin represented 79% of β-globin protein in blood, and hypoxia-induced sickling was reduced threefold. Mice that received base-edited HSPCs showed near-normal haematological parameters and reduced splenic pathology compared to mice that received unedited cells. Secondary transplantation of edited bone marrow confirmed that the gene editing was durable in long-term haematopoietic stem cells and showed that HBBS-to-HBBG editing of 20% or more is sufficient for phenotypic rescue. Base editing of human HSPCs avoided the p53 activation and larger deletions that have been observed following Cas9 nuclease treatment. These findings point towards a one-time autologous treatment for SCD that eliminates pathogenic HBBS, generates benign HBBG, and minimizes the undesired consequences of double-strand DNA breaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan S Yen
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - Kaitly J Woodard
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Cicera R Lazzarotto
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yichao Li
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Shaina N Porter
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Yu Yao
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kalin Mayberry
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kelcee A Everette
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yoonjeong Jang
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Christopher J Podracky
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Thaman
- Division of Hematology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Christophe Lechauve
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Akshay Sharma
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Michelle F Richter
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kevin T Zhao
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shannon M Miller
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tina Wang
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luke W Koblan
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - John F Tisdale
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Theodosia A Kalfa
- Division of Hematology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Shengdar Q Tsai
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mitchell J Weiss
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Abstract
The move from reading to writing the human genome offers new opportunities to improve human health. The United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) Consortium aims to accelerate the development of safer and more-effective methods to edit the genomes of disease-relevant somatic cells in patients, even in tissues that are difficult to reach. Here we discuss the consortium's plans to develop and benchmark approaches to induce and measure genome modifications, and to define downstream functional consequences of genome editing within human cells. Central to this effort is a rigorous and innovative approach that requires validation of the technology through third-party testing in small and large animals. New genome editors, delivery technologies and methods for tracking edited cells in vivo, as well as newly developed animal models and human biological systems, will be assembled-along with validated datasets-into an SCGE Toolkit, which will be disseminated widely to the biomedical research community. We visualize this toolkit-and the knowledge generated by its applications-as a means to accelerate the clinical development of new therapies for a wide range of conditions.
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32
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Randhawa S. CRISPR-Cas9 in cancer therapeutics. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 181:129-163. [PMID: 34127191 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a disease mainly caused by an accumulation of mutations in cells. Consequently, correcting those genetic aberrations could be a potential treatment strategy. The traditional route for cancer drug development is tedious, laborious, and time-consuming. Due to target identification, drug formulation, pre-clinical testing, clinical testing, and regulatory hurdles, on average, it takes 10-15 years for a cancer drug to go from target discovery to a marketable oncology drug. The advent of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has greatly expedited this procedure. CRISPR-Cas9 has single-handedly accelerated target identification and pre-clinical testing. Furthermore, CRISPR-Cas9 has also been used in ex vivo editing of T-cells to specifically target tumor cells. In this chapter, we will discuss the various ways in which CRISPR-Cas9 has been used for the betterment of the cancer drug development process. Additionally, we will discuss various ways in which it is currently being used as therapy and the drawbacks which restrict the use of this groundbreaking technology as direct therapy.
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33
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The evolution and history of gene editing technologies. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 178:1-62. [PMID: 33685594 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Scientific enquiry must be the driving force of research. This sentiment is manifested as the profound impact gene editing technologies are having in our current world. There exist three main gene editing technologies today: Zinc Finger Nucleases, TALENs and the CRISPR-Cas system. When these systems were being uncovered, none of the scientists set out to design tools to engineer genomes. They were simply trying to understand the mechanisms existing in nature. If it was not for this simple sense of wonder, we probably would not have these breakthrough technologies. In this chapter, we will discuss the history, applications and ethical issues surrounding these technologies, focusing on the now predominant CRISPR-Cas technology. Gene editing technologies, as we know them now, are poised to have an overwhelming impact on our world. However, it is impossible to predict the route they will take in the future or to comprehend the full impact of its repercussions.
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34
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Ballarino R, Bouwman BAM, Crosetto N. Genome-Wide CRISPR Off-Target DNA Break Detection by the BLISS Method. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2162:261-281. [PMID: 32926388 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0687-2_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR) systems are revolutionizing many areas of biology and medicine, where they are increasingly utilized as therapeutic tools for correcting disease-causing mutations. From a clinical perspective, unintended off-target (OT) DNA double-strand break (DSB) induction by CRISPR nucleases represents a major concern. Therefore, in recent years considerable effort has been dedicated to developing methods for assessing the OT activity of CRISPR nucleases, which in turn can be used to guide engineering of nucleases with minimal OT activity. Here we describe a detailed protocol for quantifying OT DSBs genome-wide in cultured cells transfected with CRISPR enzymes, based on the breaks labeling in situ and sequencing (BLISS) method that we have previously developed. CRISPR-BLISS is versatile and scalable, and allows assessment of multiple guide RNAs in different cell types and time points following cell transfection or transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ballarino
- Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Research Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Britta A M Bouwman
- Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Research Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nicola Crosetto
- Science for Life Laboratory (SciLifeLab), Research Division of Genome Biology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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35
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Höijer I, Johansson J, Gudmundsson S, Chin CS, Bunikis I, Häggqvist S, Emmanouilidou A, Wilbe M, den Hoed M, Bondeson ML, Feuk L, Gyllensten U, Ameur A. Amplification-free long-read sequencing reveals unforeseen CRISPR-Cas9 off-target activity. Genome Biol 2020; 21:290. [PMID: 33261648 PMCID: PMC7706270 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-02206-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One ongoing concern about CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing is that unspecific guide RNA (gRNA) binding may induce off-target mutations. However, accurate prediction of CRISPR-Cas9 off-target activity is challenging. Here, we present SMRT-OTS and Nano-OTS, two novel, amplification-free, long-read sequencing protocols for detection of gRNA-driven digestion of genomic DNA by Cas9 in vitro. RESULTS The methods are assessed using the human cell line HEK293, re-sequenced at 18x coverage using highly accurate HiFi SMRT reads. SMRT-OTS and Nano-OTS are first applied to three different gRNAs targeting HEK293 genomic DNA, resulting in a set of 55 high-confidence gRNA cleavage sites identified by both methods. Twenty-five of these sites are not reported by off-target prediction software, either because they contain four or more single nucleotide mismatches or insertion/deletion mismatches, as compared with the human reference. Additional experiments reveal that 85% of Cas9 cleavage sites are also found by other in vitro-based methods and that on- and off-target sites are detectable in gene bodies where short-reads fail to uniquely align. Even though SMRT-OTS and Nano-OTS identify several sites with previously validated off-target editing activity in cells, our own CRISPR-Cas9 editing experiments in human fibroblasts do not give rise to detectable off-target mutations at the in vitro-predicted sites. However, indel and structural variation events are enriched at the on-target sites. CONCLUSIONS Amplification-free long-read sequencing reveals Cas9 cleavage sites in vitro that would have been difficult to predict using computational tools, including in dark genomic regions inaccessible by short-read sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ida Höijer
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Josefin Johansson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sanna Gudmundsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA USA
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA USA
| | | | - Ignas Bunikis
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Susana Häggqvist
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anastasia Emmanouilidou
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- The Beijer laboratory and Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Wilbe
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marcel den Hoed
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- The Beijer laboratory and Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Marie-Louise Bondeson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lars Feuk
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulf Gyllensten
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Adam Ameur
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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36
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The development of genome editing tools as powerful techniques with versatile applications in biotechnology and medicine: CRISPR/Cas9, ZnF and TALE nucleases, RNA interference, and Cre/loxP. CHEMTEXTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40828-020-00126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe huge progress in whole genome sequencing (genomic revolution) methods including next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques allows one to obtain data on genome sequences of all organisms, ranging from bacteria to plants to mammals, within hours to days (era of whole genome/exome sequencing) (Goodwin et al. in Nat Rev Genet 17:333–351, 2016; Levy and Myers in Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 17:95–115, 2016; Giani et al. in Comput Struct Biotechnol J 18:9–19, 2020). Today, within the era of functional genomics the highest goal is to transfer this huge amount of sequencing data into information of functional and clinical relevance (genome annotation project). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 10,000 diseases in humans are monogenic, i.e., that these diseases are caused by mutations within single genes (Jackson et al. in Essays Biochem 62:643–723, 2018). NGS technologies are continuously improving while our knowledge on genetic mutations driving the development of diseases is also still emerging (Giani et al. in Comput Struct Biotechnol J 18:9–19, 2020). It would be desirable to have tools that allow one to correct these genetic mutations, so-called genome editing tools. Apart from applications in biotechnology, medicine, and agriculture, it is still not concisely understood in basic science how genotype influences phenotype. Firstly, the Cre/loxP system and RNA-based technologies for gene knockout or knockdown are explained. Secondly, zinc-finger (ZnF) nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) are discussed as targeted genome editing systems. Thirdly, CRISPR/Cas is presented including outline of the discovery and mechanisms of this adaptive immune system in bacteria and archaea, structure and function of CRISPR/Cas9 and its application as a tool for genomic editing. Current developments and applications of CRISPR/Cas9 are discussed. Moreover, limitations and drawbacks of the CRISPR/Cas system are presented and questions on ethical concerns connected to application of genome editing tools are discussed.
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37
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Colón-Rodríguez A, Uribe-Salazar JM, Weyenberg KB, Sriram A, Quezada A, Kaya G, Jao E, Radke B, Lein PJ, Dennis MY. Assessment of Autism Zebrafish Mutant Models Using a High-Throughput Larval Phenotyping Platform. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:586296. [PMID: 33330465 PMCID: PMC7719691 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.586296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, zebrafish have become commonly used as a model for studying human traits and disorders. Their small size, high fecundity, and rapid development allow for more high-throughput experiments compared to other vertebrate models. Given that zebrafish share >70% gene homologs with humans and their genomes can be readily edited using highly efficient CRISPR methods, we are now able to rapidly generate mutations impacting practically any gene of interest. Unfortunately, our ability to phenotype mutant larvae has not kept pace. To address this challenge, we have developed a protocol that obtains multiple phenotypic measurements from individual zebrafish larvae in an automated and parallel fashion, including morphological features (i.e., body length, eye area, and head size) and movement/behavior. By assaying wild-type zebrafish in a variety of conditions, we determined optimal parameters that avoid significant developmental defects or physical damage; these include morphological imaging of larvae at two time points [3 days post fertilization (dpf) and 5 dpf] coupled with motion tracking of behavior at 5 dpf. As a proof-of-principle, we tested our approach on two novel CRISPR-generated mutant zebrafish lines carrying predicted null-alleles of syngap1b and slc7a5, orthologs to two human genes implicated in autism-spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Using our optimized high-throughput phenotyping protocol, we recapitulated previously published results from mouse and zebrafish models of these candidate genes. In summary, we describe a rapid parallel pipeline to characterize morphological and behavioral features of individual larvae in a robust and consistent fashion, thereby improving our ability to better identify genes important in human traits and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Colón-Rodríguez
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - José M Uribe-Salazar
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - KaeChandra B Weyenberg
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Aditya Sriram
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Alejandra Quezada
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Sacramento State RISE Program, California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Gulhan Kaya
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Emily Jao
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brittany Radke
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Pamela J Lein
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Megan Y Dennis
- Genome Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.,MIND Institute, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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38
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Soni S. Gene therapies for transfusion dependent β-thalassemia: Current status and critical criteria for success. Am J Hematol 2020; 95:1099-1112. [PMID: 32562290 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.25909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Thalassemia is one of the most prevalent monogenic diseases usually caused by quantitative defects in the production of β-globin leading to severe anemia. Technological advances in genome sequencing, stem cell selection, viral vector development, transduction and gene editing strategies now allow for efficient exvivo genetic manipulation of human stem cells that can lead to production of hemoglobin, leading to a meaningful clinical benefit in thalassemia patients. In this review, the status of the gene-therapy approaches available for transfusion dependent thalassemia are discussed, along with the critical criteria that affect efficacy and lessons that have been learned from the early phase clinical trials. Salient steps necessary for the clinical development, manufacturing, and regulatory approvals of gene therapies for thalassemia are also highlighted, so that the potential of these therapies can be realized. It is highly anticipated that gene therapies will soon become a treatment option for patients lacking compatible donors for hematopoietic stem cell transplant and will offer an alternative for definitive treatment of β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Soni
- Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant and RM Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University Palo Alto California
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39
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CHANGE-seq reveals genetic and epigenetic effects on CRISPR-Cas9 genome-wide activity. Nat Biotechnol 2020; 38:1317-1327. [PMID: 32541958 PMCID: PMC7652380 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-020-0555-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Current methods can illuminate the genome-wide activity of CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases, but are not easily scalable to the throughput needed to fully understand the principles that govern Cas9 specificity. Here we describe ‘circularization for high-throughput analysis of nuclease genome-wide effects by sequencing’ (CHANGE-seq), a scalable, automatable tagmentation-based method for measuring the genome-wide activity of Cas9 in vitro. We applied CHANGE-seq to 110 sgRNA targets across 13 therapeutically relevant loci in human primary T-cells and identified 201,934 off-target sites, enabling the training of a machine learning model to predict off-target activity. Comparing matched genome-wide off-target, chromatin modification and accessibility, and transcriptional data, we found that cellular off-target activity was two to four times more likely to occur near active promoters, enhancers, and transcribed regions. Finally, CHANGE-seq analysis of 6 targets across 8 individual genomes revealed that human single-nucleotide variation had significant effects on activity at ~15.2% of off-target sites analyzed. CHANGE-seq is a simplified, sensitive, and scalable approach to understanding the specificity of genome editors.
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40
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Wienert B, Wyman SK, Yeh CD, Conklin BR, Corn JE. CRISPR off-target detection with DISCOVER-seq. Nat Protoc 2020; 15:1775-1799. [PMID: 32313254 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-020-0309-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
DISCOVER-seq (discovery of in situ Cas off-targets and verification by sequencing) is a broadly applicable approach for unbiased CRISPR-Cas off-target identification in cells and tissues. It leverages the recruitment of DNA repair factors to double-strand breaks (DSBs) after genome editing with CRISPR nucleases. Here, we describe a detailed experimental protocol and analysis pipeline with which to perform DISCOVER-seq. The principle of this method is to track the precise recruitment of MRE11 to DSBs by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next-generation sequencing. A customized open-source bioinformatics pipeline, BLENDER (blunt end finder), then identifies off-target sequences genome wide. DISCOVER-seq is capable of finding and measuring off-targets in primary cells and in situ. The two main advantages of DISCOVER-seq are (i) low false-positive rates because DNA repair enzyme binding is required for genome edits to occur and (ii) its applicability to a wide variety of systems, including patient-derived cells and animal models. The whole protocol, including the analysis, can be completed within 2 weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beeke Wienert
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA. .,Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, USA.
| | - Stacia K Wyman
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Charles D Yeh
- Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruce R Conklin
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA.,Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California, USA.,Departments of Medicine, Ophthalmology & Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Jacob E Corn
- Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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41
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David R. The promise of toxicogenomics for genetic toxicology: past, present and future. Mutagenesis 2020; 35:153-159. [PMID: 32087008 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/geaa007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxicogenomics, the application of genomics to toxicology, was described as 'a new era' for toxicology. Standard toxicity tests typically involve a number of short-term bioassays that are costly, time consuming, require large numbers of animals and generally focus on a single end point. Toxicogenomics was heralded as a way to improve the efficiency of toxicity testing by assessing gene regulation across the genome, allowing rapid classification of compounds based on characteristic expression profiles. Gene expression microarrays could measure and characterise genome-wide gene expression changes in a single study and while transcriptomic profiles that can discriminate between genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogens have been identified, challenges with the approach limited its application. As such, toxicogenomics did not transform the field of genetic toxicology in the way it was predicted. More recently, next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionised genomics owing to the fact that hundreds of billions of base pairs can be sequenced simultaneously cheaper and quicker than traditional Sanger methods. In relation to genetic toxicology, and thousands of cancer genomes have been sequenced with single-base substitution mutational signatures identified, and mutation signatures have been identified following treatment of cells with known or suspected environmental carcinogens. RNAseq has been applied to detect transcriptional changes following treatment with genotoxins; modified RNAseq protocols have been developed to identify adducts in the genome and Duplex sequencing is an example of a technique that has recently been developed to accurately detect mutation. Machine learning, including MutationSeq and SomaticSeq, has also been applied to somatic mutation detection and improvements in automation and/or the application of machine learning algorithms may allow high-throughput mutation sequencing in the future. This review will discuss the initial promise of transcriptomics for genetic toxicology, and how the development of NGS technologies and new machine learning algorithms may finally realise that promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon David
- Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
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42
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Breton C, Clark PM, Wang L, Greig JA, Wilson JM. ITR-Seq, a next-generation sequencing assay, identifies genome-wide DNA editing sites in vivo following adeno-associated viral vector-mediated genome editing. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:239. [PMID: 32183699 PMCID: PMC7076944 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6655-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Identifying nuclease-induced double-stranded breaks in DNA on a genome-wide scale is critical for assessing the safety and efficacy of genome editing therapies. We previously demonstrated that after administering adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated genome-editing strategies in vivo, vector sequences integrated into the host organism's genomic DNA at double-stranded breaks. Thus, identifying the genomic location of inserted AAV sequences would enable us to identify DSB events, mainly derived from the nuclease on- and off-target activity. RESULTS Here, we developed a next-generation sequencing assay that detects insertions of specific AAV vector sequences called inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). This assay, ITR-Seq, enables us to identify off-target nuclease activity in vivo. Using ITR-Seq, we analyzed liver DNA samples of rhesus macaques treated with AAV vectors expressing a meganuclease. We found dose-dependent off-target activity and reductions in off-target events induced by further meganuclease development. In mice, we identified the genomic locations of ITR integration after treatment with Cas9 nucleases and their corresponding single-guide RNAs. CONCLUSIONS In sum, ITR-Seq is a powerful method for identifying off-target sequences induced by AAV vector-delivered genome-editing nucleases. ITR-Seq will help us understand the specificity and efficacy of different genome-editing nucleases in animal models and clinical studies. This information can help enhance the safety profile of gene-editing therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Breton
- Gene Therapy Program, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Peter M Clark
- Gene Therapy Program, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lili Wang
- Gene Therapy Program, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jenny A Greig
- Gene Therapy Program, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, 125 South 31st Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Wang J, Zhang C, Feng B. The rapidly advancing Class 2 CRISPR-Cas technologies: A customizable toolbox for molecular manipulations. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:3256-3270. [PMID: 32037739 PMCID: PMC7131926 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas technologies derived from bacterial and archaeal adaptive immune systems have emerged as a series of groundbreaking nucleic acid-guided gene editing tools, ultimately standing out among several engineered nucleases because of their high efficiency, sequence-specific targeting, ease of programming and versatility. Facilitated by the advancement across multiple disciplines such as bioinformatics, structural biology and high-throughput sequencing, the discoveries and engineering of various innovative CRISPR-Cas systems are rapidly expanding the CRISPR toolbox. This is revolutionizing not only genome editing but also various other types of nucleic acid-guided manipulations such as transcriptional control and genomic imaging. Meanwhile, the adaptation of various CRISPR strategies in multiple settings has realized numerous previously non-existing applications, ranging from the introduction of sophisticated approaches in basic research to impactful agricultural and therapeutic applications. Here, we summarize the recent advances of CRISPR technologies and strategies, as well as their impactful applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of EducationSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of MedicineCUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cells and Regenerative MedicineThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Chenzi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of EducationSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of MedicineCUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cells and Regenerative MedicineThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (iTERM)The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
| | - Bo Feng
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, Ministry of EducationSchool of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of MedicineCUHK-GIBH Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cells and Regenerative MedicineThe Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (iTERM)The Chinese University of Hong KongHong Kong SARChina
- Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong LaboratoryGuangzhouChina
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44
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Wen L, Liu Q, Xu J, Liu X, Shi C, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Xu H, Liu J, Yang H, Huang H, Qiao J, Tang F, Chen ZJ. Recent advances in mammalian reproductive biology. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 63:18-58. [PMID: 31813094 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-019-1572-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive biology is a uniquely important topic since it is about germ cells, which are central for transmitting genetic information from generation to generation. In this review, we discuss recent advances in mammalian germ cell development, including preimplantation development, fetal germ cell development and postnatal development of oocytes and sperm. We also discuss the etiologies of female and male infertility and describe the emerging technologies for studying reproductive biology such as gene editing and single-cell technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Third Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Third Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xixi Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Third Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Chaoyi Shi
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Zuwei Yang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yili Zhang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Hong Xu
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Hui Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
| | - Hefeng Huang
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Jie Qiao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Third Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Fuchou Tang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Third Hospital, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Zi-Jiang Chen
- National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Jinan, 250021, China.
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45
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Liu RM, Liang LL, Freed E, Chang H, Oh E, Liu ZY, Garst A, Eckert CA, Gill RT. Synthetic chimeric nucleases function for efficient genome editing. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5524. [PMID: 31797930 PMCID: PMC6892893 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13500-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas systems have revolutionized genome editing across a broad range of biotechnological endeavors. Many CRISPR-Cas nucleases have been identified and engineered for improved capabilities. Given the modular structure of such enzymes, we hypothesized that engineering chimeric sequences would generate non-natural variants that span the kinetic parameter landscape, and thus provide for the rapid selection of nucleases fit for a particular editing system. Here, we design a chimeric Cas12a-type library with approximately 560 synthetic chimeras, and select several functional variants. We demonstrate that certain nuclease domains can be recombined across distantly related nuclease templates to produce variants that function in bacteria, yeast, and human cell lines. We further characterize selected chimeric nucleases and find that they have different protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) preferences and the M44 chimera has higher specificity relative to wild-type (WT) sequences. This demonstration opens up the possibility of generating nuclease sequences with implications across biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Liu
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - L L Liang
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - E Freed
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - H Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - E Oh
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Z Y Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - A Garst
- Inscripta, Inc., Boulder, CO, USA
| | - C A Eckert
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.,National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
| | - R T Gill
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI), University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA. .,NNF-Center for Biosustainability, Danish Technical University, Lyngby, Denmark.
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46
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Li J, Hong S, Chen W, Zuo E, Yang H. Advances in detecting and reducing off-target effects generated by CRISPR-mediated genome editing. J Genet Genomics 2019; 46:513-521. [PMID: 31911131 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2019.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-mediated genome editing is a revolutionary technology for genome manipulation that uses the CRISPR-Cas systems and base editors. Currently, poor efficiency and off-target problems have impeded the application of CRISPR systems. The on-target efficiency has been improved in several advanced versions of CRISPR systems, whereas the off-target detection still remains a key challenge. Here, we outline the different versions of CRISPR systems and off-target detection strategies, discuss the merits and limitations of off-target detection methods, and provide potential implications for further gene editing research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjing Li
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Shunyan Hong
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China
| | - Wanjin Chen
- Department of Neurology and Institute of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China; Fujian Key Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, China.
| | - Erwei Zuo
- Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, 518124, China.
| | - Hui Yang
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai Research Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
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47
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Zhao C, Wang Y, Nie X, Han X, Liu H, Li G, Yang G, Ruan J, Ma Y, Li X, Cheng H, Zhao S, Fang Y, Xie S. Evaluation of the effects of sequence length and microsatellite instability on single-guide RNA activity and specificity. Int J Biol Sci 2019; 15:2641-2653. [PMID: 31754336 PMCID: PMC6854370 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.37152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 technology is effective for genome editing and now widely used in life science research. However, the key factors determining its editing efficiency and off-target cleavage activity for single-guide RNA (sgRNA) are poorly documented. Here, we systematically evaluated the effects of sgRNA length on genome editing efficiency and specificity. Results showed that sgRNA 5'-end lengths can alter genome editing activity. Although the number of predicted off-target sites significantly increased after sgRNA length truncation, sgRNAs with different lengths were highly specific. Because only a few predicted off-targets had detectable cleavage activity as determined by Target capture sequencing (TargetSeq). Interestingly, > 20% of the predicted off-targets contained microsatellites for selected sgRNAs targeting the dystrophin gene, which can produce genomic instability and interfere with accurate assessment of off-target cleavage activity. We found that sgRNA activity and specificity can be sensitively detected by TargetSeq in combination with in silico prediction. Checking whether the on- and off-targets contain microsatellites is necessary to improve the accuracy of analyzing the efficiency of genome editing. Our research provides new features and novel strategies for the accurate assessment of CRISPR sgRNA activity and specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changzhi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Yunlong Wang
- Agricultural Bioinformatics Key Laboratory of Hubei Province, Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center of Agricultural Big Data, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Xiongwei Nie
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Xiaosong Han
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Hailong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Guanglei Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Gaojuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Jinxue Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Yunlong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Xinyun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Huijun Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Shuhong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Yaping Fang
- Agricultural Bioinformatics Key Laboratory of Hubei Province, Hubei Engineering Technology Research Center of Agricultural Big Data, College of Informatics, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
| | - Shengsong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Lab of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, P. R. China
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48
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Spiegel A, Bachmann M, Jurado Jiménez G, Sarov M. CRISPR/Cas9-based knockout pipeline for reverse genetics in mammalian cell culture. Methods 2019; 164-165:49-58. [PMID: 31051255 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2019.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a straightforward protocol for reverse genetics in cultured mammalian cells, using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology-dependent repair (HDR) based insertion of a protein trap cassette, resulting in a termination of the endogenous gene expression. Complete loss of function can be achieved with monoallelic trap cassette insertion, as the second allele is frequently disrupted by an error-prone non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) mechanism. The method should be applicable to any expressed gene in most cell lines, including those with low HDR efficiency, as the knockout alleles can be directly selected for.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Spiegel
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Mandy Bachmann
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Gabriel Jurado Jiménez
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Mihail Sarov
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
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49
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Mehnert M, Li W, Wu C, Salovska B, Liu Y. Combining Rapid Data Independent Acquisition and CRISPR Gene Deletion for Studying Potential Protein Functions: A Case of HMGN1. Proteomics 2019; 19:e1800438. [PMID: 30901150 DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201800438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas gene editing holds substantial promise in many biomedical disciplines and basic research. Due to the important functional implications of non-histone chromosomal protein HMG-14 (HMGN1) in regulating chromatin structure and tumor immunity, gene knockout of HMGN1 is performed by CRISPR in cancer cells and the following proteomic regulation events are studied. In particular, DIA mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) is utilized, and more than 6200 proteins (protein- FDR 1%) and more than 82 000 peptide precursors are reproducibly measured in the single MS shots of 2 h. HMGN1 protein deletion is confidently verified by DIA-MS in all of the clone- and dish- replicates following CRISPR. Statistical analysis reveals 147 proteins change their expressions significantly after HMGN1 knockout. Functional annotation and enrichment analysis indicate the deletion of HMGN1 induces histone inactivation, various stress pathways, remodeling of extracellular proteomes, cell proliferation, as well as immune regulation processes such as complement and coagulation cascade and interferon alpha/ gamma response in cancer cells. These results shed new lights on the cellular functions of HMGN1. It is suggested that DIA-MS can be reliably used as a rapid, robust, and cost-effective proteomic-screening tool to assess the outcome of the CRISPR experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mehnert
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Wenxue Li
- Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Chongde Wu
- Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA
| | - Barbora Salovska
- Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.,Department of Genome Integrity, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, 14220, Czech Republic
| | - Yansheng Liu
- Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
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50
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Kocak DD, Josephs EA, Bhandarkar V, Adkar SS, Kwon JB, Gersbach CA. Increasing the specificity of CRISPR systems with engineered RNA secondary structures. Nat Biotechnol 2019; 37:657-666. [PMID: 30988504 PMCID: PMC6626619 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-019-0095-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 208] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) systems have been broadly adopted for basic science, biotechnology, and gene and cell therapy. In some cases, these bacterial nucleases have demonstrated off-target activity. This creates a potential hazard for therapeutic applications and could confound results in biological research. Therefore, improving the precision of these nucleases is of broad interest. Here we show that engineering a hairpin secondary structure onto the spacer region of single guide RNAs (hp-sgRNAs) can increase specificity by several orders of magnitude when combined with various CRISPR effectors. We first demonstrate that designed hp-sgRNAs can tune the activity of a transactivator based on Cas9 from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9). We then show that hp-sgRNAs increase the specificity of gene editing using five different Cas9 or Cas12a variants. Our results demonstrate that RNA secondary structure is a fundamental parameter that can tune the activity of diverse CRISPR systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Dewran Kocak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eric A Josephs
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Nanoscience, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Vidit Bhandarkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shaunak S Adkar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer B Kwon
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- University Program in Genetics and Genomics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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