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Jiang J, Kong K, Fang X, Wang D, Zhang Y, Wang P, Yang Z, Zhang Y, Liu X, Aung T, Li F, Yu-Wai-Man P, Zhang X. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated deletion of carbonic anhydrase 2 in the ciliary body to treat glaucoma. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101524. [PMID: 38670096 PMCID: PMC11148640 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
The carbonic anhydrase 2 (Car2) gene encodes the primary isoenzyme responsible for aqueous humor (AH) production and plays a major role in the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP). The CRISPR-Cas9 system, based on the ShH10 adenovirus-associated virus, can efficiently disrupt the Car2 gene in the ciliary body. With a single intravitreal injection, Car2 knockout can significantly and sustainably reduce IOP in both normal mice and glaucoma models by inhibiting AH production. Furthermore, it effectively delays and even halts glaucomatous damage induced by prolonged high IOP in a chronic ocular hypertension model, surpassing the efficacy of clinically available carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as brinzolamide. The clinical application of CRISPR-Cas9 based disruption of Car2 is an attractive therapeutic strategy that could bring additional benefits to patients with glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxuan Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Kangjie Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xiuli Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Deming Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yinhang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Peiyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zefeng Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xiaoyi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Tin Aung
- Singapore Eye Research Institute and Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore; National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- Cambridge Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Eye Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK; UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Xiulan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Guangzhou 510060, China.
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2
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Karpov DS. CRISPR-Cas Systems and Genome Editing: Beginning the Era of CRISPR/Cas Therapies for Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5292. [PMID: 38791336 PMCID: PMC11121477 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Harnessing of CRISPR/Cas (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated genes) systems for detection, chemical modification, and sequence editing of nucleic acids dramatically changed many fields of fundamental science, biotechnology, and biomedicine [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry S Karpov
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str. 32, Moscow 119991, Russia
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Ruta GV, Ciciani M, Kheir E, Gentile MD, Amistadi S, Casini A, Cereseto A. Eukaryotic-driven directed evolution of Cas9 nucleases. Genome Biol 2024; 25:79. [PMID: 38528620 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03215-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Further advancement of genome editing highly depends on the development of tools with higher compatibility with eukaryotes. A multitude of described Cas9s have great potential but require optimization for genome editing purposes. Among these, the Cas9 from Campylobacter jejuni, CjCas9, has a favorable small size, facilitating delivery in mammalian cells. Nonetheless, its full exploitation is limited by its poor editing activity. RESULTS Here, we develop a Eukaryotic Platform to Improve Cas Activity (EPICA) to steer weakly active Cas9 nucleases into highly active enzymes by directed evolution. The EPICA platform is obtained by coupling Cas nuclease activity with yeast auxotrophic selection followed by mammalian cell selection through a sensitive reporter system. EPICA is validated with CjCas9, generating an enhanced variant, UltraCjCas9, following directed evolution rounds. UltraCjCas9 is up to 12-fold more active in mammalian endogenous genomic loci, while preserving high genome-wide specificity. CONCLUSIONS We report a eukaryotic pipeline allowing enhancement of Cas9 systems, setting the ground to unlock the multitude of RNA-guided nucleases existing in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Vittoria Ruta
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
| | - Matteo Ciciani
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Laboratory of Computational Metagenomics, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Eyemen Kheir
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Simone Amistadi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Present address: Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Regulation During Development, Université de Paris, Imagine Institute, INSERM UMR 1163, Paris, France
| | | | - Anna Cereseto
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
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Kovalev MA, Davletshin AI, Karpov DS. Engineering Cas9: next generation of genomic editors. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:209. [PMID: 38353732 PMCID: PMC10866799 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13056-y] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The Cas9 endonuclease of the CRISPR/Cas type IIA system from Streptococcus pyogenes is the heart of genome editing technology that can be used to treat human genetic and viral diseases. Despite its large size and other drawbacks, S. pyogenes Cas9 remains the most widely used genome editor. A vast amount of research is aimed at improving Cas9 as a promising genetic therapy. Strategies include directed evolution of the Cas9 protein, rational design, and domain swapping. The first generation of Cas9 editors comes directly from the wild-type protein. The next generation is obtained by combining mutations from the first-generation variants, adding new mutations to them, or refining mutations. This review summarizes and discusses recent advances and ways in the creation of next-generation genomic editors derived from S. pyogenes Cas9. KEY POINTS: • The next-generation Cas9-based editors are more active than in the first one. • PAM-relaxed variants of Cas9 are improved by increased specificity and activity. • Less mutagenic and immunogenic variants of Cas9 are created.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim A Kovalev
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia
| | - Artem I Davletshin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry S Karpov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia.
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str., 32, 119991, Moscow, Russia.
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Li L, Vasan L, Kartono B, Clifford K, Attarpour A, Sharma R, Mandrozos M, Kim A, Zhao W, Belotserkovsky A, Verkuyl C, Schmitt-Ulms G. Advances in Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2725. [PMID: 37893099 PMCID: PMC10603849 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are gene therapy delivery tools that offer a promising platform for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Keeping up with developments in this fast-moving area of research is a challenge. This review was thus written with the intention to introduce this field of study to those who are new to it and direct others who are struggling to stay abreast of the literature towards notable recent studies. In ten sections, we briefly highlight early milestones within this field and its first clinical success stories. We showcase current clinical trials, which focus on gene replacement, gene augmentation, or gene suppression strategies. Next, we discuss ongoing efforts to improve the tropism of rAAV vectors for brain applications and introduce pre-clinical research directed toward harnessing rAAV vectors for gene editing applications. Subsequently, we present common genetic elements coded by the single-stranded DNA of rAAV vectors, their so-called payloads. Our focus is on recent advances that are bound to increase treatment efficacies. As needed, we included studies outside the neurodegenerative disease field that showcased improved pre-clinical designs of all-in-one rAAV vectors for gene editing applications. Finally, we discuss risks associated with off-target effects and inadvertent immunogenicity that these technologies harbor as well as the mitigation strategies available to date to make their application safer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyao Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Lakshmy Vasan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Bryan Kartono
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Kevan Clifford
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Ahmadreza Attarpour
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College St., Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Raghav Sharma
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Matthew Mandrozos
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ain Kim
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Wenda Zhao
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ari Belotserkovsky
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Claire Verkuyl
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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Shamsnajafabadi H, MacLaren RE, Cehajic-Kapetanovic J. Current and Future Landscape in Genetic Therapies for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Cells 2023; 12:2013. [PMID: 37566092 PMCID: PMC10416882 DOI: 10.3390/cells12152013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is the most common primary mitochondrial genetic disease that causes blindness in young adults. Over 50 inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variations are associated with LHON; however, more than 95% of cases are caused by one of three missense variations (m.11778 G > A, m.3460 G > A, and m.14484 T > C) encoding for subunits ND4, ND1, and ND6 of the respiration complex I, respectively. These variants remain silent until further and currently poorly understood genetic and environmental factors precipitate the visual loss. The clinical course that ensues is variable, and a convincing treatment for LHON has yet to emerge. In 2015, an antioxidant idebenone (Raxone) received European marketing authorisation to treat visual impairment in patients with LHON, and since then it was introduced into clinical practice in several European countries. Alternative therapeutic strategies, including gene therapy and gene editing, antioxidant and neurotrophic agents, mitochondrial biogenesis, mitochondrial replacement, and stem cell therapies are being investigated in how effective they might be in altering the course of the disease. Allotopic gene therapies are in the most advanced stage of development (phase III clinical trials) whilst most other agents are in phase I or II trials or at pre-clinical stages. This manuscript discusses the phenotype and genotype of the LHON disease with complexities and peculiarities such as incomplete penetrance and gender bias, which have challenged the therapies in development emphasising the most recent use of gene therapy. Furthermore, we review the latest results of the three clinical trials based on adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated delivery of NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) with mitochondrial targeting sequence, highlighting the differences in the vector design and the rationale behind their use in the allotopic transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Shamsnajafabadi
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Robert E. MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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7
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Qian Y, Wang D, Niu W, Zhao D, Li J, Liu Z, Gao X, Han Y, Lai L, Li Z. A new compact adenine base editor generated through deletion of HNH and REC2 domain of SpCas9. BMC Biol 2023; 21:155. [PMID: 37434184 PMCID: PMC10337206 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01644-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adenine base editors (ABEs) are promising therapeutic gene editing tools that can efficiently convert targeted A•T to G•C base pairs in the genome. However, the large size of commonly used ABEs based on SpCas9 hinders its delivery in vivo using certain vectors such as adeno-associated virus (AAV) during preclinical applications. Despite a number of approaches having previously been attempted to overcome that challenge, including split Cas9-derived and numerous domain-deleted versions of editors, whether base editor (BE) and prime editor (PE) systems can also allow deletion of those domains remains to be proven. In this study, we present a new small ABE (sABE) with significantly reduced size. RESULTS We discovered that ABE8e can tolerate large single deletions in the REC2 (Δ174-296) and HNH (Δ786-855) domains of SpCas9, and these deletions can be stacked together to create a new sABE. The sABE showed higher precision than the original ABE8e, with proximally shifted protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) editing windows (A3- A15), and comparable editing efficiencies to 8e-SaCas9-KKH. The sABE system efficiently generated A-G mutations at disease-relevant loci (T1214C in GAA and A494G in MFN2) in HEK293T cells and several canonical Pcsk9 splice sites in N2a cells. Moreover, the sABE enabled in vivo delivery in a single adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector with slight efficiency. Furthermore, we also successfully edited the genome of mouse embryos by microinjecting mRNA and sgRNA of sABE system into zygotes. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a substantially smaller sABE system that expands the targeting scope and offers higher precision of genome editing. Our findings suggest that the sABE system holds great therapeutic potential in preclinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiang Qian
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Di Wang
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Wenchao Niu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Ding Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Jinze Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Zhiquan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Xun Gao
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China
| | - Yang Han
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
| | - Liangxue Lai
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
| | - Zhanjun Li
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130062, China.
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8
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Mohan K, Dubey SK, Jung K, Dubey R, Wang QJ, Prajapati S, Roney J, Abney J, Kleinman ME. Long-Term Evaluation of Retinal Morphology and Function in Rosa26-Cas9 Knock-In Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5186. [PMID: 36982266 PMCID: PMC10049241 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065186] [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: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a robust, efficient, and cost-effective gene editing tool widely adopted in translational studies of ocular diseases. However, in vivo CRISPR-based editing in animal models poses challenges such as the efficient delivery of the CRISPR components in viral vectors with limited packaging capacity and a Cas9-associated immune response. Using a germline Cas9-expressing mouse model would help to overcome these limitations. Here, we evaluated the long-term effects of SpCas9 expression on retinal morphology and function using Rosa26-Cas9 knock-in mice. We observed abundant SpCas9 expression in the RPE and retina of Rosa26-Cas9 mice using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunostaining. SD-OCT imaging and histological analysis of the RPE, retinal layers, and vasculature showed no apparent structural abnormalities in adult and aged Cas9 mice. Full-field electroretinogram of adult and aged Cas9 mice showed no long-term functional changes in the retinal tissues because of constitutive Cas9 expression. The current study showed that both the retina and RPE maintain their phenotypic and functional features in Cas9 knock-in mice, establishing this as an ideal animal model for developing therapeutics for retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kabhilan Mohan
- Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA (S.K.D.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Sushil Kumar Dubey
- Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA (S.K.D.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Kyungsik Jung
- Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA (S.K.D.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Rashmi Dubey
- Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA (S.K.D.)
| | - Qing Jun Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Subhash Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jacob Roney
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Jennifer Abney
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Mark Ellsworth Kleinman
- Department of Surgery, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA (S.K.D.)
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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9
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Sun A, Li CP, Chen Z, Zhang S, Li DY, Yang Y, Li LQ, Zhao Y, Wang K, Li Z, Liu J, Liu S, Wang J, Liu JJG. The compact Casπ (Cas12l) 'bracelet' provides a unique structural platform for DNA manipulation. Cell Res 2023; 33:229-244. [PMID: 36650285 PMCID: PMC9977741 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-022-00771-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas modules serve as the adaptive nucleic acid immune systems for prokaryotes, and provide versatile tools for nucleic acid manipulation in various organisms. Here, we discovered a new miniature type V system, CRISPR-Casπ (Cas12l) (~860 aa), from the environmental metagenome. Complexed with a large guide RNA (~170 nt) comprising the tracrRNA and crRNA, Casπ (Cas12l) recognizes a unique 5' C-rich PAM for DNA cleavage under a broad range of biochemical conditions, and generates gene editing in mammalian cells. Cryo-EM study reveals a 'bracelet' architecture of Casπ effector encircling the DNA target at 3.4 Å resolution, substantially different from the canonical 'two-lobe' architectures of Cas12 and Cas9 nucleases. The large guide RNA serves as a 'two-arm' scaffold for effector assembly. Our study expands the knowledge of DNA targeting mechanisms by CRISPR effectors, and offers an efficient but compact platform for DNA manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Sun
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng-Ping Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihang Chen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shouyue Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Dan-Yuan Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Yang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Long-Qi Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuqian Zhao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaichen Wang
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaofu Li
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinxia Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China
| | - Sitong Liu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jun-Jie Gogo Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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10
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Wu W, Lei H. Genome Editing Inhibits Retinal Angiogenesis in a Mouse Model of Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2678:207-217. [PMID: 37326717 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3255-0_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This protocol describes a novel approach harnessing the technology of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated (Cas) 9-based gene editing for treating retinal angiogenesis. In this system, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 was employed to edit the genome of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)2 in retinal vascular endothelial cells in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy. The results showed that genome editing of VEGFR2 suppressed pathological retinal angiogenesis. This mouse model mimics a critical aspect of abnormal retinal angiogenesis in patients with neovascular diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity, indicating genome editing has high potential for treating angiogenesis-associated retinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyi Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hetian Lei
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Eye Institute, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China.
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
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11
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Small-molecule inhibitors of proteasome increase CjCas9 protein stability. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280353. [PMID: 36656806 PMCID: PMC9851528 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The small size of CjCas9 can make easier its vectorization for in vivo gene therapy. However, compared to the SpCas9, the CjCas9 is, in general, less efficient to generate indels in target genes. The factors that affect its efficacity are not yet determined. We observed that the CjCas9 protein expressed in HEK293T cells after transfection of this transgene under a CMV promoter was much lower than the SpCas9 protein in the same conditions. We thus evaluated the effect of proteasome inhibitors on CjCas9 protein stability and its efficiency on FXN gene editing. Western blotting showed that the addition of MG132 or bortezomib, significantly increased CjCas9 protein levels in HEK293T and HeLa cells. Moreover, bortezomib increased the level of CjCas9 protein expressed under promoters weaker than CMV such as CBH or EFS but which are specific for certain tissues. Finally, ddPCR quantification showed that bortezomib treatment enhanced CjCas9 efficiency to delete GAA repeat region of FXN gene in HEK293T cells. The improvement of CjCas9 protein stability would facilitate its used in CRISPR/Cas system.
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12
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Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a heterogeneous group of diseases that affect more than 2 million people worldwide. Gene therapy (GT) has emerged as an exciting treatment modality with the potential to provide long-term benefit to patients. Today, gene addition is the most straightforward GT for autosomal recessive IRDs. However, there are three scenarios where this approach falls short. First, in autosomal dominant diseases caused by gain-of-function or dominant-negative mutations, the toxic mutated protein needs to be silenced. Second, a number of IRD genes exceed the limited carrying capacity of adeno-associated virus vectors. Third, there are still about 30% of patients with unknown mutations. In the first two contexts, precise editing tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9, base editors, or prime editors, are emerging as potential GT solutions for the treatment of IRDs. Here, we review gene editing tools based on CRISPR-Cas9 technology that have been used in vivo and the recent first-in-human application of CRISPR-Cas9 in an IRD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Pulman
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France.,Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.,CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DGOS CIC 1423, Paris, France.,Fondation Ophtalmologique Rothschild, Paris, France
| | - Deniz Dalkara
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Institut de la Vision, Paris, France
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13
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Multiplexed genome regulation in vivo with hyper-efficient Cas12a. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:590-600. [PMID: 35414015 PMCID: PMC9035114 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00870-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Multiplexed modulation of endogenous genes is crucial for sophisticated gene therapy and cell engineering. CRISPR-Cas12a systems enable versatile multiple-genomic-loci targeting by processing numerous CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs) from a single transcript; however, their low efficiency has hindered in vivo applications. Through structure-guided protein engineering, we developed a hyper-efficient Lachnospiraceae bacterium Cas12a variant, termed hyperCas12a, with its catalytically dead version hyperdCas12a showing significantly enhanced efficacy for gene activation, particularly at low concentrations of crRNA. We demonstrate that hyperdCas12a has comparable off-target effects compared with the wild-type system and exhibits enhanced activity for gene editing and repression. Delivery of the hyperdCas12a activator and a single crRNA array simultaneously activating the endogenous Oct4, Sox2 and Klf4 genes in the retina of post-natal mice alters the differentiation of retinal progenitor cells. The hyperCas12a system offers a versatile in vivo tool for a broad range of gene-modulation and gene-therapy applications.
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14
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Fajardo-Serrano A, Rico AJ, Roda E, Honrubia A, Arrieta S, Ariznabarreta G, Chocarro J, Lorenzo-Ramos E, Pejenaute A, Vázquez A, Lanciego JL. Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors as Versatile Tools for Neurological Disorders: Focus on Delivery Routes and Therapeutic Perspectives. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040746. [PMID: 35453499 PMCID: PMC9025350 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is without doubt that the gene therapy field is currently in the spotlight for the development of new therapeutics targeting unmet medical needs. Thus, considering the gene therapy scenario, neurological diseases in general and neurodegenerative disorders in particular are emerging as the most appealing choices for new therapeutic arrivals intended to slow down, stop, or even revert the natural progressive course that characterizes most of these devastating neurodegenerative processes. Since an extensive coverage of all available literature is not feasible in practical terms, here emphasis was made in providing some advice to beginners in the field with a narrow focus on elucidating the best delivery route available for fulfilling any given AAV-based therapeutic approach. Furthermore, it is worth nothing that the number of ongoing clinical trials is increasing at a breath-taking speed. Accordingly, a landscape view of preclinical and clinical initiatives is also provided here in an attempt to best illustrate what is ongoing in this quickly expanding field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Fajardo-Serrano
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Correspondence: (A.F.-S.); (J.L.L.)
| | - Alberto J. Rico
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Elvira Roda
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Adriana Honrubia
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Sandra Arrieta
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Goiaz Ariznabarreta
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Julia Chocarro
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Elena Lorenzo-Ramos
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Alvaro Pejenaute
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Alfonso Vázquez
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Department of Neurosurgery, Servicio Navarro de Salud, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - José Luis Lanciego
- Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (CIMA), Department of Neuroscience, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (A.J.R.); (E.R.); (A.H.); (S.A.); (G.A.); (J.C.); (E.L.-R.); (A.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CiberNed), 23038 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain;
- Correspondence: (A.F.-S.); (J.L.L.)
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15
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Schneider N, Sundaresan Y, Gopalakrishnan P, Beryozkin A, Hanany M, Levanon EY, Banin E, Ben-Aroya S, Sharon D. Inherited retinal diseases: Linking genes, disease-causing variants, and relevant therapeutic modalities. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 89:101029. [PMID: 34839010 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.101029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a clinically complex and heterogenous group of visual impairment phenotypes caused by pathogenic variants in at least 277 nuclear and mitochondrial genes, affecting different retinal regions, and depleting the vision of affected individuals. Genes that cause IRDs when mutated are unique by possessing differing genotype-phenotype correlations, varying inheritance patterns, hypomorphic alleles, and modifier genes thus complicating genetic interpretation. Next-generation sequencing has greatly advanced the identification of novel IRD-related genes and pathogenic variants in the last decade. For this review, we performed an in-depth literature search which allowed for compilation of the Global Retinal Inherited Disease (GRID) dataset containing 4,798 discrete variants and 17,299 alleles published in 31 papers, showing a wide range of frequencies and complexities among the 194 genes reported in GRID, with 65% of pathogenic variants being unique to a single individual. A better understanding of IRD-related gene distribution, gene complexity, and variant types allow for improved genetic testing and therapies. Current genetic therapeutic methods are also quite diverse and rely on variant identification, and range from whole gene replacement to single nucleotide editing at the DNA or RNA levels. IRDs and their suitable therapies thus require a range of effective disease modelling in human cells, granting insight into disease mechanisms and testing of possible treatments. This review summarizes genetic and therapeutic modalities of IRDs, provides new analyses of IRD-related genes (GRID and complexity scores), and provides information to match genetic-based therapies such as gene-specific and variant-specific therapies to the appropriate individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Schneider
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Yogapriya Sundaresan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Prakadeeswari Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Avigail Beryozkin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Mor Hanany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Erez Y Levanon
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Eyal Banin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel
| | - Shay Ben-Aroya
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Dror Sharon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91120, Israel.
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16
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Meneghini V, Peviani M, Luciani M, Zambonini G, Gritti A. Delivery Platforms for CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing of Glial Cells in the Central Nervous System. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:644319. [PMID: 34713256 PMCID: PMC8525379 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.644319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia) are emerging as key players in several physiological and pathological processes of the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes and oligodendrocytes are not only supportive cells that release trophic factors or regulate energy metabolism, but they also actively modulate critical neuronal processes and functions in the tripartite synapse. Microglia are defined as CNS-resident cells that provide immune surveillance; however, they also actively contribute to shaping the neuronal microenvironment by scavenging cell debris or regulating synaptogenesis and pruning. Given the many interconnected processes coordinated by glial cells, it is not surprising that both acute and chronic CNS insults not only cause neuronal damage but also trigger complex multifaceted responses, including neuroinflammation, which can critically contribute to the disease progression and worsening of symptoms in several neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, this makes glial cells excellent candidates for targeted therapies to treat CNS disorders. In recent years, the application of gene editing technologies has redefined therapeutic strategies to treat genetic and age-related neurological diseases. In this review, we discuss the advantages and limitations of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9-based gene editing in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, focusing on the development of viral- and nanoparticle-based delivery methods for in vivo glial cell targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasco Meneghini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Peviani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Luciani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giada Zambonini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Gritti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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17
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Yang Y, Wu W, Liu T, Dong L, Lei H. A robust method for protein depletion based on gene editing. Methods 2021; 194:3-11. [PMID: 33705859 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The technology of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated nuclease Cas9 (CRISPR-Cas9) is a powerful system for protein depletion resulting from insertions and deletions following Cas9 cleavage of genome at specific site in vitro and in vivo. We herein present a relatively standard protocol for protein depletion in a step-by-step procedure, including guide RNA designation and vector construction, lentivirus production, cell selection, and experimentally validate the function of targeted protein. We exemplified this approach by editing PDGFRβ in human epithelial cells, and expected that this simplified and detailed protocol will be more broadly applied on specific genes to aid understanding gene functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Yang
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control of Common Infectious Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Wenyi Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Tong Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medicwal University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Lijun Dong
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Eye Institute, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hetian Lei
- Shenzhen Eye Hospital, Shenzhen Eye Institute, Jinan University, Shenzhen, China.
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18
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Tang N, Zhang Y, Shen Z, Yao Y, Nair V. Application of CRISPR-Cas9 Editing for Virus Engineering and the Development of Recombinant Viral Vaccines. CRISPR J 2021; 4:477-490. [PMID: 34406035 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2021.0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas technology, discovered originally as a bacterial defense system, has been extensively repurposed as a powerful tool for genome editing for multiple applications in biology. In the field of virology, CRISPR-Cas9 technology has been widely applied on genetic recombination and engineering of genomes of various viruses to ask some fundamental questions about virus-host interactions. Its high efficiency, specificity, versatility, and low cost have also provided great inspiration and hope in the field of vaccinology to solve a series of bottleneck problems in the development of recombinant viral vaccines. This review highlights the applications of CRISPR editing in the technological advances compared to the traditional approaches used for the construction of recombinant viral vaccines and vectors, the main factors affecting their application, and the challenges that need to be overcome for further streamlining their effective usage in the prevention and control of diseases. Factors affecting efficiency, target specificity, and fidelity of CRISPR-Cas editing in the context of viral genome editing and development of recombinant vaccines are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Tang
- Shandong Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy and UK-China Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases, Binzhou, P.R. China; University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yaoyao Zhang
- The Pirbright Institute and UK-China Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases, Pirbright, Ash road, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom; University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Zhiqiang Shen
- Shandong Binzhou Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Academy and UK-China Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases, Binzhou, P.R. China; University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yongxiu Yao
- The Pirbright Institute and UK-China Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases, Pirbright, Ash road, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom; University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Venugopal Nair
- The Pirbright Institute and UK-China Centre of Excellence for Research on Avian Diseases, Pirbright, Ash road, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom; University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,The Jenner Institute Laboratories, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; and University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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19
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Chung SH, Sin TN, Ngo T, Yiu G. CRISPR Technology for Ocular Angiogenesis. Front Genome Ed 2020; 2:594984. [PMID: 34713223 PMCID: PMC8525361 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2020.594984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Among genome engineering tools, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based approaches have been widely adopted for translational studies due to their robustness, precision, and ease of use. When delivered to diseased tissues with a viral vector such as adeno-associated virus, direct genome editing can be efficiently achieved in vivo to treat different ophthalmic conditions. While CRISPR has been actively explored as a strategy for treating inherited retinal diseases, with the first human trial recently initiated, its applications for complex, multifactorial conditions such as ocular angiogenesis has been relatively limited. Currently, neovascular retinal diseases such as retinopathy of prematurity, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and neovascular age-related macular degeneration, which together constitute the majority of blindness in developed countries, are managed with frequent and costly injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents that are short-lived and burdensome for patients. By contrast, CRISPR technology has the potential to suppress angiogenesis permanently, with the added benefit of targeting intracellular signals or regulatory elements, cell-specific delivery, and multiplexing to disrupt different pro-angiogenic factors simultaneously. However, the prospect of permanently suppressing physiologic pathways, the unpredictability of gene editing efficacy, and concerns for off-target effects have limited enthusiasm for these approaches. Here, we review the evolution of gene therapy and advances in adapting CRISPR platforms to suppress retinal angiogenesis. We discuss different Cas9 orthologs, delivery strategies, and different genomic targets including VEGF, VEGF receptor, and HIF-1α, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of genome editing vs. conventional gene therapies for multifactorial disease processes as compared to inherited monogenic retinal disorders. Lastly, we describe barriers that must be overcome to enable effective adoption of CRISPR-based strategies for the management of ocular angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Glenn Yiu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
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