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Finotti A, Gambari R. Combined approaches for increasing fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and de novo production of adult hemoglobin (HbA) in erythroid cells from β-thalassemia patients: treatment with HbF inducers and CRISPR-Cas9 based genome editing. Front Genome Ed 2023; 5:1204536. [PMID: 37529398 PMCID: PMC10387548 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2023.1204536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome editing (GE) is one of the most efficient and useful molecular approaches to correct the effects of gene mutations in hereditary monogenetic diseases, including β-thalassemia. CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing has been proposed for effective correction of the β-thalassemia mutation, obtaining high-level "de novo" production of adult hemoglobin (HbA). In addition to the correction of the primary gene mutations causing β-thalassemia, several reports demonstrate that gene editing can be employed to increase fetal hemoglobin (HbF), obtaining important clinical benefits in treated β-thalassemia patients. This important objective can be achieved through CRISPR-Cas9 disruption of genes encoding transcriptional repressors of γ-globin gene expression (such as BCL11A, SOX6, KLF-1) or their binding sites in the HBG promoter, mimicking non-deletional and deletional HPFH mutations. These two approaches (β-globin gene correction and genome editing of the genes encoding repressors of γ-globin gene transcription) can be, at least in theory, combined. However, since multiplex CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing is associated with documented evidence concerning possible genotoxicity, this review is focused on the possibility to combine pharmacologically-mediated HbF induction protocols with the "de novo" production of HbA using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Finotti
- Center “Chiara Gemmo and Elio Zago” for the Research on Thalassemia, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Center “Chiara Gemmo and Elio Zago” for the Research on Thalassemia, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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Gene Repair of iPSC Line with GARS (G294R) Mutation of CMT2D Disease by CRISPR/Cas9. Curr Med Sci 2023; 43:261-267. [PMID: 36932303 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-023-2707-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) severely affects patient activity, and may cause disability. However, no clinical treatment is available to reverse the disease course. The combination of CRISPR/Cas9 and iPSCs may have therapeutic potential against nervous diseases, such as CMT. METHODS In the present study, the skin fibroblasts of CMT type 2D (CMT2D) patients with the c.880G>A heterozygous nucleotide mutation in the GARS gene were reprogrammed into iPSCs using three plasmids (pCXLE-hSK, pCXLE-hUL and pCXLE-hOCT3/4-shp5-F). Then, CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to repair the mutated gene sites at the iPSC level. RESULTS An iPSC line derived from the GARS (G294R) family with fibular atrophy was successfully induced, and the mutated gene loci were repaired at the iPSC level using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. These findings lay the foundation for future research on drug screening and cell therapy. CONCLUSION iPSCs can differentiate into different cell types, and originate from autologous cells. Therefore, they are promising for the development of autologous cell therapies for degenerative diseases. The combination of CRISPR/Cas9 and iPSCs may open a new avenue for the treatment of nervous diseases, such as CMT.
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Cosenza LC, Gasparello J, Romanini N, Zurlo M, Zuccato C, Gambari R, Finotti A. Efficient CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing of β-globin gene on erythroid cells from homozygous β 039-thalassemia patients. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 21:507-523. [PMID: 33997100 PMCID: PMC8091488 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gene editing by the CRISPR-Cas9 nuclease system technology can be considered among the most promising strategies to correct hereditary mutations in a variety of monogenic diseases. In this paper, we present for the first time the correction, by CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, of the β039-thalassemia mutation, one of the most frequent in the Mediterranean area. The results obtained demonstrated the presence of normal β-globin genes after CRISPR-Cas9 correction of the β039-thalassemia mutation performed on erythroid precursor cells from homozygous β039-thalassemia patients. This was demonstrated by allele-specific PCR and sequencing. Accumulation of corrected β-globin mRNA and relevant "de novo" production of β-globin and adult hemoglobin (HbA) were found with high efficiency. The CRISPR-Cas9-forced HbA production levels were associated with a significant reduction of the excess of free α-globin chains. Genomic toxicity of the editing procedure (low indels and no off-targeting) was analyzed. The protocol might be the starting point for the development of an efficient editing of CD34+ cells derived from β039 patients and for the design of combined treatments using, together with the CRISPR-Cas9 editing of the β-globin gene, other therapeutic approaches, such as, for instance, induction of HbA and/or fetal hemoglobin (HbF) using chemical inducers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Carmela Cosenza
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Jessica Gasparello
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicola Romanini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Matteo Zurlo
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Cristina Zuccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, Ferrara, Italy
- Interuniversity Consortium for Biotechnology (CIB), Trieste, Italy
- Biotechnology Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessia Finotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ferrara University, Ferrara, Italy
- Interuniversity Consortium for Biotechnology (CIB), Trieste, Italy
- Biotechnology Center, University of Ferrara, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
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Almeida MJ, Matos A. Designer Nucleases: Gene-Editing Therapies using CCR5 as an Emerging Target in HIV. Curr HIV Res 2020; 17:306-323. [PMID: 31652113 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x17666191025112918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), is a life-threatening disorder that persists worldwide as a severe health problem. Since it was linked with the HIV attachment process, the Chemokine receptor, CCR5, has been at the development leading edge of several gene-based therapies. Given the shortcomings of the current antiretroviral treatment procedure and the non-availability of a licensed vaccine, the aptitude to modify complex genomes with Designer Nucleases has had a noteworthy impact on biotechnology. Over the last years, ZFN, TALEN and CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology have appeared as a promising solution that mimics the naturally occurring CCR5/Δ32 mutation and permanently guarantees the absence of CCR5-expression on the surface of HIV target-cells, leading to a continuous resistance to the virus entry and, ultimately, proving that cellular immunization from infection could be, in fact, a conceivable therapeutic approach to finally achieve the long-awaited functional cure of HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria João Almeida
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Matos
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Research Centre on Chemical Processes Engineering and Forest Products (CIEPQF), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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Gao CE, Song Q, Zhang M, Li J, Miao Y, Li Z, Dong J. Generation, ex vivo expansion and safety of engineered PD1-knockout primary T cells from cynomolgus macaques. Mol Immunol 2020; 124:100-108. [PMID: 32554100 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) is a cell-surface receptor that plays a vital regulatory role in suppressing inflammatory T cell activity; therefore, it is an ideal target for T cell-redirecting therapies. Here, we describe a cynomolgus macaque model for studying the transfer of PD1-modified T cells. We developed the first T cell engager targeting the disruption of PD1 by electroporation of plasmids encoding sgRNA and Cas9. There were no significant differences between mock T cells and PD1-knockout (PD1-KO) T cells in terms of cell viability, T cell signature marker expression, cell apoptosis, or cell cycling during prolonged in vitro culture. However, in a mixed lymphocyte reaction, PD1-KO T cells exhibited increased proliferation for both CD4+ and CD8+T cells and enhanced IFNγ release. We adoptively transferred autologous PD1-KO T cells into three cynomolgus monkeys. The PD1-KO T cells did not cause overt toxicity as measured by evaluating body weight, hematological parameters, and blood chemistry parameters. Histopathological analyses of tissues showed no lesions related to the infused PD1-KO T cells. Our findings demonstrate the utility of cynomolgus monkeys in expanding PD1-KO T cells and evaluating the safety of this immunotherapy and provide a new strategy for T cell-based adoptive cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-E Gao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China; Department of Medical Oncology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital & The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Qian Song
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital & The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Yunnan Cancer Hospital & The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Jian Li
- Kunming Biological Diversity Regional Center of Instruments, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
| | - Yi Miao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital & The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhenhui Li
- Department of Radiotherapy, Yunnan Cancer Hospital & The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Jian Dong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yunnan Cancer Hospital & The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China.
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Prospects and modalities for the treatment of genetic ocular anomalies. Hum Genet 2019; 138:1019-1026. [DOI: 10.1007/s00439-018-01968-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Current status of blood 'pharming': megakaryoctye transfusions as a source of platelets. Curr Opin Hematol 2018; 24:565-571. [PMID: 28985194 DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Donor-derived platelets have proven to be of hemostatic value in many clinical settings. There is a fear that the need for platelets may outgrow the donor pool in first-world countries. Moreover, there are other challenges with donor platelets that add to the impetus to find an alternative platelet source, especially after the megakaryocyte cytokine thrombopoietin was identified. Megakaryocytes have since been differentiated from numerous cell sources and the observed released platelet-like particles (PLPs) have led to calls to develop such products for clinical use. The development of megakaryocytes from embryonic stem cell also supported the concept of developing nondonor-based platelets. RECENT FINDINGS Several groups have claimed that nondonor-based platelets derived from in-vitro grown megakaryocytes may soon become available to supplement or replace donor-derived products, but their number and quality has been wanting. A possible alternative of directly infusing megakaryocytes that release platelets in the lungs - similar to that recently shown for endogenous megakaryocytes - has been proposed. SUMMARY This present review will describe the present state-of-the-art in generating and delivering nondonor-derived platelets. Progress has been slow, but advances in our ability to generate human megakaryocytes in culture, generate PLPs from these cells, and test the functionality of the resultant platelets in vitro and in vivo have identified important remaining challenges and raised alternative potential solutions.
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Daliri K, Ljubimov AV, Hekmatimoghaddam S. Glaucoma, Stem Cells, and Gene Therapy: Where Are We Now? Int J Stem Cells 2017; 10:119-128. [PMID: 28844129 PMCID: PMC5741193 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc17029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glaucoma is the second most common cause of blindness, affecting 70∼80 million people around the world. The death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is the main cause of blindness related to this disease. Current therapies do not provide enough protection and regeneration of RGCs. A novel opportunity for treatment of glaucoma is application of technologies related to stem cell and gene therapy. In this perspective we will thus focus on emerging approaches to glaucoma treatment including stem cells and gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Daliri
- Neurogenetic Ward, Comprehensive Child Developmental Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.,Visiting Scientist at Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alexander V Ljubimov
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Seyedhossein Hekmatimoghaddam
- Stem Cell Biology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.,Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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Farashi S, Harteveld CL. Molecular basis of α-thalassemia. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2017; 70:43-53. [PMID: 29032940 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2017.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
α-Thalassemia is an inherited, autosomal recessive, disorder characterized by a microcytic hypochromic anemia. It is one of the most common monogenic gene disorders in the world population. The clinical severity varies from almost asymptomatic, to mild microcytic hypochromic, and to a lethal hemolytic condition, called Hb Bart's Hydrops Foetalis Syndrome. The molecular basis are usually deletions and less frequently, point mutations affecting the expression of one or more of the duplicated α-genes. The clinical variation and increase in disease severity is directly related to the decreased expression of one, two, three or four copies of the α-globin genes. Deletions and point mutations in the α-globin genes and their regulatory elements have been studied extensively in carriers and patients and these studies have given insight into the α-globin genes are regulated. By looking at naturally occurring deletions and point mutations, our knowledge of globin-gene regulation and expression will continue to increase and will lead to new targets of therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaneh Farashi
- Dept. of Clinical Genetics, Hemoglobinopathy Expert Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelis L Harteveld
- Dept. of Clinical Genetics, Hemoglobinopathy Expert Center, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Generating autologous hematopoietic cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells through ectopic expression of transcription factors. Curr Opin Hematol 2017; 24:283-288. [DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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