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Li M, Yuan Y, Hou Z, Hao S, Jin L, Wang B. Human brain organoid: trends, evolution, and remaining challenges. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2387-2399. [PMID: 38526275 PMCID: PMC11090441 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Advanced brain organoids provide promising platforms for deciphering the cellular and molecular processes of human neural development and diseases. Although various studies and reviews have described developments and advancements in brain organoids, few studies have comprehensively summarized and analyzed the global trends in this area of neuroscience. To identify and further facilitate the development of cerebral organoids, we utilized bibliometrics and visualization methods to analyze the global trends and evolution of brain organoids in the last 10 years. First, annual publications, countries/regions, organizations, journals, authors, co-citations, and keywords relating to brain organoids were identified. The hotspots in this field were also systematically identified. Subsequently, current applications for brain organoids in neuroscience, including human neural development, neural disorders, infectious diseases, regenerative medicine, drug discovery, and toxicity assessment studies, are comprehensively discussed. Towards that end, several considerations regarding the current challenges in brain organoid research and future strategies to advance neuroscience will be presented to further promote their application in neurological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Li
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
- Southwest Hospital/Southwest Eye Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Yuhan Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zongkun Hou
- School of Biology and Engineering/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Shilei Hao
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liang Jin
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bochu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China
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2
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Ng BW, Kaukonen MK, McClements ME, Shamsnajafabadi H, MacLaren RE, Cehajic-Kapetanovic J. Genetic therapies and potential therapeutic applications of CRISPR activators in the eye. Prog Retin Eye Res 2024:101289. [PMID: 39127142 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2024.101289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Conventional gene therapy involving supplementation only treats loss-of-function diseases and is limited by viral packaging sizes, precluding therapy of large genes. The discovery of CRISPR/Cas has led to a paradigm shift in the field of genetic therapy, with the promise of precise gene editing, thus broadening the range of diseases that can be treated. The initial uses of CRISPR/Cas have focused mainly on gene editing or silencing of abnormal variants via utilising Cas endonuclease to trigger the target cell endogenous non-homologous end joining. Subsequently, the technology has evolved to modify the Cas enzyme and even its guide RNA, leading to more efficient editing tools in the form of base and prime editing. Further advancements of this CRISPR/Cas technology itself have expanded its functional repertoire from targeted editing to programmable transactivation, shifting the therapeutic focus to precise endogenous gene activation or upregulation with the potential for epigenetic modifications. In vivo experiments using this platform have demonstrated the potential of CRISPR-activators (CRISPRa) to treat various loss-of-function diseases, as well as in regenerative medicine, highlighting their versatility to overcome limitations associated with conventional strategies. This review summarises the molecular mechanisms of CRISPRa platforms, the current applications of this technology in vivo, and discusses potential solutions to translational hurdles for this therapy, with a focus on ophthalmic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Wj Ng
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria K Kaukonen
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK; Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Michelle E McClements
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Hoda Shamsnajafabadi
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Jasmina Cehajic-Kapetanovic
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK; Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK.
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3
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Roth GV, Gengaro IR, Qi LS. Precision epigenetic editing: Technological advances, enduring challenges, and therapeutic applications. Cell Chem Biol 2024:S2451-9456(24)00309-X. [PMID: 39137782 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
The epigenome is a complex framework through which gene expression is precisely and flexibly modulated to incorporate heritable memory and responses to environmental stimuli. It governs diverse cellular processes, including cell fate, disease, and aging. The need to understand this system and precisely control gene expression outputs for therapeutic purposes has precipitated the development of a diverse set of epigenetic editing tools. Here, we review the existing toolbox for targeted epigenetic editing, technical considerations of the current technologies, and opportunities for future development. We describe applications of therapeutic epigenetic editing and their potential for treating disease, with a discussion of ongoing delivery challenges that impede certain clinical interventions, particularly in the brain. With simultaneous advancements in available engineering tools and appropriate delivery technologies, we predict that epigenetic editing will increasingly cement itself as a powerful approach for safely treating a wide range of disorders in all tissues of the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goldie V Roth
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Isabella R Gengaro
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lei S Qi
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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4
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McCutcheon SR, Rohm D, Iglesias N, Gersbach CA. Epigenome editing technologies for discovery and medicine. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:1199-1217. [PMID: 39075148 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02320-1] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Epigenome editing has rapidly evolved in recent years, with diverse applications that include elucidating gene regulation mechanisms, annotating coding and noncoding genome functions and programming cell state and lineage specification. Importantly, given the ubiquitous role of epigenetics in complex phenotypes, epigenome editing has unique potential to impact a broad spectrum of diseases. By leveraging powerful DNA-targeting technologies, such as CRISPR, epigenome editing exploits the heritable and reversible mechanisms of epigenetics to alter gene expression without introducing DNA breaks, inducing DNA damage or relying on DNA repair pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R McCutcheon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Dahlia Rohm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nahid Iglesias
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Center for Advanced Genomic Technologies, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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5
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Clark T, Waller MA, Loo L, Moreno CL, Denes CE, Neely GG. CRISPR activation screens: navigating technologies and applications. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:1017-1034. [PMID: 38493051 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.02.007] [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] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) activation (CRISPRa) has become an integral part of the molecular biology toolkit. CRISPRa genetic screens are an exciting high-throughput means of identifying genes the upregulation of which is sufficient to elicit a given phenotype. Activation machinery is continually under development to achieve greater, more robust, and more consistent activation. In this review, we offer a succinct technological overview of available CRISPRa architectures and a comprehensive summary of pooled CRISPRa screens. Furthermore, we discuss contemporary applications of CRISPRa across broad fields of research, with the aim of presenting a view of exciting emerging applications for CRISPRa screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teleri Clark
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew A Waller
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lipin Loo
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Cesar L Moreno
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher E Denes
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - G Gregory Neely
- Charles Perkins Centre, Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
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Hatanaka F, Suzuki K, Shojima K, Yu J, Takahashi Y, Sakamoto A, Prieto J, Shokhirev M, Nuñez Delicado E, Rodriguez Esteban C, Izpisua Belmonte JC. Therapeutic strategy for spinal muscular atrophy by combining gene supplementation and genome editing. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6191. [PMID: 39048567 PMCID: PMC11269569 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50095-5] [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] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Defect in the SMN1 gene causes spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which shows loss of motor neurons, muscle weakness and atrophy. While current treatment strategies, including small molecules or viral vectors, have shown promise in improving motor function and survival, achieving a definitive and long-term correction of SMA's endogenous mutations and phenotypes remains highly challenging. We have previously developed a CRISPR-Cas9 based homology-independent targeted integration (HITI) strategy, enabling unidirectional DNA knock-in in both dividing and non-dividing cells in vivo. In this study, we demonstrated its utility by correcting an SMA mutation in mice. When combined with Smn1 cDNA supplementation, it exhibited long-term therapeutic benefits in SMA mice. Our observations may provide new avenues for the long-term and efficient treatment of inherited diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiyuki Hatanaka
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Altos Labs, Inc., 5510 Morehouse Dr., Ste. 300, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Keiichiro Suzuki
- Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Osaka University, Osaka, 560-8531, Japan
- Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka, 560-8531, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Bioscience, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kensaku Shojima
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Department of General Internal Medicine, Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine, Hyogo, 663-8131, Japan
| | - Jingting Yu
- Integrative Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Yuta Takahashi
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Altos Labs, Inc., 5510 Morehouse Dr., Ste. 300, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Akihisa Sakamoto
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Javier Prieto
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Maxim Shokhirev
- Integrative Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Estrella Nuñez Delicado
- Universidad Catolica, San Antonio de Murcia, Campus de los Jeronimos, 135, 30107, Guadalupe, Spain
| | - Concepcion Rodriguez Esteban
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
- Altos Labs, Inc., 5510 Morehouse Dr., Ste. 300, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
- Altos Labs, Inc., 5510 Morehouse Dr., Ste. 300, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA.
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Kong D, Zhou Y, Wei Y, Wang X, Huang Q, Gao X, Wan H, Liu M, Kang L, Yu G, Yin J, Guan N, Ye H. Exploring plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins for light-switchable transcriptional regulation in mammals. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4894. [PMID: 38849338 PMCID: PMC11161646 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49254-5] [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: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology applications require finely tuned gene expression, often mediated by synthetic transcription factors (sTFs) compatible with the human genome and transcriptional regulation mechanisms. While various DNA-binding and activation domains have been developed for different applications, advanced artificially controllable sTFs with improved regulatory capabilities are required for increasingly sophisticated applications. Here, in mammalian cells and mice, we validate the transactivator function and homo-/heterodimerization activity of the plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins, FHY1 and FHL. Our results demonstrate that FHY1/FHL form a photosensing transcriptional regulation complex (PTRC) through interaction with the phytochrome, ΔPhyA, that can toggle between active and inactive states through exposure to red or far-red light, respectively. Exploiting this capability, we develop a light-switchable platform that allows for orthogonal, modular, and tunable control of gene transcription, and incorporate it into a PTRC-controlled CRISPRa system (PTRCdcas) to modulate endogenous gene expression. We then integrate the PTRC with small molecule- or blue light-inducible regulatory modules to construct a variety of highly tunable systems that allow rapid and reversible control of transcriptional regulation in vitro and in vivo. Validation and deployment of these plant-derived phytochrome chaperone proteins in a PTRC platform have produced a versatile, powerful tool for advanced research and biomedical engineering applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deqiang Kong
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Wuhu Hospital, Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Middle Jiuhua Road 263, Wuhu City, China
| | - Yu Wei
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xinyi Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Qin Huang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xianyun Gao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Hang Wan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Mengyao Liu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Liping Kang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Guiling Yu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jianli Yin
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Precision Optics, Chongqing Institute of East China Normal University, Chongqing, 401120, China
| | - Ningzi Guan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Haifeng Ye
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Biomedical Synthetic Biology Research Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Dongchuan Road 500, Shanghai, 200241, China.
- Wuhu Hospital, Health Science Center, East China Normal University, Middle Jiuhua Road 263, Wuhu City, China.
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Li J, Li R, Bai X, Zhang W, Nie Y, Hu S. Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into functional hepatocytes via CRISPRa activation of endogenous Gata4 and Foxa3. Chin Med J (Engl) 2024; 137:1351-1359. [PMID: 38721807 PMCID: PMC11191006 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000003088] [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] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability to generate functional hepatocytes without relying on donor liver organs holds significant therapeutic promise in the fields of regenerative medicine and potential liver disease treatments. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) activator (CRISPRa) is a powerful tool that can conveniently and efficiently activate the expression of multiple endogenous genes simultaneously, providing a new strategy for cell fate determination. The main purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of applying CRISPRa for hepatocyte reprogramming and its application in the treatment of mouse liver fibrosis. METHOD The differentiation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) into functional induced hepatocyte-like cells (iHeps) was achieved by utilizing the CRISPRa synergistic activation mediator (SAM) system, which drove the combined expression of three endogenous transcription factors- Gata4, Foxa3 , and Hnf1a -or alternatively, the expression of two transcription factors, Gata4 and Foxa3 . In vivo , we injected adeno-associated virus serotype 6 (AAV6) carrying the CRISPRa SAM system into liver fibrotic Col1a1-CreER ; Cas9fl/fl mice, effectively activating the expression of endogenous Gata4 and Foxa3 in fibroblasts. The endogenous transcriptional activation of genes was confirmed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and RNA-seq, and the morphology and characteristics of the induced hepatocytes were observed through microscopy. The level of hepatocyte reprogramming in vivo is detected by immunofluorescence staining, while the improvement of liver fibrosis is evaluated through Sirius red staining, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) immunofluorescence staining, and blood alanine aminotransferase (ALT) examination. RESULTS Activation of only two factors, Gata4 and Foxa3 , via CRISPRa was sufficient to successfully induce the transformation of MEFs into iHeps. These iHeps could be expanded in vitro and displayed functional characteristics similar to those of mature hepatocytes, such as drug metabolism and glycogen storage. Additionally, AAV6-based delivery of the CRISPRa SAM system effectively induced the hepatic reprogramming from fibroblasts in mice with live fibrosis. After 8 weeks of induction, the reprogrammed hepatocytes comprised 0.87% of the total hepatocyte population in the mice, significantly reducing liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION CRISPRa-induced hepatocyte reprogramming may be a promising strategy for generating functional hepatocytes and treating liver fibrosis caused by hepatic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Third Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Ruopu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Xue Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Yu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
| | - Shengshou Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China
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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 PMCID: PMC11138051 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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Kantor B, Odonovan B, Rittiner J, Hodgson D, Lindner N, Guerrero S, Dong W, Zhang A, Chiba-Falek O. All-in-one AAV-delivered epigenome-editing platform: proof-of-concept and therapeutic implications for neurodegenerative disorders. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.04.14.536951. [PMID: 38798630 PMCID: PMC11118458 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.14.536951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Safely and efficiently controlling gene expression is a long-standing goal of biomedical research, and the recently discovered bacterial CRISPR/Cas system can be harnessed to create powerful tools for epigenetic editing. Current state-of-the-art systems consist of a deactivated-Cas9 nuclease (dCas9) fused to one of several epigenetic effector motifs/domains, along with a guide RNA (gRNA) which defines the genomic target. Such systems have been used to safely and effectively silence or activate a specific gene target under a variety of circumstances. Adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) are the therapeutic platform of choice for the delivery of genetic cargo; however, their small packaging capacity is not suitable for delivery of large constructs, which includes most CRISPR/dCas9-effector systems. To circumvent this, many AAV-based CRISPR/Cas tools are delivered in two pieces, from two separate viral cassettes. However, this approach requires higher viral payloads and usually is less efficient. Here we develop a compact dCas9-based repressor system packaged within a single, optimized AAV vector. The system uses a smaller dCas9 variant derived from Staphylococcus aureus ( Sa ). A novel repressor was engineered by fusing the small transcription repression domain (TRD) from MeCP2 with the KRAB repression domain. The final d Sa Cas9-KRAB-MeCP2(TRD) construct can be efficiently packaged, along with its associated gRNA, into AAV particles. Using reporter assays, we demonstrate that the platform is capable of robustly and sustainably repressing the expression of multiple genes-of-interest, both in vitro and in vivo . Moreover, we successfully reduced the expression of ApoE, the stronger genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). This new platform will broaden the CRISPR/dCas9 toolset available for transcriptional manipulation of gene expression in research and therapeutic settings.
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11
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Haideri T, Lin J, Bao X, Lian XL. MAGIK: A rapid and efficient method to create lineage-specific reporters in human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:744-757. [PMID: 38579711 PMCID: PMC11103783 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.03.005] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Precise insertion of fluorescent proteins into lineage-specific genes in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) presents challenges due to low knockin efficiency and difficulties in isolating targeted cells. To overcome these hurdles, we present the modified mRNA (ModRNA)-based Activation for Gene Insertion and Knockin (MAGIK) method. MAGIK operates in two steps: first, it uses a Cas9-2A-p53DD modRNA with a mini-donor plasmid (without a drug selection cassette) to significantly enhance efficiency. Second, a deactivated Cas9 activator modRNA and a 'dead' guide RNA are used to temporarily activate the targeted gene, allowing for live cell sorting of targeted cells. Consequently, MAGIK eliminates the need for drug selection cassettes or labor-intensive single-cell colony screening, expediting precise gene editing. We showed MAGIK can be utilized to insert fluorescent proteins into various genes, including SOX17, NKX6.1, NKX2.5, and PDX1, across multiple hPSC lines. This underscores its robust performance and offers a promising solution for achieving knockin in hPSCs within a significantly shortened time frame.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahir Haideri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jirong Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Xiaoping Bao
- Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Xiaojun Lance Lian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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12
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Laurent M, Geoffroy M, Pavani G, Guiraud S. CRISPR-Based Gene Therapies: From Preclinical to Clinical Treatments. Cells 2024; 13:800. [PMID: 38786024 PMCID: PMC11119143 DOI: 10.3390/cells13100800] [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] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein have emerged as a revolutionary gene editing tool to treat inherited disorders affecting different organ systems, such as blood and muscles. Both hematological and neuromuscular genetic disorders benefit from genome editing approaches but face different challenges in their clinical translation. The ability of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies to modify hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo has greatly accelerated the development of genetic therapies for blood disorders. In the last decade, many clinical trials were initiated and are now delivering encouraging results. The recent FDA approval of Casgevy, the first CRISPR/Cas9-based drug for severe sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia, represents a significant milestone in the field and highlights the great potential of this technology. Similar preclinical efforts are currently expanding CRISPR therapies to other hematologic disorders such as primary immunodeficiencies. In the neuromuscular field, the versatility of CRISPR/Cas9 has been instrumental for the generation of new cellular and animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), offering innovative platforms to speed up preclinical development of therapeutic solutions. Several corrective interventions have been proposed to genetically restore dystrophin production using the CRISPR toolbox and have demonstrated promising results in different DMD animal models. Although these advances represent a significant step forward to the clinical translation of CRISPR/Cas9 therapies to DMD, there are still many hurdles to overcome, such as in vivo delivery methods associated with high viral vector doses, together with safety and immunological concerns. Collectively, the results obtained in the hematological and neuromuscular fields emphasize the transformative impact of CRISPR/Cas9 for patients affected by these debilitating conditions. As each field suffers from different and specific challenges, the clinical translation of CRISPR therapies may progress differentially depending on the genetic disorder. Ongoing investigations and clinical trials will address risks and limitations of these therapies, including long-term efficacy, potential genotoxicity, and adverse immune reactions. This review provides insights into the diverse applications of CRISPR-based technologies in both preclinical and clinical settings for monogenic blood disorders and muscular dystrophy and compare advances in both fields while highlighting current trends, difficulties, and challenges to overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Laurent
- INTEGRARE, UMR_S951, Genethon, Inserm, Univ Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 91190 Evry, France
| | | | - Giulia Pavani
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Simon Guiraud
- SQY Therapeutics, 78180 Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
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13
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Poukalov KK, Valero MC, Muscato DR, Adams LM, Chun H, Lee YI, Andrade NS, Zeier Z, Sweeney HL, Wang ET. Myospreader improves gene editing in skeletal muscle by myonuclear propagation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2321438121. [PMID: 38687782 PMCID: PMC11087771 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2321438121] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Successful CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing in skeletal muscle is dependent on efficient propagation of Cas9 to all myonuclei in the myofiber. However, nuclear-targeted gene therapy cargos are strongly restricted to their myonuclear domain of origin. By screening nuclear localization signals and nuclear export signals, we identify "Myospreader," a combination of short peptide sequences that promotes myonuclear propagation. Appending Myospreader to Cas9 enhances protein stability and myonuclear propagation in myoblasts and myofibers. AAV-delivered Myospreader dCas9 better inhibits transcription of toxic RNA in a myotonic dystrophy mouse model. Furthermore, Myospreader Cas9 achieves higher rates of gene editing in CRISPR reporter and Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse models. Myospreader reveals design principles relevant to all nuclear-targeted gene therapies and highlights the importance of the spatial dimension in therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiril K. Poukalov
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
| | - M. Carmen Valero
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
| | - Derek R. Muscato
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
| | - Leanne M. Adams
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
| | - Heejae Chun
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
| | - Young il Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
| | - Nadja S. Andrade
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL33136
| | - Zane Zeier
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL33136
| | - H. Lee Sweeney
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
| | - Eric T. Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
- Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL32610
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14
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Gomez K, Allen HN, Duran P, Loya-Lopez S, Calderon-Rivera A, Moutal A, Tang C, Nelson TS, Perez-Miller S, Khanna R. Targeted transcriptional upregulation of SENP1 by CRISPR activation enhances deSUMOylation pathways to elicit antinociception in the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain. Pain 2024; 165:866-883. [PMID: 37862053 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003080] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The voltage-gated sodium channel Na V 1.7 is an essential component of human pain signaling. Changes in Na V 1.7 trafficking are considered critical in the development of neuropathic pain. SUMOylation of collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) regulates the membrane trafficking and function of Na V 1.7. Enhanced CRMP2 SUMOylation in neuropathic pain correlates with increased Na V 1.7 activity. Pharmacological and genetic interventions that interfere with CRMP2 SUMOylation in rodents with neuropathic pain have been shown to reverse mechanical allodynia. Sentrin or SUMO-specific proteases (SENPs) are vital for balancing SUMOylation and deSUMOylation of substrates. Overexpression of SENP1 and/or SENP2 in CRMP2-expressing cells results in increased deSUMOylation and decreased membrane expression and currents of Na V 1.7. Although SENP1 is present in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia, its role in regulating Na V 1.7 function and pain is not known. We hypothesized that favoring SENP1 expression can enhance CRMP2 deSUMOylation to modulate Na V 1.7 channels. In this study, we used a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats activation (CRISPRa) SENP1 lentivirus to overexpress SENP1 in dorsal root ganglia neurons. We found that SENP1 lentivirus reduced CRMP2 SUMOylation, Na V 1.7-CRMP2 interaction, and Na V 1.7 membrane expression. SENP1 overexpression decreased Na V 1.7 currents through clathrin-mediated endocytosis, directly linked to CRMP2 deSUMOylation. Moreover, enhancing SENP1 expression did not affect the activity of TRPV1 channels or voltage-gated calcium and potassium channels. Intrathecal injection of CRISPRa SENP1 lentivirus reversed mechanical allodynia in male and female rats with spinal nerve injury. These results provide evidence that the pain-regulating effects of SENP1 overexpression involve, in part, the modulation of Na V 1.7 channels through the indirect mechanism of CRMP2 deSUMOylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Gomez
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Heather N Allen
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Paz Duran
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Santiago Loya-Lopez
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Aida Calderon-Rivera
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Aubin Moutal
- School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Cheng Tang
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Tyler S Nelson
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Samantha Perez-Miller
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rajesh Khanna
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, College of Dentistry, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- NYU Pain Research Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology and Neuroscience Institute, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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15
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Blum K, Bowirrat A, Baron D, Elman I, Makale MT, Cadet JL, Thanos PK, Hanna C, Ahmed R, Gondre-Lewis MC, Dennen CA, Braverman ER, Soni D, Carney P, Khalsa J, Modestino EJ, Barh D, Bagchi D, Badgaiyan RD, McLaughlin T, Cortese R, Ceccanti M, Murphy KT, Gupta A, Makale MT, Sunder K, Gold MS. Identification of stress-induced epigenetic methylation onto dopamine D2 gene and neurological and behavioral consequences. GENE & PROTEIN IN DISEASE 2024; 3:10.36922/gpd.1966. [PMID: 38766604 PMCID: PMC11100097 DOI: 10.36922/gpd.1966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) gene has garnered substantial attention as one of the most extensively studied genes across various neuropsychiatric disorders. Since its initial association with severe alcoholism in 1990, particularly through the identification of the DRD2 Taq A1 allele, numerous international investigations have been conducted to elucidate its role in different conditions. As of February 22, 2024, there are 5485 articles focusing on the DRD2 gene listed in PUBMED. There have been 120 meta-analyses with mixed results. In our opinion, the primary cause of negative reports regarding the association of various DRD2 gene polymorphisms is the inadequate screening of controls, not adequately eliminating many hidden reward deficiency syndrome behaviors. Moreover, pleiotropic effects of DRD2 variants have been identified in neuropsychologic, neurophysiologic, stress response, social stress defeat, maternal deprivation, and gambling disorder, with epigenetic DNA methylation and histone post-translational negative methylation identified as discussed in this article. There are 70 articles listed in PUBMED for DNA methylation and 20 articles listed for histone methylation as of October 19, 2022. For this commentary, we did not denote DNA and/or histone methylation; instead, we provided a brief summary based on behavioral effects. Based on the fact that Blum and Noble characterized the DRD2 Taq A1 allele as a generalized reward gene and not necessarily specific alcoholism, it now behooves the field to find ways to either use effector moieties to edit the neuroepigenetic insults or possibly harness the idea of potentially removing negative mRNA-reduced expression by inducing "dopamine homeostasis."
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Blum
- Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
- Division of Addiction Research & Education, Center for Sports, Exercise & Mental Health, Western University of the Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States of America
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Wright University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH, United States of America
- Division of Nutrigenomics, The Kenneth Blum Behavioral Neurogenetic Institute, Austin, TX United States of America
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology, Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India
- Department of Nutrigenomic Research, Victory Nutrition International, Inc., Bonita Springs, FL, United States of America
- Division of Personalized Neuromodulation Research, Sunder Foundation, Palm Springs, CA, United States of America
| | - Abdalla Bowirrat
- Department of Molecular Biology, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - David Baron
- Division of Addiction Research & Education, Center for Sports, Exercise & Mental Health, Western University of the Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States of America
| | - Igor Elman
- Division of Personalized Neuromodulation Research, Sunder Foundation, Palm Springs, CA, United States of America
- Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
| | - Milan T. Makale
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, UC San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0819, United States of America
| | - Jean Lud Cadet
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD., United States of America
| | - Panayotis K. Thanos
- Behavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions, Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biosciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States of America; Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY., United States of America
| | - Colin Hanna
- Behavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions, Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biosciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States of America; Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY., United States of America
| | - Rania Ahmed
- Behavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions, Clinical Research Institute on Addictions, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biosciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States of America; Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY., United States of America
| | - Marjorie C. Gondre-Lewis
- Department of Anatomy, Howard University College of Medicine, and Developmental Neuropsychopharmacology Laboratory, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington D.C., United States of America
| | - Catherine A. Dennen
- Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Health Northeast, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Eric R. Braverman
- Division of Nutrigenomics, The Kenneth Blum Behavioral Neurogenetic Institute, Austin, TX United States of America
| | - Diwanshu Soni
- Division of Addiction Research & Education, Center for Sports, Exercise & Mental Health, Western University of the Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States of America
| | - Paul Carney
- Division Pediatric Neurology, University of Missouri, School of Medicine, Columbia, MO., United States of America
| | - Jag Khalsa
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Edward J. Modestino
- Department of Psychology, Curry College, Milton, MA., United States of America
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology, Nonakuri, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India
- Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Debasis Bagchi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Southern University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Rajendra D. Badgaiyan
- Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland OH., 44106, USA and Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Thomas McLaughlin
- Division of Nutrigenomics, The Kenneth Blum Behavioral Neurogenetic Institute, Austin, TX United States of America
| | - Rene Cortese
- Department of Child Health – Child Health Research Institute, & Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health School of Medicine, University of Missouri, MO, United States of America
| | - Mauro Ceccanti
- Alcohol Addiction Program, Latium Region Referral Center, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Italy
| | - Kevin T. Murphy
- Division of Personalized Neuromodulation and Patient Care, PeakLogic, LLC, Del Mar, CA, United States of America
| | - Ashim Gupta
- Future Biologics, Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30043, United States of America
| | - Miles T. Makale
- Department of Psychology, UC San Diego, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0819, United States of America
| | - Keerthy Sunder
- Division of Personalized Neuromodulation Research, Sunder Foundation, Palm Springs, CA, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, UC Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, United States of America
| | - Mark S. Gold
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
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Chen Y, Luo X, Kang R, Cui K, Ou J, Zhang X, Liang P. Current therapies for osteoarthritis and prospects of CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing in osteoarthritis treatment. J Genet Genomics 2024; 51:159-183. [PMID: 37516348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common degenerative joint diseases worldwide, causing pain, disability, and decreased quality of life. The balance between regeneration and inflammation-induced degradation results in multiple etiologies and complex pathogenesis of OA. Currently, there is a lack of effective therapeutic strategies for OA treatment. With the development of CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools, OA treatment has been improved by targeting genetic risk factors, activating chondrogenic elements, and modulating inflammatory regulators. Supported by cell therapy and in vivo delivery vectors, genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools may provide a promising approach for personalized OA therapy. This review summarizes CRISPR-based genome, epigenome, and RNA editing tools that can be applied to the treatment of OA and provides insights into the development of CRISPR-based therapeutics for OA treatment. Moreover, in-depth evaluations of the efficacy and safety of these tools in human OA treatment are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Chen
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Rui Kang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Kaixin Cui
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China
| | - Jianping Ou
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China
| | - Xiya Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, China.
| | - Puping Liang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
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17
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Macip CC, Hasan R, Hoznek V, Kim J, Lu YR, Metzger LE, Sethna S, Davidsohn N. Gene Therapy-Mediated Partial Reprogramming Extends Lifespan and Reverses Age-Related Changes in Aged Mice. Cell Reprogram 2024; 26:24-32. [PMID: 38381405 PMCID: PMC10909732 DOI: 10.1089/cell.2023.0072] [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: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Aging is a complex progression of changes best characterized as the chronic dysregulation of cellular processes leading to deteriorated tissue and organ function. Although aging cannot currently be prevented, its impact on life- and healthspan in the elderly can potentially be minimized by interventions that aim to return these cellular processes to optimal function. Recent studies have demonstrated that partial reprogramming using the Yamanaka factors (or a subset; OCT4, SOX2, and KLF4; OSK) can reverse age-related changes in vitro and in vivo. However, it is still unknown whether the Yamanaka factors (or a subset) are capable of extending the lifespan of aged wild-type (WT) mice. In this study, we show that systemically delivered adeno-associated viruses, encoding an inducible OSK system, in 124-week-old male mice extend the median remaining lifespan by 109% over WT controls and enhance several health parameters. Importantly, we observed a significant improvement in frailty scores indicating that we were able to improve the healthspan along with increasing the lifespan. Furthermore, in human keratinocytes expressing exogenous OSK, we observed significant epigenetic markers of age reversal, suggesting a potential reregulation of genetic networks to a younger potentially healthier state. Together, these results may have important implications for the development of partial reprogramming interventions to reverse age-associated diseases in the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jihyun Kim
- Rejuvenate Bio, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Yuancheng Ryan Lu
- Department of Biology, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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18
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Seem K, Kaur S, Kumar S, Mohapatra T. Epigenome editing for targeted DNA (de)methylation: a new perspective in modulating gene expression. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 59:69-98. [PMID: 38440883 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2024.2320659] [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] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Traditionally, it has been believed that inheritance is driven as phenotypic variations resulting from changes in DNA sequence. However, this paradigm has been challenged and redefined in the contemporary era of epigenetics. The changes in DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNA biogenesis, and chromatin remodeling play crucial roles in genomic functions and regulation of gene expression. More importantly, some of these changes are inherited to the next generations as a part of epigenetic memory and play significant roles in gene expression. The sum total of all changes in DNA bases, histone proteins, and ncRNA biogenesis constitutes the epigenome. Continuous progress in deciphering epigenetic regulations and the existence of heritable epigenetic/epiallelic variations associated with trait of interest enables to deploy epigenome editing tools to modulate gene expression. DNA methylation marks can be utilized in epigenome editing for the manipulation of gene expression. Initially, genome/epigenome editing technologies relied on zinc-finger protein or transcriptional activator-like effector protein. However, the discovery of clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats CRISPR)/deadCRISPR-associated protein 9 (dCas9) enabled epigenome editing to be more specific/efficient for targeted DNA (de)methylation. One of the major concerns has been the off-target effects, wherein epigenome editing may unintentionally modify gene/regulatory element which may cause unintended change/harmful effects. Moreover, epigenome editing of germline cell raises several ethical/safety issues. This review focuses on the recent developments in epigenome editing tools/techniques, technological limitations, and future perspectives of this emerging technology in therapeutics for human diseases as well as plant improvement to achieve sustainable developmental goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Seem
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Simardeep Kaur
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Suresh Kumar
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Trilochan Mohapatra
- Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, New Delhi, India
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19
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Yu J, Shin J, Yu J, Kim J, Yu D, Heo WD. Programmable RNA base editing with photoactivatable CRISPR-Cas13. Nat Commun 2024; 15:673. [PMID: 38253589 PMCID: PMC10803366 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44867-2] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas13 is widely used for programmable RNA interference, imaging, and editing. In this study, we develop a light-inducible Cas13 system called paCas13 by fusing Magnet with fragment pairs. The most effective split site, N351/C350, was identified and found to exhibit a low background and high inducibility. We observed significant light-induced perturbation of endogenous transcripts by paCas13. We further present a light-inducible base-editing system, herein called the padCas13 editor, by fusing ADAR2 to catalytically inactive paCas13 fragments. The padCas13 editor enabled reversible RNA editing under light and was effective in editing A-to-I and C-to-U RNA bases, targeting disease-relevant transcripts, and fine-tuning endogenous transcripts in mammalian cells in vitro. The padCas13 editor was also used to adjust post-translational modifications and demonstrated the ability to activate target transcripts in a mouse model in vivo. We therefore present a light-inducible RNA-modulating technique based on CRISPR-Cas13 that enables target RNAs to be diversely manipulated in vitro and in vivo, including through RNA degradation and base editing. The approach using the paCas13 system can be broadly applicable to manipulating RNA in various disease states and physiological processes, offering potential additional avenues for research and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeonghye Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongpil Shin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihwan Yu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihye Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Daseuli Yu
- Life Science Research Institute, KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Do Heo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
- KAIST Institute for the BioCentury (KIB), KAIST, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
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20
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Lopes R, Prasad MK. Beyond the promise: evaluating and mitigating off-target effects in CRISPR gene editing for safer therapeutics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 11:1339189. [PMID: 38390600 PMCID: PMC10883050 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1339189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, CRISPR has revolutionized drug development due to its potential to cure genetic diseases that currently do not have any treatment. CRISPR was adapted from bacteria for gene editing in human cells in 2012 and, remarkably, only 11 years later has seen it's very first approval as a medicine for the treatment of sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. However, the application of CRISPR systems is associated with unintended off-target and on-target alterations (including small indels, and structural variations such as translocations, inversions and large deletions), which are a source of risk for patients and a vital concern for the development of safe therapies. In recent years, a wide range of methods has been developed to detect unwanted effects of CRISPR-Cas nuclease activity. In this review, we summarize the different methods for off-target assessment, discuss their strengths and limitations, and highlight strategies to improve the safety of CRISPR systems. Finally, we discuss their relevance and application for the pre-clinical risk assessment of CRISPR therapeutics within the current regulatory context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lopes
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Centre Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Megana K Prasad
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Centre Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
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21
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Yagci ZB, Kelkar GR, Johnson TJ, Sen D, Keung AJ. Designing Epigenome Editors: Considerations of Biochemical and Locus Specificities. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:23-55. [PMID: 39012589 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_2] [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: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The advent of locus-specific protein recruitment technologies has enabled a new class of studies in chromatin biology. Epigenome editors (EEs) enable biochemical modifications of chromatin at almost any specific endogenous locus. Their locus-specificity unlocks unique information including the functional roles of distinct modifications at specific genomic loci. Given the growing interest in using these tools for biological and translational studies, there are many specific design considerations depending on the scientific question or clinical need. Here, we present and discuss important design considerations and challenges regarding the biochemical and locus specificities of epigenome editors. These include how to: account for the complex biochemical diversity of chromatin; control for potential interdependency of epigenome editors and their resultant modifications; avoid sequestration effects; quantify the locus specificity of epigenome editors; and improve locus-specificity by considering concentration, affinity, avidity, and sequestration effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Begum Yagci
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Gautami R Kelkar
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Tyler J Johnson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Dilara Sen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Albert J Keung
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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22
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Rots MG, Jeltsch A. Development of Locus-Directed Editing of the Epigenome from Basic Mechanistic Engineering to First Clinical Applications. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:3-20. [PMID: 39012588 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_1] [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: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The introduction of CRISPR/Cas systems has resulted in a strong impulse for the field of gene-targeted epigenome/epigenetic reprogramming (EpiEditing), where EpiEditors consisting of a DNA binding part for targeting and an enzymatic part for rewriting of chromatin modifications are applied in cells to alter chromatin modifications at targeted genome loci in a directed manner. Pioneering studies preceding this era indicated causal relationships of chromatin marks instructing gene expression. The accumulating evidence of chromatin reprogramming of a given genomic locus resulting in gene expression changes opened the field for mainstream applications of this technology in basic and clinical research. The growing knowledge on chromatin biology and application of EpiEditing tools, however, also revealed a lack of predictability of the efficiency of EpiEditing in some cases. In this perspective, the dependence of critical parameters such as specificity, effectivity, and sustainability of EpiEditing on experimental settings and conditions including the expression levels and expression times of the EpiEditors, their chromatin binding affinity and specificity, and the crosstalk between EpiEditors and cellular epigenome modifiers are discussed. These considerations highlight the intimate connection between the outcome of epigenome reprogramming and the details of the technical approaches toward EpiEditing, which are the main topic of this volume of Methods in Molecular Biology. Once established in a fully functional "plug-and-play" mode, EpiEditing will allow to better understand gene expression control and to translate such knowledge into therapeutic tools. These expectations are beginning to be met as shown by various in vivo EpiEditing applications published in recent years, several companies aiming to exploit the therapeutic power of EpiEditing and the first clinical trial initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne G Rots
- Department Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Albert Jeltsch
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany.
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23
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Szwec S, Kapłucha Z, Chamberlain JS, Konieczny P. Dystrophin- and Utrophin-Based Therapeutic Approaches for Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Comparative Review. BioDrugs 2024; 38:95-119. [PMID: 37917377 PMCID: PMC10789850 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-023-00632-3] [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] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a devastating disease that leads to progressive muscle loss and premature death. While medical management focuses mostly on symptomatic treatment, decades of research have resulted in first therapeutics able to restore the affected reading frame of dystrophin transcripts or induce synthesis of a truncated dystrophin protein from a vector, with other strategies based on gene therapy and cell signaling in preclinical or clinical development. Nevertheless, recent reports show that potentially therapeutic dystrophins can be immunogenic in patients. This raises the question of whether a dystrophin paralog, utrophin, could be a more suitable therapeutic protein. Here, we compare dystrophin and utrophin amino acid sequences and structures, combining published data with our extended in silico analyses. We then discuss these results in the context of therapeutic approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Specifically, we focus on strategies based on delivery of micro-dystrophin and micro-utrophin genes with recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors, exon skipping of the mutated dystrophin pre-mRNAs, reading through termination codons with small molecules that mask premature stop codons, dystrophin gene repair by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated genetic engineering, and increasing utrophin levels. Our analyses highlight the importance of various dystrophin and utrophin domains in Duchenne muscular dystrophy treatment, providing insights into designing novel therapeutic compounds with improved efficacy and decreased immunoreactivity. While the necessary actin and β-dystroglycan binding sites are present in both proteins, important functional distinctions can be identified in these domains and some other parts of truncated dystrophins might need redesigning due to their potentially immunogenic qualities. Alternatively, therapies based on utrophins might provide a safer and more effective approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Szwec
- Institute of Human Biology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Kapłucha
- Institute of Human Biology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jeffrey S Chamberlain
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98109-8055, USA
- Senator Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98109-8055, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98109-8055, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, 98109-8055, USA
| | - Patryk Konieczny
- Institute of Human Biology and Evolution, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 6, 61-614, Poznań, Poland.
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24
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Sarno F, Koncz M, Eilers RE, Verschure PJ, Rots MG. Generation of Cell Lines Stably Expressing a dCas9-Fusion or sgRNA to Address Dynamics of Long-Term Effects of Epigenetic Editing. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:289-307. [PMID: 39012602 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_15] [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: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications play a crucial role in regulating gene expression patterns. Through epigenetic editing approaches, the chromatin structure is modified and the activity of the targeted gene can be reprogrammed without altering the DNA sequence. By using the CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic repeats) platform with nuclease-deactivated dCas9 proteins to direct epigenetic effector domains (EDs) to genomic regulatory regions, the expression of the targeted gene can be modulated. However, the long-term stability of these effects, although demonstrated, remains unpredictable. The versatility and flexibility of (co-)targeting different genes with multiple epigenetic effectors has made the CRISPR/dCas9 platform the most widely used gene modulating technology currently available. Efficient delivery of large dCas9-ED fusion constructs into target cells, however, is challenging. An approach to overcome this limitation is to generate cells that stably express sgRNA(s) or dCas9-ED constructs. The sgRNA(s) or dCas9-ED stable cell lines can be used to study the mechanisms underlying sustained gene expression reprogramming by transiently expressing the other of the two constructs. Here, we describe a detailed protocol for the engineering of cells that stably express CRISPR/dCas9 or sgRNA. Creating a system where one component of the CRISPR/dCas9 is stably expressed while the other is transiently expressed offers a versatile platform for investigating the dynamics of epigenetic reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Sarno
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Epigenetic Editing Research Group, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, MATRIX Research Group, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mihaly Koncz
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Roos E Eilers
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Epigenetic Editing Research Group, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Pernette J Verschure
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne G Rots
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, Epigenetic Editing Research Group, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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25
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Liu J, Li W, Jin X, Lin F, Han J, Zhang Y. Optimal tagging strategies for illuminating expression profiles of genes with different abundance in zebrafish. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1300. [PMID: 38129658 PMCID: PMC10739737 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05686-1] [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: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-mediated knock-in (KI) technology opens a new era of fluorescent-protein labeling in zebrafish, a preferred model organism for in vivo imaging. We described here an optimized zebrafish gene-tagging strategy, which enables easy and high-efficiency KI, ensures high odds of obtaining seamless KI germlines and is suitable for wide applications. Plasmid donors for 3'-labeling were optimized by shortening the microhomologous arms and by reducing the number and reversing the sequence of the consensus Cas9/sgRNA binding sites. To allow for scar-less KI across the genome, linearized dsDNA donors with 5'-chemical modifications were generated and successfully incorporated into our method. To refine the germline screen workflow and expedite the screen process, we combined fluorescence enrichment and caudal-fin junction-PCR. Furthermore, to trace proteins expressed at a low abundance, we developed a fluorescent signal amplifier using the transcriptional activation strategy. Together, our strategies enable efficient gene-tagging and sensitive expression detection for almost every gene in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiannan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wenyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xuepu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Fanjia Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jiahuai Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
- Laboratory Animal Center, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
- Research Unit of Cellular Stress of CAMS, Cancer Research Center of Xiamen University, Xiang'an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Yingying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, 361102, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
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26
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Soh JEC, Shimizu A, Sato A, Ogita H. Novel cardiovascular protective effects of RhoA signaling and its therapeutic implications. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115899. [PMID: 37907138 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115899] [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] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) belongs to the Rho GTPase superfamily, which was first studied in cancers as one of the essential regulators controlling cellular function. RhoA has long attracted attention as a key molecule involved in cell signaling and gene transcription, through which it affects cellular processes. A series of studies have demonstrated that RhoA plays crucial roles under both physiological states and pathological conditions in cardiovascular diseases. RhoA has been identified as an important regulator in cardiac remodeling by regulating actin stress fiber dynamics and cytoskeleton formation. However, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, preventing definitive conclusions being drawn about its protective role in the cardiovascular system. In this review, we outline the characteristics of RhoA and its related signaling molecules, and present an overview of RhoA classical function and the corresponding cellular responses of RhoA under physiological and pathological conditions. Overall, we provide an update on the novel signaling under RhoA in the cardiovascular system and its potential clinical and therapeutic targets in cardiovascular medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Ern Chi Soh
- Division of Molecular Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Akio Shimizu
- Division of Molecular Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Akira Sato
- Division of Molecular Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan
| | - Hisakazu Ogita
- Division of Molecular Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Japan.
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27
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Bora J, Dey A, Lyngdoh AR, Dhasmana A, Ranjan A, Kishore S, Rustagi S, Tuli HS, Chauhan A, Rath P, Malik S. A critical review on therapeutic approaches of CRISPR-Cas9 in diabetes mellitus. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:3459-3481. [PMID: 37522916 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02631-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus (D.M.) is a common metabolic disorder caused mainly by combining two primary factors, which are (1) defects in insulin production by the pancreatic β-cells and (2) responsiveness of insulin-sensitive tissues towards insulin. Despite the rapid advancement in medicine to suppress elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) and insulin resistance associated with this hazard, a demand has undoubtedly emerged to find more effective and curative dimensions in therapeutic approaches against D.M. The administration of diabetes treatment that emphasizes insulin production and sensitivity may result in unfavorable side effects, reduced adherence, and potential treatment ineffectiveness. Recent progressions in genome editing technologies, for instance, in zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR-Cas)-associated nucleases, have greatly influenced the gene editing technology from concepts to clinical practices. Improvements in genome editing technologies have also opened up the possibility to target and modify specific genome sequences in a cell directly. CRISPR/Cas9 has proven effective in utilizing ex vivo gene editing in embryonic stem cells and stem cells derived from patients. This application has facilitated the exploration of pancreatic beta-cell development and function. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 enables the creation of innovative animal models for diabetes and assesses the effectiveness of different therapeutic strategies in treating the condition. We, therefore, present a critical review of the therapeutic approaches of the genome editing tool CRISPR-Cas9 in treating D.M., discussing the challenges and limitations of implementing this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutishna Bora
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, 834001, India
| | - Ankita Dey
- Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, 793022, India
| | - Antonia R Lyngdoh
- Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, 793022, India
| | - Archna Dhasmana
- Himalayan School of Biosciences, Swami Rama Himalayan University, Jolly Grant, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Anuj Ranjan
- Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Stachki 194/1, Rostov-On-Don, 344090, Russia
| | - Shristi Kishore
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, 834001, India
| | - Sarvesh Rustagi
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, 22 Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Hardeep Singh Tuli
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to Be University), Mullana-Ambala, 133207, India
| | - Abhishek Chauhan
- Amity Institute of Environmental Toxicology Safety and Management, Amity University, Sector 125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Prangya Rath
- Amity Institute of Environmental Sciences, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201303, India
| | - Sumira Malik
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Jharkhand, Ranchi, 834001, India.
- School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, 22 Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
- Guru Nanak College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
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28
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Liu J, Chen Y, Nong B, Luo X, Cui K, Li Z, Zhang P, Tan W, Yang Y, Ma W, Liang P, Songyang Z. CRISPR-assisted transcription activation by phase-separation proteins. Protein Cell 2023; 14:874-887. [PMID: 36905356 PMCID: PMC10691850 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwad013] [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] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 system has been widely used for genome engineering and transcriptional regulation in many different organisms. Current CRISPR-activation (CRISPRa) platforms often require multiple components because of inefficient transcriptional activation. Here, we fused different phase-separation proteins to dCas9-VPR (dCas9-VP64-P65-RTA) and observed robust increases in transcriptional activation efficiency. Notably, human NUP98 (nucleoporin 98) and FUS (fused in sarcoma) IDR domains were best at enhancing dCas9-VPR activity, with dCas9-VPR-FUS IDR (VPRF) outperforming the other CRISPRa systems tested in this study in both activation efficiency and system simplicity. dCas9-VPRF overcomes the target strand bias and widens gRNA designing windows without affecting the off-target effect of dCas9-VPR. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using phase-separation proteins to assist in the regulation of gene expression and support the broad appeal of the dCas9-VPRF system in basic and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Baoting Nong
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xiao Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Kaixin Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zhan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Pengfei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | | | - Yue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wenbin Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Puping Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zhou Songyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation and Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Healthy Aging Research, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
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29
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Poukalov KK, Valero MC, Muscato DR, Adams LM, Chun H, Lee YI, Andrade NS, Zeier Z, Sweeney HL, Wang ET. Myospreader improves gene editing in skeletal muscle by myonuclear propagation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.06.565807. [PMID: 37986992 PMCID: PMC10659306 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.06.565807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Successful CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing in skeletal muscle is dependent on efficient propagation of Cas9 to all myonuclei in the myofiber. However, nuclear-targeted gene therapy cargos are strongly restricted to their myonuclear domain of origin. By screening nuclear localization signals and nuclear export signals, we identify "Myospreader", a combination of short peptide sequences that promotes myonuclear propagation. Appending Myospreader to Cas9 enhances protein stability and myonuclear propagation in myoblasts and myofibers. AAV-delivered Myospreader dCas9 better inhibits transcription of toxic RNA in a myotonic dystrophy mouse model. Furthermore, Myospreader Cas9 achieves higher rates of gene editing in CRISPR reporter and Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse models. Myospreader reveals design principles relevant to all nuclear-targeted gene therapies and highlights the importance of the spatial dimension in therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiril K. Poukalov
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida
| | - M. Carmen Valero
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida
| | - Derek R. Muscato
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida
| | - Leanne M. Adams
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida
| | - Heejae Chun
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida
- Myology Institute, University of Florida
| | - Young il Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida
- Myology Institute, University of Florida
| | - Nadja S. Andrade
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami
| | - Zane Zeier
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami
| | - H. Lee Sweeney
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida
- Myology Institute, University of Florida
| | - Eric T. Wang
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida
- Center for NeuroGenetics, University of Florida
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida
- Myology Institute, University of Florida
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30
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Mahata B, Cabrera A, Brenner DA, Guerra-Resendez RS, Li J, Goell J, Wang K, Guo Y, Escobar M, Parthasarathy AK, Szadowski H, Bedford G, Reed DR, Kim S, Hilton IB. Compact engineered human mechanosensitive transactivation modules enable potent and versatile synthetic transcriptional control. Nat Methods 2023; 20:1716-1728. [PMID: 37813990 PMCID: PMC10630135 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02036-1] [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: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Engineered transactivation domains (TADs) combined with programmable DNA binding platforms have revolutionized synthetic transcriptional control. Despite recent progress in programmable CRISPR-Cas-based transactivation (CRISPRa) technologies, the TADs used in these systems often contain poorly tolerated elements and/or are prohibitively large for many applications. Here, we defined and optimized minimal TADs built from human mechanosensitive transcription factors. We used these components to construct potent and compact multipartite transactivation modules (MSN, NMS and eN3x9) and to build the CRISPR-dCas9 recruited enhanced activation module (CRISPR-DREAM) platform. We found that CRISPR-DREAM was specific and robust across mammalian cell types, and efficiently stimulated transcription from diverse regulatory loci. We also showed that MSN and NMS were portable across Type I, II and V CRISPR systems, transcription activator-like effectors and zinc finger proteins. Further, as proofs of concept, we used dCas9-NMS to efficiently reprogram human fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells and demonstrated that mechanosensitive transcription factor TADs are efficacious and well tolerated in therapeutically important primary human cell types. Finally, we leveraged the compact and potent features of these engineered TADs to build dual and all-in-one CRISPRa AAV systems. Altogether, these compact human TADs, fusion modules and delivery architectures should be valuable for synthetic transcriptional control in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barun Mahata
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alan Cabrera
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Jing Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Goell
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kaiyuan Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yannie Guo
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mario Escobar
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Hailey Szadowski
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guy Bedford
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Daniel R Reed
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sunghwan Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Isaac B Hilton
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Graduate Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
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31
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Roberts TC, Wood MJA, Davies KE. Therapeutic approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2023; 22:917-934. [PMID: 37652974 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-023-00775-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a monogenic muscle-wasting disorder and a priority candidate for molecular and cellular therapeutics. Although rare, it is the most common inherited myopathy affecting children and so has been the focus of intense research activity. It is caused by mutations that disrupt production of the dystrophin protein, and a plethora of drug development approaches are under way that aim to restore dystrophin function, including exon skipping, stop codon readthrough, gene replacement, cell therapy and gene editing. These efforts have led to the clinical approval of four exon skipping antisense oligonucleotides, one stop codon readthrough drug and one gene therapy product, with other approvals likely soon. Here, we discuss the latest therapeutic strategies that are under development and being deployed to treat DMD. Lessons from these drug development programmes are likely to have a major impact on the DMD field, but also on molecular and cellular medicine more generally. Thus, DMD is a pioneer disease at the forefront of future drug discovery efforts, with these experimental treatments paving the way for therapies using similar mechanisms of action being developed for other genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C Roberts
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK.
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Kay E Davies
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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32
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Riedmayr LM, Hinrichsmeyer KS, Thalhammer SB, Mittas DM, Karguth N, Otify DY, Böhm S, Weber VJ, Bartoschek MD, Splith V, Brümmer M, Ferreira R, Boon N, Wögenstein GM, Grimm C, Wijnholds J, Mehlfeld V, Michalakis S, Fenske S, Biel M, Becirovic E. mRNA trans-splicing dual AAV vectors for (epi)genome editing and gene therapy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6578. [PMID: 37852949 PMCID: PMC10584818 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42386-0] [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: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Large genes including several CRISPR-Cas modules like gene activators (CRISPRa) require dual adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors for an efficient in vivo delivery and expression. Current dual AAV vector approaches have important limitations, e.g., low reconstitution efficiency, production of alien proteins, or low flexibility in split site selection. Here, we present a dual AAV vector technology based on reconstitution via mRNA trans-splicing (REVeRT). REVeRT is flexible in split site selection and can efficiently reconstitute different split genes in numerous in vitro models, in human organoids, and in vivo. Furthermore, REVeRT can functionally reconstitute a CRISPRa module targeting genes in various mouse tissues and organs in single or multiplexed approaches upon different routes of administration. Finally, REVeRT enabled the reconstitution of full-length ABCA4 after intravitreal injection in a mouse model of Stargardt disease. Due to its flexibility and efficiency REVeRT harbors great potential for basic research and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Maria Riedmayr
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, LMU Munich, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | | | | | - David Manuel Mittas
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, LMU Munich, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Nina Karguth
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, LMU Munich, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Dina Yehia Otify
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, LMU Munich, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | | | - Valentin Johannes Weber
- Laboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schlieren, 8952, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Manuela Brümmer
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, LMU Munich, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Raphael Ferreira
- Genetics Department, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nanda Boon
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Gabriele Maria Wögenstein
- Laboratory for Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schlieren, 8952, Switzerland
| | - Christian Grimm
- Laboratory for Retinal Cell Biology, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schlieren, 8952, Switzerland
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZA, Leiden, Netherlands
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Verena Mehlfeld
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, LMU Munich, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Stylianos Michalakis
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefanie Fenske
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, LMU Munich, Munich, 81377, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Martin Biel
- Department of Pharmacy - Center for Drug Research, LMU Munich, Munich, 81377, Germany
| | - Elvir Becirovic
- Laboratory for Retinal Gene Therapy, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Schlieren, 8952, Switzerland.
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33
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Hayashi K. Targeting DNA Methylation in Podocytes to Overcome Chronic Kidney Disease. Keio J Med 2023; 72:67-76. [PMID: 37271519 DOI: 10.2302/kjm.2022-0017-ir] [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: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is on the rise worldwide, and there is urgent need for the development of effective plans against the increasing incidence of CKD. Podocytes, glomerular epithelial cells, are an integral part of the primary filtration unit of the kidney and form a slit membrane as a barrier to prevent proteinuria. The role of podocytes in the pathogenesis and progression of CKD is now recognized. Podocyte function depends on a specialized morphology with the arranged foot processes, which is directly related to their function. Epigenetic changes responsible for the regulation of gene expression related to podocyte morphology have been shown to be important in the pathogenesis of CKD. Although epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and RNA-based regulation, we have focused on DNA methylation changes because they are more stable than other epigenetic modifications. This review summarizes recent literature about the role of altered DNA methylation in the kidney, especially in glomerular podocytes, focusing on transcription factors and DNA damage responses that are closely associated with the formation of DNA methylation changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Hayashi
- Division of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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34
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Tanaka M, Nakamura T. Targeting epigenetic aberrations of sarcoma in CRISPR era. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2023; 62:510-525. [PMID: 36967299 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.23142] [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: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sarcomas are rare malignancies that exhibit diverse biological, genetic, morphological, and clinical characteristics. Genetic alterations, such as gene fusions, mutations in transcriptional machinery components, histones, and DNA methylation regulatory molecules, play an essential role in sarcomagenesis. These mutations induce and/or cooperate with specific epigenetic aberrations required for the growth and maintenance of sarcomas. Appropriate mouse models have been developed to clarify the significance of genetic and epigenetic interactions in sarcomas. Studies using the mouse models for human sarcomas have demonstrated major advances in our understanding the developmental processes as well as tumor microenvironment of sarcomas. Recent technological progresses in epigenome editing will not only improve the studies using animal models but also provide a direct clue for epigenetic therapies. In this manuscript, we review important epigenetic aberrations in sarcomas and their representative mouse models, current methods of epigenetic editing using CRISPR/dCas9 systems, and potential applications in sarcoma studies and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miwa Tanaka
- Project for Cancer Epigenomics, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuro Nakamura
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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35
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Yuan M, Yang B, Rothschild G, Mann JJ, Sanford LD, Tang X, Huang C, Wang C, Zhang W. Epigenetic regulation in major depression and other stress-related disorders: molecular mechanisms, clinical relevance and therapeutic potential. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:309. [PMID: 37644009 PMCID: PMC10465587 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01519-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic, generally episodic and debilitating disease that affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide, but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. The heritability estimate of MDD is 30-40%, suggesting that genetics alone do not account for most of the risk of major depression. Another factor known to associate with MDD involves environmental stressors such as childhood adversity and recent life stress. Recent studies have emerged to show that the biological impact of environmental factors in MDD and other stress-related disorders is mediated by a variety of epigenetic modifications. These epigenetic modification alterations contribute to abnormal neuroendocrine responses, neuroplasticity impairment, neurotransmission and neuroglia dysfunction, which are involved in the pathophysiology of MDD. Furthermore, epigenetic marks have been associated with the diagnosis and treatment of MDD. The evaluation of epigenetic modifications holds promise for further understanding of the heterogeneous etiology and complex phenotypes of MDD, and may identify new therapeutic targets. Here, we review preclinical and clinical epigenetic findings, including DNA methylation, histone modification, noncoding RNA, RNA modification, and chromatin remodeling factor in MDD. In addition, we elaborate on the contribution of these epigenetic mechanisms to the pathological trait variability in depression and discuss how such mechanisms can be exploited for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minlan Yuan
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Biao Yang
- Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Gerson Rothschild
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - J John Mann
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Division, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Larry D Sanford
- Sleep Research Laboratory, Center for Integrative Neuroscience and Inflammatory Diseases, Pathology and Anatomy, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Xiangdong Tang
- Sleep Medicine Center, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Mental Health Center, Translational Neuroscience Center, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Canhua Huang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chuang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, and Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology in School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, the State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Medical Big Data Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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36
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Vittani M, Knak PAG, Fukuda M, Nagao M, Wang X, Kjaerby C, Konno A, Hirai H, Nedergaard M, Hirase H. Virally induced CRISPR/Cas9-based knock-in of fluorescent albumin allows long-term visualization of cerebral circulation in infant and adult mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.10.548084. [PMID: 37503027 PMCID: PMC10369863 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.10.548084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Albumin, a protein produced by liver hepatocytes, represents the most abundant protein in blood plasma. We have previously engineered a liver-targeting adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) that expresses fluorescent protein-tagged albumin to visualize blood plasma in mice. While this approach is versatile for imaging in adult mice, transgene expression vanishes when AAV is administered in neonates due to dilution of the episomal AAV genome in the rapidly growing liver. Here, we use CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to insert the fluorescent protein mNeonGreen (mNG) gene into the albumin (Alb) locus of hepatocytes to produce fluorescently labeled albumin (Alb-mNG). We constructed a CRISPR AAV that includes ∼1 kb homologous arms around Alb exon 14 to express Alb-mNG. Subcutaneous injection of this AAV with AAV-CMV-Cas9 in postnatal day 3 mice resulted in two-photon visualization of the cerebral cortex vasculature within ten days. The expression levels of Alb-mNG were persistent for at least three months and were so robust that vasomotion and capillary blood flow could be assessed transcranially in early postnatal mice. This knock-in approach provides powerful means for micro- and macroscopic imaging of cerebral vascular dynamics in postnatal and adult mice.
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37
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Bendixen L, Jensen TI, Bak RO. CRISPR-Cas-mediated transcriptional modulation: The therapeutic promises of CRISPRa and CRISPRi. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1920-1937. [PMID: 36964659 PMCID: PMC10362391 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The CRISPR-Cas system is commonly known for its ability to cleave DNA in a programmable manner, which has democratized gene editing and facilitated recent breakthroughs in gene therapy. However, newer iterations of the technology using nuclease-disabled Cas enzymes have spurred a variety of different types of genetic engineering platforms such as transcriptional modulation using the CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) systems. This review introduces the creation of these programmable transcriptional modulators, various methods of delivery utilized for these systems, and recent technological developments. CRISPRa and CRISPRi have also been implemented in genetic screens for interrogating gene function and discovering genes involved in various biological pathways. We describe recent compelling examples of how these tools have become powerful means to unravel genetic networks and uncovering important information about devastating diseases. Finally, we provide an overview of preclinical studies in which transcriptional modulation has been used therapeutically, and we discuss potential future directions of these novel modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Bendixen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Trine I Jensen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Rasmus O Bak
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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38
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Liu Z, Liu J, Wang W, An X, Luo L, Yu D, Sun W. Epigenetic modification in diabetic kidney disease. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1133970. [PMID: 37455912 PMCID: PMC10348754 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1133970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a common microangiopathy in diabetic patients and the main cause of death in diabetic patients. The main manifestations of DKD are proteinuria and decreased renal filtration capacity. The glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin level are two of the most important hallmarks of the progression of DKD. The classical treatment of DKD is controlling blood glucose and blood pressure. However, the commonly used clinical therapeutic strategies and the existing biomarkers only partially slow the progression of DKD and roughly predict disease progression. Therefore, novel therapeutic methods, targets and biomarkers are urgently needed to meet clinical requirements. In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the role of epigenetic modification in the pathogenesis of DKD. Epigenetic variation mainly includes DNA methylation, histone modification and changes in the noncoding RNA expression profile, which are deeply involved in DKD-related inflammation, oxidative stress, hemodynamics, and the activation of abnormal signaling pathways. Since DKD is reversible at certain disease stages, it is valuable to identify abnormal epigenetic modifications as early diagnosis and treatment targets to prevent the progression of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Because the current understanding of the epigenetic mechanism of DKD is not comprehensive, the purpose of this review is to summarize the role of epigenetic modification in the occurrence and development of DKD and evaluate the value of epigenetic therapies in DKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Liu
- Public Research Platform, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jiahui Liu
- Public Research Platform, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Wanning Wang
- Department of Nephrology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xingna An
- Public Research Platform, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Ling Luo
- Public Research Platform, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Dehai Yu
- Public Research Platform, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Weixia Sun
- Department of Nephrology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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39
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Cheng Y, Wang H, Li M. The promise of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in diabetes mellitus therapy: How gene editing is revolutionizing diabetes research and treatment. J Diabetes Complications 2023; 37:108524. [PMID: 37295292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2023.108524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia caused by an abnormality in insulin secretion or action. Millions of people across the world are affected by diabetes mellitus which has serious implications for their health. Over the past few decades, diabetes has become a major cause of mortality and morbidity across the world due to its rapid prevalence. Treatment for diabetes that focuses on insulin secretion and sensitization can lead to unwanted side effects and/or poor compliance, as well as treatment failure. A promising way to treat diabetes is through gene-editing technologies such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9). However, issues such as efficiency and off-target effects have hindered the use of these technologies. In this review, we summarize what we know today about CRISPR/Cas9 technology's therapeutic potential for treating diabetes. We discuss how different strategies are employed, including cell-based therapies (such as stem cells and brown adipocytes), targeting critical genes involved in diabetes pathogenesis, and discussing the challenges and limitations associated with this technology. A novel and powerful treatment approach to diabetes and other diseases can be found with CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and further research should be carried out in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Cheng
- Department of Endocrinology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Haiyang Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China
| | - Mo Li
- Department of Endocrinology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130000, China.
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40
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Jiang C, Geng L, Wang J, Liang Y, Guo X, Liu C, Zhao Y, Jin J, Liu Z, Mu Y. Multiplexed Gene Engineering Based on dCas9 and gRNA-tRNA Array Encoded on Single Transcript. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108535. [PMID: 37239880 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Simultaneously, multiplexed genome engineering and targeting multiple genomic loci are valuable to elucidating gene interactions and characterizing genetic networks that affect phenotypes. Here, we developed a general CRISPR-based platform to perform four functions and target multiple genome loci encoded in a single transcript. To establish multiple functions for multiple loci targets, we fused four RNA hairpins, MS2, PP7, com and boxB, to stem-loops of gRNA (guide RNA) scaffolds, separately. The RNA-hairpin-binding domains MCP, PCP, Com and λN22 were fused with different functional effectors. These paired combinations of cognate-RNA hairpins and RNA-binding proteins generated the simultaneous, independent regulation of multiple target genes. To ensure that all proteins and RNAs are expressed in one transcript, multiple gRNAs were constructed in a tandemly arrayed tRNA (transfer RNA)-gRNA architecture, and the triplex sequence was cloned between the protein-coding sequences and the tRNA-gRNA array. By leveraging this system, we illustrate the transcriptional activation, transcriptional repression, DNA methylation and DNA demethylation of endogenous targets using up to 16 individual CRISPR gRNAs delivered on a single transcript. This system provides a powerful platform to investigate synthetic biology questions and engineer complex-phenotype medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoqian Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Lishuang Geng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Jinpeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Yingjuan Liang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Xiaochen Guo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Yunjing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Junxue Jin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Zhonghua Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Yanshuang Mu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Cellular and Genetic Engineering of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
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41
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Huang H, Zhang W, Zhang J, Zhao A, Jiang H. Epigenome editing based on CRISPR/dCas9 p300 facilitates transdifferentiation of human fibroblasts into Leydig-like cells. Exp Cell Res 2023; 425:113551. [PMID: 36914062 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
Recently, Leydig cell (LCs) transplantation has a promising potential to treat male hypogonadism. However, the scarcity of seed cells is the actual barrier impeding the application of LCs transplantation. Utilizing the cutting-edge CRISPR/dCas9VP64 technology, human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) were transdifferentiated into Leydig-like cells(iLCs) in previous study, but the efficiency of transdifferentiation is not very satisfactory. Therefore, this study was conducted to further optimize the CRISPR/dCas9 system for obtaining sufficient iLCs. First, the stable CYP11A1-Promoter-GFP-HFFs cell line was established by infecting HFFs with CYP11A1-Promoter-GFP lentiviral vectors, and then co-infected with dCas9p300 and the combination of sgRNAs targeted to NR5A1, GATA4 and DMRT1. Next, this study adopted quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot, and immunofluorescence to determine the efficiency of transdifferentiation, the generation of testosterone, the expression levels of steroidogenic biomarkers. Moreover, we utilized chromatin immuno-precipitation (ChIP) followed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR) to measure the levels of acetylation of targeted H3K27. The results revealed that advanced dCas9p300 facilitated generation of iLCs. Moreover, the dCas9p300-mediated iLCs significantly expressed the steroidogenic biomarkers and produced more testosterone with or without LH treatment than the dCas9VP64-mediated. Additionally, preferred enrichment in H3K27ac at the promoters was detected only with dCas9p300 treatment. The data provided here imply that the improved version of dCas9 can aid in the harvesting of iLCs, and will provide sufficient seed cells for cell transplantation treatment of androgen deficiency in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Huang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China.
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Anshun Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Hongwei Jiang
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
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Cuarental L, Ribagorda M, Ceballos MI, Pintor-Chocano A, Carriazo SM, Dopazo A, Vazquez E, Suarez-Alvarez B, Cannata-Ortiz P, Sanz AB, Ortiz A, Sanchez-Niño MD. The transcription factor Fosl1 preserves Klotho expression and protects from acute kidney injury. Kidney Int 2023; 103:686-701. [PMID: 36565807 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2022.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Increased expression of AP-1 transcription factor components has been reported in acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the role of specific components, such as Fosl1, in tubular cells or AKI is unknown. Upstream regulator analysis of murine nephrotoxic AKI transcriptomics identified AP-1 as highly upregulated. Among AP-1 canonical components, Fosl1 was found to be upregulated in two transcriptomics datasets from nephrotoxic murine AKI induced by folic acid or cisplatin and from proximal tubular cells exposed to TWEAK, a cytokine mediator of AKI. Fosl1 was minimally expressed in the kidneys of control uninjured mice. Increased Fosl1 protein was localized to proximal tubular cell nuclei in AKI. In human AKI, FOSL1 was found present in proximal tubular cells in kidney sections and in urine along with increased urinary FOSL1 mRNA. Selective Fosl1 deficiency in proximal tubular cells (Fosl1Δtub) increased the severity of murine cisplatin- or folate-induced AKI as characterized by lower kidney function, more severe kidney inflammation and Klotho downregulation. Indeed, elevated AP-1 activity was observed after cisplatin-induced AKI in Fosl1Δtub mice compared to wild-type mice. More severe Klotho downregulation preceded more severe kidney dysfunction. The Klotho promoter was enriched in Fosl1 binding sites and Fosl1 bound to the Klotho promoter in cisplatin-AKI. In cultured proximal tubular cells, Fosl1 targeting increased the proinflammatory response and downregulated Klotho. In vivo, recombinant Klotho administration protected Fosl1Δtub mice from cisplatin-AKI. Thus, increased proximal tubular Fosl1 expression during AKI is an adaptive response, preserves Klotho, and limits the severity of tubular cell injury and AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Cuarental
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; RICORS2040 (Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Ribagorda
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; RICORS2040 (Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud), Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria I Ceballos
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; RICORS2040 (Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud), Madrid, Spain
| | - Aranzazu Pintor-Chocano
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; RICORS2040 (Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sol M Carriazo
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; RICORS2040 (Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Dopazo
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Enrique Vazquez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Suarez-Alvarez
- Translational Immunology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Pablo Cannata-Ortiz
- Department of Pathology, IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana B Sanz
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; RICORS2040 (Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Ortiz
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; RICORS2040 (Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud), Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Maria D Sanchez-Niño
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; RICORS2040 (Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud), Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain.
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43
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Arockiaraj AI, Johnson MA, Munir A, Ekambaram P, Lucas PC, McAllister-Lucas LM, Kemaladewi DU. CRISPRa-induced upregulation of human LAMA1 compensates for LAMA2-deficiency in Merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.06.531347. [PMID: 36945402 PMCID: PMC10028808 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.06.531347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1A) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the LAMA2 gene, resulting in a defective form of the extracellular matrix protein laminin-α2 (LAMA2). Individuals diagnosed with MDC1A exhibit progressive muscle wasting and declining neuromuscular functions. No treatments for this disorder are currently available. We previously showed that postnatal Lama1 upregulation, achieved through CRISPR activation (CRISPRa), compensates for Lama2 deficiency and prevents neuromuscular pathophysiology in a mouse model of MDC1A. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of upregulating human LAMA1 as a potential therapeutic strategy for individuals with MDC1A, regardless of their mutations. We hypothesized that CRISPRa-mediated upregulation of human LAMA1 would compensate for the lack of LAMA2 and rescue cellular abnormalities in MDC1A fibroblasts. Global transcriptomic and pathway enrichment analyses of fibroblasts collected from individuals carrying pathogenic LAMA2 mutations, compared with healthy controls, indicated higher expression of transcripts encoding proteins that contribute to wound healing, including Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF). These findings were supported by wound-healing assays indicating that MDC1A fibroblasts migrated significantly more rapidly than the controls. Subsequently, we treated the MDC1A fibroblasts with SadCas9-2XVP64 and sgRNAs targeting the LAMA1 promoter. We observed robust LAMA1 expression, which was accompanied by significant decreases in cell migration and expression of FGFR2, TGF-β2, and ACTA2, which are involved in the wound-healing mechanism in MDC1A fibroblasts. Collectively, our data suggest that CRISPRa-mediated LAMA1 upregulation may be a feasible mutation-independent therapeutic approach for MDC1A. This strategy might be adapted to address other neuromuscular diseases and inherited conditions in which strong compensatory mechanisms have been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie I. Arockiaraj
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Marie A. Johnson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Anushe Munir
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Prasanna Ekambaram
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Peter C. Lucas
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
| | | | - Dwi U. Kemaladewi
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, USA
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44
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Wu YL, Lin ZJ, Li CC, Lin X, Shan SK, Guo B, Zheng MH, Li F, Yuan LQ, Li ZH. Epigenetic regulation in metabolic diseases: mechanisms and advances in clinical study. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:98. [PMID: 36864020 PMCID: PMC9981733 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01333-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics regulates gene expression and has been confirmed to play a critical role in a variety of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), osteoporosis, gout, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and others. The term 'epigenetics' was firstly proposed in 1942 and with the development of technologies, the exploration of epigenetics has made great progresses. There are four main epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodelling, and noncoding RNA (ncRNA), which exert different effects on metabolic diseases. Genetic and non-genetic factors, including ageing, diet, and exercise, interact with epigenetics and jointly affect the formation of a phenotype. Understanding epigenetics could be applied to diagnosing and treating metabolic diseases in the clinic, including epigenetic biomarkers, epigenetic drugs, and epigenetic editing. In this review, we introduce the brief history of epigenetics as well as the milestone events since the proposal of the term 'epigenetics'. Moreover, we summarise the research methods of epigenetics and introduce four main general mechanisms of epigenetic modulation. Furthermore, we summarise epigenetic mechanisms in metabolic diseases and introduce the interaction between epigenetics and genetic or non-genetic factors. Finally, we introduce the clinical trials and applications of epigenetics in metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Lin Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Zheng-Jun Lin
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Chang-Chun Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Xiao Lin
- Department of Radiology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Su-Kang Shan
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Bei Guo
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Ming-Hui Zheng
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Fuxingzi Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Ling-Qing Yuan
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Disease, Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
| | - Zhi-Hong Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China.
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45
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Meng X, Wu TG, Lou QY, Niu KY, Jiang L, Xiao QZ, Xu T, Zhang L. Optimization of CRISPR-Cas system for clinical cancer therapy. Bioeng Transl Med 2023; 8:e10474. [PMID: 36925702 PMCID: PMC10013785 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a genetic disease caused by alterations in genome and epigenome and is one of the leading causes for death worldwide. The exploration of disease development and therapeutic strategies at the genetic level have become the key to the treatment of cancer and other genetic diseases. The functional analysis of genes and mutations has been slow and laborious. Therefore, there is an urgent need for alternative approaches to improve the current status of cancer research. Gene editing technologies provide technical support for efficient gene disruption and modification in vivo and in vitro, in particular the use of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas systems. Currently, the applications of CRISPR-Cas systems in cancer rely on different Cas effector proteins and the design of guide RNAs. Furthermore, effective vector delivery must be met for the CRISPR-Cas systems to enter human clinical trials. In this review article, we describe the mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas systems and highlight the applications of class II Cas effector proteins. We also propose a synthetic biology approach to modify the CRISPR-Cas systems, and summarize various delivery approaches facilitating the clinical application of the CRISPR-Cas systems. By modifying the CRISPR-Cas system and optimizing its in vivo delivery, promising and effective treatments for cancers using the CRISPR-Cas system are emerging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Meng
- College & Hospital of Stomatology Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province Hefei People's Republic of China
| | - Tian-Gang Wu
- College & Hospital of Stomatology Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province Hefei People's Republic of China
| | - Qiu-Yue Lou
- Anhui Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention Hefei People's Republic of China
| | - Kai-Yuan Niu
- Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI), Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Heart Centre (G23) London UK.,Department of Otolaryngology The Third Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University Hefei China
| | - Lei Jiang
- College & Hospital of Stomatology Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province Hefei People's Republic of China
| | - Qing-Zhong Xiao
- Clinical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI), Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) Heart Centre (G23) London UK
| | - Tao Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui Key Laboratory of Bioactivity of Natural Products Anhui Medical University Hefei China.,Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province Hefei China
| | - Lei Zhang
- College & Hospital of Stomatology Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province Hefei People's Republic of China.,Department of Periodontology Anhui Stomatology Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University Hefei China
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46
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Toward the Development of Epigenome Editing-Based Therapeutics: Potentials and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054778. [PMID: 36902207 PMCID: PMC10003136 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The advancement in epigenetics research over the past several decades has led to the potential application of epigenome-editing technologies for the treatment of various diseases. In particular, epigenome editing is potentially useful in the treatment of genetic and other related diseases, including rare imprinted diseases, as it can regulate the expression of the epigenome of the target region, and thereby the causative gene, with minimal or no modification of the genomic DNA. Various efforts are underway to successfully apply epigenome editing in vivo, such as improving target specificity, enzymatic activity, and drug delivery for the development of reliable therapeutics. In this review, we introduce the latest findings, summarize the current limitations and future challenges in the practical application of epigenome editing for disease therapy, and introduce important factors to consider, such as chromatin plasticity, for a more effective epigenome editing-based therapy.
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47
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Donate-Correa J, Matos-Perdomo E, González-Luis A, Martín-Olivera A, Ortiz A, Mora-Fernández C, Navarro-González JF. The Value of Klotho in Kidney Transplantation. Transplantation 2023; 107:616-627. [PMID: 36253904 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000004331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Kidney transplant recipients have better survival rates and improved quality of life than long-term dialysis patients. However, delayed graft function, immunosuppressive therapy nephrotoxicity, and rejection episodes may compromise graft and patient survival. The KL gene is highly expressed in kidney tubular cells and encodes the antiaging and kidney-protective protein Klotho, which has membrane-anchored and soluble forms and regulates mineral metabolism. Klotho expression decreases during acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease, and human chronic kidney disease shares features of accelerated aging with murine Klotho deficiency. In this work, we review clinical studies on the relationship between Klotho and kidney transplantation. Specifically, we address the dynamics of serum and kidney Klotho levels in donors and kidney transplant recipients, the role of Klotho as a marker of current graft function and graft outcomes, and the potential impact of Klotho on kidney protection in the transplantation context. A better understanding of the potential biomarker and therapeutic utility of Klotho in kidney transplant recipients may provide new insights into the control of graft function and new therapeutic strategies to preserve allograft function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Donate-Correa
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- GEENDIAB (Grupo Español para el estudio de la Nefropatía Diabética), Sociedad Española de Nefrología, Santander, Spain
- Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Emiliano Matos-Perdomo
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Doctoral and Graduate School, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ainhoa González-Luis
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Doctoral and Graduate School, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Alberto Martín-Olivera
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- Doctoral and Graduate School, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - Alberto Ortiz
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez-Díaz-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- RICORS2040 (Red de Investigación Renal-RD21/0005/0013), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Mora-Fernández
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- GEENDIAB (Grupo Español para el estudio de la Nefropatía Diabética), Sociedad Española de Nefrología, Santander, Spain
- RICORS2040 (Red de Investigación Renal-RD21/0005/0013), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan F Navarro-González
- Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- GEENDIAB (Grupo Español para el estudio de la Nefropatía Diabética), Sociedad Española de Nefrología, Santander, Spain
- Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas, University of La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- RICORS2040 (Red de Investigación Renal-RD21/0005/0013), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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48
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Michurina S, Stafeev I, Boldyreva M, Truong VA, Ratner E, Menshikov M, Hu YC, Parfyonova Y. Transplantation of Adipose-Tissue-Engineered Constructs with CRISPR-Mediated UCP1 Activation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043844. [PMID: 36835254 PMCID: PMC9959691 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermogenic adipocytes have potential utility for the development of approaches to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity-associated diseases. Although several reports have proved the positive effect of beige and brown adipocyte transplantation in obese mice, translation to human cell therapy needs improvement. Here, we describe the application of CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) technology for generating safe and efficient adipose-tissue-engineered constructs with enhanced mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression. We designed the CRISPRa system for the activation of UCP1 gene expression. CRISPRa-UCP1 was delivered into mature adipocytes by a baculovirus vector. Modified adipocytes were transplanted in C57BL/6 mice, followed by analysis of grafts, inflammation and systemic glucose metabolism. Staining of grafts on day 8 after transplantation shows them to contain UCP1-positive adipocytes. Following transplantation, adipocytes remain in grafts and exhibit expression of PGC1α transcription factor and hormone sensitive lipase (HSL). Transplantation of CRISPRa-UCP1-modified adipocytes does not influence glucose metabolism or inflammation in recipient mice. We show the utility and safety of baculovirus vectors for CRISPRa-based thermogenic gene activation. Our findings suggest a means of improving existing cell therapy approaches using baculovirus vectors and CRISPRa for modification and transplantation of non-immunogenic adipocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Michurina
- National Medical Research Centre of Cardiology Named after Academician E. I. Chazov, 121552 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (I.S.)
| | - Iurii Stafeev
- National Medical Research Centre of Cardiology Named after Academician E. I. Chazov, 121552 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (S.M.); (I.S.)
| | - Maria Boldyreva
- National Medical Research Centre of Cardiology Named after Academician E. I. Chazov, 121552 Moscow, Russia
- Cell and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, National Research University Higher School of Economics, 101000 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vu Anh Truong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan
| | - Elizaveta Ratner
- National Medical Research Centre of Cardiology Named after Academician E. I. Chazov, 121552 Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail Menshikov
- National Medical Research Centre of Cardiology Named after Academician E. I. Chazov, 121552 Moscow, Russia
| | - Yu-Chen Hu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan
- Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 300044, Taiwan
| | - Yelena Parfyonova
- National Medical Research Centre of Cardiology Named after Academician E. I. Chazov, 121552 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Basic Medicine, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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49
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Wang M, Liu Y, Wang Z, Qiao L, Ma X, Hu L, Kong D, Wang Y, Ye H. An Optogenetic-Controlled Cell Reprogramming System for Driving Cell Fate and Light-Responsive Chimeric Mice. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2202858. [PMID: 36507552 PMCID: PMC9896073 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202202858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) hold great promise for cell-based therapies, disease modeling, and drug discovery. Classic somatic cell reprogramming to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is often achieved based on overexpression of transcription factors (TFs). However, this process is limited by side effect of overexpressed TFs and unpredicted targeting of TFs. Pinpoint control over endogenous TFs expression can provide the ability to reprogram cell fate and tissue function. Here, a light-inducible cell reprogramming (LIRE) system is developed based on a photoreceptor protein cryptochrome system and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/nuclease-deficient CRISPR-associated protein 9 for induced PSCs reprogramming. This system enables remote, non-invasive optogenetical regulation of endogenous Sox2 and Oct4 loci to reprogram mouse embryonic fibroblasts into iPSCs (iPSCLIRE ) under light-emitting diode-based illumination. iPSCLIRE cells can be efficiently differentiated into different cells by upregulating a corresponding TF. iPSCLIRE cells are used for blastocyst injection and optogenetic chimeric mice are successfully generated, which enables non-invasive control of user-defined endogenous genes in vivo, providing a valuable tool for facile and traceless controlled gene expression studies and genetic screens in mice. This LIRE system offers a remote, traceless, and non-invasive approach for cellular reprogramming and modeling of complex human diseases in basic biological research and regenerative medicine applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meiyan Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell TherapyBiomedical Synthetic Biology Research CenterShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory BiologyInstitute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityDongchuan Road 500Shanghai200241China
| | - Yuanxiao Liu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell TherapyBiomedical Synthetic Biology Research CenterShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory BiologyInstitute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityDongchuan Road 500Shanghai200241China
| | - Ziwei Wang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell TherapyBiomedical Synthetic Biology Research CenterShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory BiologyInstitute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityDongchuan Road 500Shanghai200241China
| | - Longliang Qiao
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell TherapyBiomedical Synthetic Biology Research CenterShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory BiologyInstitute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityDongchuan Road 500Shanghai200241China
| | - Xiaoding Ma
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell TherapyBiomedical Synthetic Biology Research CenterShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory BiologyInstitute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityDongchuan Road 500Shanghai200241China
| | - Lingfeng Hu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell TherapyBiomedical Synthetic Biology Research CenterShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory BiologyInstitute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityDongchuan Road 500Shanghai200241China
| | - Deqiang Kong
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell TherapyBiomedical Synthetic Biology Research CenterShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory BiologyInstitute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityDongchuan Road 500Shanghai200241China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Natural ResourcesMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMI48824USA
| | - Haifeng Ye
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell TherapyBiomedical Synthetic Biology Research CenterShanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory BiologyInstitute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life SciencesEast China Normal UniversityDongchuan Road 500Shanghai200241China
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Carroll MS, Giacca M. CRISPR activation and interference as investigative tools in the cardiovascular system. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2023; 155:106348. [PMID: 36563996 PMCID: PMC10265131 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2022.106348] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR activation and interference (CRISPRa/i) technology offers the unprecedented possibility of achieving regulated gene expression both in vitro and in vivo. The DNA pairing specificity of a nuclease dead Cas9 (dCas9) is exploited to precisely target a transcriptional activator or repressor in proximity to a gene promoter. This permits both the study of phenotypes arising from gene modulation for investigative purposes, and the development of potential therapeutics. As with virtually all other organ systems, the cardiovascular system can deeply benefit from a broader utilisation of CRISPRa/i. However, application of this technology is still in its infancy. Significant areas for improvement include the identification of novel and more effective transcriptional regulators that can be docked to dCas9, and the development of more efficient methods for their delivery and expression in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa S Carroll
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, King's College London, London UK
| | - Mauro Giacca
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, King's College London, London UK.
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