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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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Calvo-Roitberg E, Carroll CL, Venev SV, Kim G, Mick ST, Dekker J, Fiszbein A, Pai AA. mRNA initiation and termination are spatially coordinated. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.05.574404. [PMID: 38260419 PMCID: PMC10802295 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.05.574404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The expression of a precise mRNA transcriptome is crucial for establishing cell identity and function, with dozens of alternative isoforms produced for a single gene sequence. The regulation of mRNA isoform usage occurs by the coordination of co-transcriptional mRNA processing mechanisms across a gene. Decisions involved in mRNA initiation and termination underlie the largest extent of mRNA isoform diversity, but little is known about any relationships between decisions at both ends of mRNA molecules. Here, we systematically profile the joint usage of mRNA transcription start sites (TSSs) and polyadenylation sites (PASs) across tissues and species. Using both short and long read RNA-seq data, we observe that mRNAs preferentially using upstream TSSs also tend to use upstream PASs, and congruently, the usage of downstream sites is similarly paired. This observation suggests that mRNA 5' end choice may directly influence mRNA 3' ends. Our results suggest a novel "Positional Initiation-Termination Axis" (PITA), in which the usage of alternative terminal sites are coupled based on the order in which they appear in the genome. PITA isoforms are more likely to encode alternative protein domains and use conserved sites. PITA is strongly associated with the length of genomic features, such that PITA is enriched in longer genes with more area devoted to regions that regulate alternative 5' or 3' ends. Strikingly, we found that PITA genes are more likely than non-PITA genes to have multiple, overlapping chromatin structural domains related to pairing of ordinally coupled start and end sites. In turn, PITA coupling is also associated with fast RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) trafficking across these long gene regions. Our findings indicate that a combination of spatial and kinetic mechanisms couple transcription initiation and mRNA 3' end decisions based on ordinal position to define the expression mRNA isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sergey V. Venev
- Department of Systems Biology, University Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - GyeungYun Kim
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | | | - Job Dekker
- Department of Systems Biology, University Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD
| | - Ana Fiszbein
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA
- Center for Computing & Data Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Athma A. Pai
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA
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DelRosso N, Bintu L. Using High-Throughput Measurements to Identify Principles of Transcriptional and Epigenetic Regulators. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2842:79-101. [PMID: 39012591 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-4051-7_4] [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
To achieve exquisite control over the epigenome, we need a better predictive understanding of how transcription factors, chromatin regulators, and their individual domain's function, both as modular parts and as full proteins. Transcriptional effector domains are one class of protein domains that regulate transcription and chromatin. These effector domains either repress or activate gene expression by interacting with chromatin-modifying enzymes, transcriptional cofactors, and/or general transcriptional machinery. Here, we discuss important design considerations for high-throughput investigations of effector domains, recent advances in discovering new domains in human cells and testing how domain function depends on amino acid sequence. For every effector domain, we would like to know the following: What role does the cell type, signaling state, and targeted context have on activation, silencing, and epigenetic memory? Large-scale measurements of transcriptional activities can help systematically answer these questions and identify general rules for how all these parameters affect effector domain activities. Last, we discuss what steps need to be taken to turn a newly discovered effector domain into a robust, precise epigenome editor. With more carefully considered high-throughput investigations, soon we will have better predictive control over the epigenome.
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Raynaud CM, Ahmed EI, Jabeen A, Sanchez A, Sherif S, Carneiro-Lobo TC, Awad A, Awartani D, Naik A, Thomas R, Decock J, Zoppoli G, Bedongnetti D, Hendrickx WRL. Modulation of SLFN11 induces changes in DNA Damage response in breast cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:291. [PMID: 38001424 PMCID: PMC10668346 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03144-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lack of Schlafen family member 11 (SLFN11) expression has been recently identified as a dominant genomic determinant of response to DNA damaging agents in numerous cancer types. Thus, several strategies aimed at increasing SLFN11 are explored to restore chemosensitivity of refractory cancers. In this study, we examined various approaches to elevate SLFN11 expression in breast cancer cellular models and confirmed a corresponding increase in chemosensitivity with using the most successful efficient one. As oncogenic transcriptomic downregulation is often driven by methylation of the promotor region, we explore the demethylation effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (decitabine), on the SLFN11 gene. Since SLFN11 has been reported as an interferon inducible gene, and interferon is secreted during an active anti-tumor immune response, we investigated the in vitro effect of IFN-γ on SLFN11 expression in breast cancer cell lines. As a secondary approach to pick up cross talk between immune cells and SLFN11 expression we used indirect co-culture of breast cancer cells with activated PBMCs and evaluated if this can drive SLFN11 upregulation. Finally, as a definitive and specific way to modulate SLFN11 expression we implemented SLFN11 dCas9 (dead CRISPR associated protein 9) systems to specifically increase or decrease SLFN11 expression. RESULTS After confirming the previously reported correlation between methylation of SLFN11 promoter and its expression across multiple cell lines, we showed in-vitro that decitabine and IFN-γ could increase moderately the expression of SLFN11 in both BT-549 and T47D cell lines. The use of a CRISPR-dCas9 UNISAM and KRAB system could increase or decrease SLFN11 expression significantly (up to fivefold), stably and specifically in BT-549 and T47D cancer cell lines. We then used the modified cell lines to quantify the alteration in chemo sensitivity of those cells to treatment with DNA Damaging Agents (DDAs) such as Cisplatin and Epirubicin or DNA Damage Response (DDRs) drugs like Olaparib. RNAseq was used to elucidate the mechanisms of action affected by the alteration in SLFN11 expression. In cell lines with robust SLFN11 promoter methylation such as MDA-MB-231, no SLFN11 expression could be induced by any approach. CONCLUSION To our knowledge this is the first report of the stable non-lethal increase of SLFN11 expression in a cancer cell line. Our results show that induction of SLFN11 expression can enhance DDA and DDR sensitivity in breast cancer cells and dCas9 systems may represent a novel approach to increase SLFN11 and achieve higher sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents, improving outcome or decreasing required drug concentrations. SLFN11-targeting therapies might be explored pre-clinically to develop personalized approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eiman I Ahmed
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ayesha Jabeen
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Apryl Sanchez
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shimaa Sherif
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Amany Awad
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Dina Awartani
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Adviti Naik
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Remy Thomas
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Center, Doha, Qatar
| | - Julie Decock
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Center, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- Department of Internal Medicine (DiMI), University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS per l'Oncologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Davide Bedongnetti
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Internal Medicine (DiMI), University of Genoa and Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Oncology and Hematology, Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Wouter R L Hendrickx
- Tumor Biology and Immunology Lab, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar.
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Li XF, Selli C, Zhou HL, Cao J, Wu S, Ma RY, Lu Y, Zhang CB, Xun B, Lam AD, Pang XC, Fernando A, Zhang Z, Unciti-Broceta A, Carragher NO, Ramachandran P, Henderson NC, Sun LL, Hu HY, Li GB, Sawyers C, Qian BZ. Macrophages promote anti-androgen resistance in prostate cancer bone disease. J Exp Med 2023; 220:213858. [PMID: 36749798 PMCID: PMC9948761 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (PC) is the final stage of PC that acquires resistance to androgen deprivation therapies (ADT). Despite progresses in understanding of disease mechanisms, the specific contribution of the metastatic microenvironment to ADT resistance remains largely unknown. The current study identified that the macrophage is the major microenvironmental component of bone-metastatic PC in patients. Using a novel in vivo model, we demonstrated that macrophages were critical for enzalutamide resistance through induction of a wound-healing-like response of ECM-receptor gene expression. Mechanistically, macrophages drove resistance through cytokine activin A that induced fibronectin (FN1)-integrin alpha 5 (ITGA5)-tyrosine kinase Src (SRC) signaling cascade in PC cells. This novel mechanism was strongly supported by bioinformatics analysis of patient transcriptomics datasets. Furthermore, macrophage depletion or SRC inhibition using a novel specific inhibitor significantly inhibited resistant growth. Together, our findings elucidated a novel mechanism of macrophage-induced anti-androgen resistance of metastatic PC and a promising therapeutic approach to treat this deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Feng Li
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Cigdem Selli
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Han-Lin Zhou
- Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Henan, BGI-Shenzhen, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jian Cao
- Department of Urology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya Medicine School, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuiqing Wu
- Department of Urology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ruo-Yu Ma
- Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Lu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Henan, BGI-Shenzhen, Xinxiang, China
| | - Cheng-Bin Zhang
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bijie Xun
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alyson D. Lam
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Xiao-Cong Pang
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Anu Fernando
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zeda Zhang
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | - Asier Unciti-Broceta
- Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil O. Carragher
- Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Prakash Ramachandran
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil C. Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, Queen’s Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ling-Ling Sun
- Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hai-Yan Hu
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Gui-Bo Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- BGI-Henan, BGI-Shenzhen, Xinxiang, China
| | - Charles Sawyers
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Charles Sawyers:
| | - Bin-Zhi Qian
- Centre for Reproductive Health, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Human Phenome Institute, Zhangjiang Fudan International Innovation Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Correspondence to Bin-Zhi Qian:
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Zaidan N, Nitsche L, Diamanti E, Hannah R, Fidanza A, Wilson NK, Forrester LM, Göttgens B, Ottersbach K. Endothelial-specific Gata3 expression is required for hematopoietic stem cell generation. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 17:1788-1798. [PMID: 35905741 PMCID: PMC9391417 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
To generate sufficient numbers of transplantable hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in vitro, a detailed understanding of how this process takes place in vivo is essential. The endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition (EHT), which culminates in the production of the first HSCs, is a highly complex process during which key regulators are switched on and off at precise moments, and that is embedded into a myriad of microenvironmental signals from surrounding cells and tissues. We have previously demonstrated an HSC-supportive function for GATA3 within the sympathetic nervous system and the sub-aortic mesenchyme, but show here that it also plays a cell-intrinsic role during the EHT. It is expressed in hemogenic endothelial cells and early HSC precursors, where its expression correlates with a more quiescent state. Importantly, endothelial-specific deletion of Gata3 shows that it is functionally required for these cells to mature into HSCs, placing GATA3 at the core of the EHT regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada Zaidan
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK; Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Leslie Nitsche
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Evangelia Diamanti
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Rebecca Hannah
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Antonella Fidanza
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Nicola K Wilson
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Lesley M Forrester
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Katrin Ottersbach
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK.
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Thege FI, Rupani DN, Barathi BB, Manning SL, Maitra A, Rhim AD, Wörmann SM. A Programmable In Vivo CRISPR Activation Model Elucidates the Oncogenic and Immunosuppressive Functions of MYC in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2022; 82:2761-2776. [PMID: 35666804 PMCID: PMC9357118 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-4009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Conventional genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) are time-consuming, laborious, and offer limited spatiotemporal control. Here, we describe the development of a streamlined platform for in vivo gene activation using CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) technology. Unlike conventional GEMMs, this model system allows for flexible, sustained, and timed activation of one or more target genes using single or pooled lentiviral guides. Myc and Yap1 were used as model oncogenes to demonstrate gene activation in primary pancreatic organoid cultures in vitro and enhanced tumorigenic potential in Myc-activated organoids when transplanted orthotopically in vivo. Implementation of this model as an autochthonous lung cancer model showed that transduction-mediated activation of Myc led to accelerated tumor progression and significantly reduced overall survival relative to nontargeted tumor controls. Furthermore, Myc activation led to the acquisition of an immune suppressive, "cold" tumor microenvironment. Cross-species validation of these results using publicly available RNA/DNA-seq datasets linked MYC to a previously described immunosuppressive molecular subtype in patient tumors, thus identifying a patient cohort that may benefit from combined MYC- and immune-targeted therapies. Overall, this work demonstrates how CRISPRa can be used for rapid functional validation of putative oncogenes and may allow for the identification and evaluation of potential metastatic and oncogenic drivers through competitive screening. SIGNIFICANCE A streamlined platform for programmable CRISPR gene activation enables rapid evaluation and functional validation of putative oncogenes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik I. Thege
- Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- CORRESPONDANCE: Fredrik I. Thege, , Sonja M. Wörmann, , MD Anderson Cancer Center, Zayed Building, Z3.2065, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dhwani N. Rupani
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bhargavi B. Barathi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sara L. Manning
- Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andrew D. Rhim
- Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sonja M. Wörmann
- Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- CORRESPONDANCE: Fredrik I. Thege, , Sonja M. Wörmann, , MD Anderson Cancer Center, Zayed Building, Z3.2065, 6565 MD Anderson Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA
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8
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Park H, Hwang Y, Kim J. Transcriptional activation with Cas9 activator nanocomplexes rescues Alzheimer's disease pathology. Biomaterials 2021; 279:121229. [PMID: 34739981 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene activation is a potential therapeutic strategy that does not induce double-strand break (DSB) DNA damage. However, in vivo gene activation via a Cas9 activator remains a challenge, currently limiting its therapeutic applications. We developed a Cas9 activator nanocomplex that efficiently activates an endogenous gene in the brain in vivo, suggesting its possible application in novel therapeutics. We demonstrated a potential treatment application of the Cas9 activator nanocomplex by activating Adam10 in the mouse brain without introducing insertions and deletions (inDels). Remarkably, in vivo activation of Adam10 with the Cas9 activator nanocomplex improved cognitive deficits in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse model. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of Cas9 activator nanocomplexes for a wide range of neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanseul Park
- Laboratory of Cell Reprogramming & Gene Editing, Department of Chemistry & Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Yerim Hwang
- Laboratory of Cell Reprogramming & Gene Editing, Department of Chemistry & Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongpil Kim
- Laboratory of Cell Reprogramming & Gene Editing, Department of Chemistry & Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, Republic of Korea.
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9
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Janowski M, Milewska M, Zare P, Pękowska A. Chromatin Alterations in Neurological Disorders and Strategies of (Epi)Genome Rescue. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:765. [PMID: 34451862 PMCID: PMC8399958 DOI: 10.3390/ph14080765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders (NDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of conditions that affect the function of the nervous system. Often incurable, NDs have profound and detrimental consequences on the affected individuals' lives. NDs have complex etiologies but commonly feature altered gene expression and dysfunctions of the essential chromatin-modifying factors. Hence, compounds that target DNA and histone modification pathways, the so-called epidrugs, constitute promising tools to treat NDs. Yet, targeting the entire epigenome might reveal insufficient to modify a chosen gene expression or even unnecessary and detrimental to the patients' health. New technologies hold a promise to expand the clinical toolkit in the fight against NDs. (Epi)genome engineering using designer nucleases, including CRISPR-Cas9 and TALENs, can potentially help restore the correct gene expression patterns by targeting a defined gene or pathway, both genetically and epigenetically, with minimal off-target activity. Here, we review the implication of epigenetic machinery in NDs. We outline syndromes caused by mutations in chromatin-modifying enzymes and discuss the functional consequences of mutations in regulatory DNA in NDs. We review the approaches that allow modifying the (epi)genome, including tools based on TALENs and CRISPR-Cas9 technologies, and we highlight how these new strategies could potentially change clinical practices in the treatment of NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Aleksandra Pękowska
- Dioscuri Centre for Chromatin Biology and Epigenomics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.J.); (M.M.); (P.Z.)
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10
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Sgro A, Blancafort P. Epigenome engineering: new technologies for precision medicine. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 48:12453-12482. [PMID: 33196851 PMCID: PMC7736826 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin adopts different configurations that are regulated by reversible covalent modifications, referred to as epigenetic marks. Epigenetic inhibitors have been approved for clinical use to restore epigenetic aberrations that result in silencing of tumor-suppressor genes, oncogene addictions, and enhancement of immune responses. However, these drugs suffer from major limitations, such as a lack of locus selectivity and potential toxicities. Technological advances have opened a new era of precision molecular medicine to reprogram cellular physiology. The locus-specificity of CRISPR/dCas9/12a to manipulate the epigenome is rapidly becoming a highly promising strategy for personalized medicine. This review focuses on new state-of-the-art epigenome editing approaches to modify the epigenome of neoplasms and other disease models towards a more 'normal-like state', having characteristics of normal tissue counterparts. We highlight biomolecular engineering methodologies to assemble, regulate, and deliver multiple epigenetic effectors that maximize the longevity of the therapeutic effect, and we discuss limitations of the platforms such as targeting efficiency and intracellular delivery for future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustin Sgro
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Pilar Blancafort
- Cancer Epigenetics Laboratory, The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,The Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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11
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Petazzi P, Torres-Ruiz R, Fidanza A, Roca-Ho H, Gutierrez-Agüera F, Castaño J, Rodriguez-Perales S, Díaz de la Guardia R, López-Millán B, Bigas A, Forrester LM, Bueno C, Menéndez P. Robustness of Catalytically Dead Cas9 Activators in Human Pluripotent and Mesenchymal Stem Cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 20:196-204. [PMID: 32171171 PMCID: PMC7068053 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (hMSCs) are clinically relevant sources for cellular therapies and for modeling human development and disease. Many stem cell-based applications rely on the ability to activate several endogenous genes simultaneously to modify cell fate. However, genetic intervention of these cells remains challenging. Several catalytically dead Cas9 (dCas9) proteins fused to distinct activation domains can modulate gene expression when directed to their regulatory regions by a specific single-guide RNA (sgRNA). In this study, we have compared the ability of the first-generation dCas9-VP64 activator and the second-generation systems, dCas9-SAM and dCas9-SunTag, to induce gene expression in hPSCs and hMSCs. Several stem cell lines were tested for single and multiplexed gene activation. When the activation of several genes was compared, all three systems induced specific and potent gene expression in both single and multiplexed settings, but the dCas9-SAM and dCas9-SunTag systems resulted in the highest and most consistent level of gene expression. Simultaneous targeting of the same gene with multiple sgRNAs did not result in additive levels of gene expression in hPSCs nor hMSCs. We demonstrate the robustness and specificity of second-generation dCas9 activators as tools to simultaneously activate several endogenous genes in clinically relevant human stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Petazzi
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Raul Torres-Ruiz
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Molecular Cytogenetics and Genome Editing Unit, Human Cancer Genetics Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonella Fidanza
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Heleia Roca-Ho
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Gutierrez-Agüera
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Castaño
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Rodriguez-Perales
- Molecular Cytogenetics and Genome Editing Unit, Human Cancer Genetics Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Díaz de la Guardia
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Belén López-Millán
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Bigas
- Cancer Research Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer-CIBER-ONC, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lesley M Forrester
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Clara Bueno
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer-CIBER-ONC, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pablo Menéndez
- Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute and Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer-CIBER-ONC, ISCIII, Barcelona, Spain; Instituciò Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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12
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Lin D, Hiron TK, O'Callaghan CA. Intragenic transcriptional interference regulates the human immune ligand MICA. EMBO J 2018; 37:embj.201797138. [PMID: 29643123 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201797138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Revised: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Many human genes have tandem promoters driving overlapping transcription, but the value of this distributed promoter configuration is generally unclear. Here we show that MICA, a gene encoding a ligand for the activating immune receptor NKG2D, contains a conserved upstream promoter that expresses a noncoding transcript. Transcription from the upstream promoter represses the downstream standard promoter activity in cis through transcriptional interference. The effect of transcriptional interference depends on the strength of transcription from the upstream promoter and can be described quantitatively by a simple reciprocal repressor function. Transcriptional interference coincides with recruitment at the standard downstream promoter of the FACT histone chaperone complex, which is involved in nucleosomal remodelling during transcription. The mechanism is invoked in the regulation of MICA expression by the physiological inputs interferon-γ and interleukin-4 that act on the upstream promoter. Genome-wide analysis indicates that transcriptional interference between tandem intragenic promoters may constitute a general mechanism with widespread importance in human transcriptional regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Lin
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas K Hiron
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christopher A O'Callaghan
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Goubert D, Koncz M, Kiss A, Rots MG. Establishment of Cell Lines Stably Expressing dCas9-Fusions to Address Kinetics of Epigenetic Editing. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1767:395-415. [PMID: 29524148 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7774-1_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic editing is a promising approach to modulate the local chromatin environment of target genes with the ultimate goal of stable gene expression reprogramming. Epigenetic editing tools minimally consist of a DNA-binding domain and an effector domain. The CRISPR/dCas9 platform, where mutations in the nuclease domains render the Cas9 protein inactive, is widely used to guide epigenetic effectors to their intended genomic loci. Its flexible nature, simple use, and relatively low cost have revolutionized the research field of epigenetic editing. Although effective expression modulation is readily achieved, only a few studies have addressed the maintenance of the induced effects on endogenous loci. Here, we describe a detailed protocol to engineer cells that stably express the CRISPR/dCas9-effectors. The protocol involves modification of published dCas9-based plasmid vectors for easy transfer of the effector domain between the vector designed for transient transfection and the vector used for establishing cell lines stably expressing the dCas9-effector fusion protein. Transient transfection of the dCas9-effector-producing cells with sgRNA-expressing plasmids allows studying of the maintenance of epigenetic editing. Targeting various genes in different chromatin contexts and/or co-targeting multiple CRISPR/dCas9-effectors can be used to unravel rules underlying maintained gene expression reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Désirée Goubert
- Epigenetic Editing, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical CenterGroningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mihály Koncz
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
- Doctoral School in Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Antal Kiss
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Marianne G Rots
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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