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Pius L, Huang S, Wanjala G, Bagi Z, Kusza S. African Local Pig Genetic Resources in the Context of Climate Change Adaptation. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2407. [PMID: 39199941 PMCID: PMC11350805 DOI: 10.3390/ani14162407] [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: 07/25/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Africa is home to a wide diversity of locally adapted pig breeds whose genetic architecture offers important insights into livestock adaptation to climate change. However, the majority of these inherent traits have not been fully highlighted. This review presents an overview of the current state of African pig genetic resources, providing highlights on their population and production statistics, production system, population diversity indices, and genomic evidence underlying their evolutionary potential. The study results reveal an incomplete characterization of local pig genotypes across the continent. The characterized population, however, demonstrates moderate to high levels of genetic diversity, enough to support breeding and conservation programs. Owing to low genetic differentiation and limited evidence of distinct population structures, it appears that most local pig populations are strains within larger breeds. Genomic evidence has shown a higher number of selection signatures associated with various economically important traits, thus making them potential candidates for climate change adaptation. The reportedly early evidence of hybridization with wild suid groups further suggests untapped insights into disease resistance and resilience traits that need to be illuminated using higher-density markers. Nevertheless, gene introgression from commercial breeds is prevalent across Africa; thus, efforts to realize and utilize these traits must increase before they are permanently depleted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenox Pius
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (L.P.); (S.H.)
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Resource Section, Tanzania Livestock Research Institute (TALIRI), Dodoma 41207, Tanzania
| | - Shuntao Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China; (L.P.); (S.H.)
| | - George Wanjala
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (G.W.); (Z.B.)
- Doctoral School of Animal Science, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- Institute of Animal Sciences and Wildlife Management, University of Szeged, Andrássy út 15, 6800 Hódmezővásárhely, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Bagi
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (G.W.); (Z.B.)
| | - Szilvia Kusza
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (G.W.); (Z.B.)
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2
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Zhang T, Yao H, Wang H, Sui T. Development of Woolly Hair and Hairlessness in a CRISPR-Engineered Mutant Mouse Model with KRT71 Mutations. Cells 2023; 12:1781. [PMID: 37443815 PMCID: PMC10341341 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131781] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypotrichosis simplex (HS) and woolly hair (WH) are rare and monogenic disorders of hair loss. HS, characterized by a diffuse loss of hair, usually begins in early childhood and progresses into adulthood. WH displays strong coiled hair involving a localized area of the scalp or covering the entire side. Mutations in the keratin K71(KRT71) gene have been reported to underlie HS and WH. Here, we report the generation of a mouse model of HS and WH by the co-injection of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA, targeting exon6 into mouse zygotes. The Krt71-knockout (KO) mice displayed the typical phenotypes, including Krt71 protein expression deletion and curly hair in their full body. Moreover, we found that mice in 3-5 weeks showed a new phenomenon of the complete shedding of hair, which was similar to nude mice. However, we discovered that the mice exhibited no immune deficiency, which was a typical feature of nude mice. To our knowledge, this novel mouse model generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system mimicked woolly hair and could be valuable for hair disorder studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tingting Sui
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (T.Z.); (H.Y.); (H.W.)
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3
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Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 Plasmid DNA by Hyperbranched Polymeric Nanoparticles Enables Efficient Gene Editing. Cells 2022; 12:cells12010156. [PMID: 36611948 PMCID: PMC9818138 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene editing nucleases such as CRISPR/Cas9 have enabled efficient and precise gene editing in vitro and hold promise of eventually achieving in vivo gene editing based therapy. However, a major challenge for their use is the lack of a safe and effective virus-free system to deliver gene editing nuclease elements. Polymers are a promising class of delivery vehicle due to their higher safety compared to currently used viral vectors, but polymers suffer from lower transfection efficiency. Polymeric vectors have been used for small nucleotide delivery but have yet to be used successfully with plasmid DNA (pDNA), which is often several hundred times larger than small nucleotides, presenting an engineering challenge. To address this, we extended our previously reported hyperbranched polymer (HP) delivery system for pDNA delivery by synthesizing several variants of HPs: HP-800, HP-1.8K, HP-10K, HP-25K. We demonstrate that all HPs have low toxicity in various cultured cells, with HP-25K being the most efficient at packaging and delivering pDNA. Importantly, HP-25K mediated delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 pDNA resulted in higher gene-editing rates than all other HPs and Lipofectamine at several clinically significant loci in different cell types. Consistently, HP-25K also led to more robust base editing when delivering the CRISPR base editor "BE4-max" pDNA to cells compared with Lipofectamine. The present work demonstrates that HP nanoparticles represent a promising class of vehicle for the non-viral delivery of pDNA towards the clinical application of gene-editing therapy.
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4
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Modeling HPV-Associated Disease and Cancer Using the Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091964. [PMID: 36146770 PMCID: PMC9503101 DOI: 10.3390/v14091964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 5% of all human cancers are attributable to human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. HPV-associated diseases and cancers remain a substantial public health and economic burden worldwide despite the availability of prophylactic HPV vaccines. Current diagnosis and treatments for HPV-associated diseases and cancers are predominantly based on cell/tissue morphological examination and/or testing for the presence of high-risk HPV types. There is a lack of robust targets/markers to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatments. Several naturally occurring animal papillomavirus models have been established as surrogates to study HPV pathogenesis. Among them, the Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) model has become known as the gold standard. This model has played a pivotal role in the successful development of vaccines now available to prevent HPV infections. Over the past eighty years, the CRPV model has been widely applied to study HPV carcinogenesis. Taking advantage of a large panel of functional mutant CRPV genomes with distinct, reproducible, and predictable phenotypes, we have gained a deeper understanding of viral–host interaction during tumor progression. In recent years, the application of genome-wide RNA-seq analysis to the CRPV model has allowed us to learn and validate changes that parallel those reported in HPV-associated cancers. In addition, we have established a selection of gene-modified rabbit lines to facilitate mechanistic studies and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. In the current review, we summarize some significant findings that have advanced our understanding of HPV pathogenesis and highlight the implication of the development of novel gene-modified rabbits to future mechanistic studies.
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5
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Song J, Hoenerhoff M, Yang D, Yang Y, Deng C, Wen L, Ma L, Pallas B, Zhao C, Koike Y, Koike T, Lester P, Yang B, Zhang J, Chen YE, Xu J. Development of the Nude Rabbit Model. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:656-665. [PMID: 33606990 PMCID: PMC7940256 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the forkhead box N1 (FOXN1) gene lead to nude severe combined immunodeficiency, a rare inherited syndrome characterized by athymia, severe T cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy. We recently produced FOXN1 mutant nude rabbits (NuRabbits) by using CRISPR-Cas9. Here we report the establishment and maintenance of the NuRabbit colony. NuRabbits, like nude mice, are hairless, lack thymic development, and are immunodeficient. To demonstrate the functional applications of NuRabbits in biomedical research, we show that they can successfully serve as the recipient animals in xenotransplantation experiments using human induced pluripotent stem cells or tissue-engineered blood vessels. Our work presents the NuRabbit as a new member of the immunodeficient animal model family. The relatively large size and long lifespan of NuRabbits offer unique applications in regenerative medicine, cancer research, and the study of a variety of other human conditions, including immunodeficiency. NuRabbit colony is established and available for the research community NuRabbits are nude and immunodeficient due to a mutation(s) in the FOXN1 gene NuRabbits support iPSC teratoma assay NuRabbits support xenotransplant of tissue-engineered blood vessels
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Song
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Mark Hoenerhoff
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Dongshan Yang
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ying Yang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Cheng Deng
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Luan Wen
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Linyuan Ma
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Brooke Pallas
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Changzhi Zhao
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yui Koike
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Tomonari Koike
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Patrick Lester
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models and Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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6
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Humanization of Immunodeficient Animals for the Modeling of Transplantation, Graft Versus Host Disease, and Regenerative Medicine. Transplantation 2021; 104:2290-2306. [PMID: 32068660 PMCID: PMC7590965 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The humanization of animals is a powerful tool for the exploration of human disease pathogenesis in biomedical research, as well as for the development of therapeutic interventions with enhanced translational potential. Humanized models enable us to overcome biologic differences that exist between humans and other species, while giving us a platform to study human processes in vivo. To become humanized, an immune-deficient recipient is engrafted with cells, tissues, or organoids. The mouse is the most well studied of these hosts, with a variety of immunodeficient strains available for various specific uses. More recently, efforts have turned to the humanization of other animal species such as the rat, which offers some technical and immunologic advantages over mice. These advances, together with ongoing developments in the incorporation of human transgenes and additional mutations in humanized mouse models, have expanded our opportunities to replicate aspects of human allotransplantation and to assist in the development of immunotherapies. In this review, the immune and tissue humanization of various species is presented with an emphasis on their potential for use as models for allotransplantation, graft versus host disease, and regenerative medicine.
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7
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Fan J, Wang Y, Chen YE. Genetically Modified Rabbits for Cardiovascular Research. Front Genet 2021; 12:614379. [PMID: 33603774 PMCID: PMC7885269 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.614379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbits are one of the most used experimental animals for investigating the mechanisms of human cardiovascular disease and lipid metabolism because they are phylogenetically closer to human than rodents (mice and rats). Cholesterol-fed wild-type rabbits were first used to study human atherosclerosis more than 100 years ago and are still playing an important role in cardiovascular research. Furthermore, transgenic rabbits generated by pronuclear microinjection provided another means to investigate many gene functions associated with human disease. Because of the lack of both rabbit embryonic stem cells and the genome information, for a long time, it has been a dream for scientists to obtain knockout rabbits generated by homologous recombination-based genomic manipulation as in mice. This obstacle has greatly hampered using genetically modified rabbits to disclose the molecular mechanisms of many human diseases. The advent of genome editing technologies has dramatically extended the applications of experimental animals including rabbits. In this review, we will update genetically modified rabbits, including transgenic, knock-out, and knock-in rabbits during the past decades regarding their use in cardiovascular research and point out the perspectives in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianglin Fan
- Department of Pathology, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Department of Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.,School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen, China
| | - Yanli Wang
- Department of Pathology, Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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8
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Xu J, Zhang J, Yang D, Song J, Pallas B, Zhang C, Hu J, Peng X, Christensen ND, Han R, Chen YE. Gene Editing in Rabbits: Unique Opportunities for Translational Biomedical Research. Front Genet 2021; 12:642444. [PMID: 33584832 PMCID: PMC7876448 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.642444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rabbit is a classic animal model for biomedical research, but the production of gene targeted transgenic rabbits had been extremely challenging until the recent advent of gene editing tools. More than fifty gene knockout or knock-in rabbit models have been reported in the past decade. Gene edited (GE) rabbit models, compared to their counterpart mouse models, may offer unique opportunities in translational biomedical research attributed primarily to their relatively large size and long lifespan. More importantly, GE rabbit models have been found to mimic several disease pathologies better than their mouse counterparts particularly in fields focused on genetically inherited diseases, cardiovascular diseases, ocular diseases, and others. In this review we present selected examples of research areas where GE rabbit models are expected to make immediate contributions to the understanding of the pathophysiology of human disease, and support the development of novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Dongshan Yang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jun Song
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Brooke Pallas
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Chen Zhang
- Biomedical Sciences and Biophysics Graduate Program, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jiafen Hu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Xuwen Peng
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Neil D Christensen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Renzhi Han
- Biomedical Sciences and Biophysics Graduate Program, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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9
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Yang D, Liang X, Pallas B, Hoenerhoff M, Ren Z, Han R, Zhang J, Chen YE, Jin JP, Sun F, Xu J. Production of CFTR-ΔF508 Rabbits. Front Genet 2021; 11:627666. [PMID: 33552140 PMCID: PMC7862758 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.627666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a lethal autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The most common mutation is the deletion of phenylalanine residue at position 508 (ΔF508). Here we report the production of CFTR-ΔF508 rabbits by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. After microinjection and embryo transfer, 77 kits were born, of which five carried the ΔF508 mutation. To confirm the germline transmission, one male ΔF508 founder was bred with two wild-type females and produced 16 F1 generation kits, of which six are heterozygous ΔF508/WT animals. Our work adds CFTR-ΔF508 rabbits to the toolbox of CF animal models for biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongshan Yang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Xiubin Liang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Brooke Pallas
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Mark Hoenerhoff
- In Vivo Animal Core, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Zhuoying Ren
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Renzhi Han
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jian-Ping Jin
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Fei Sun
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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10
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Xu J, Livraghi-Butrico A, Hou X, Rajagopalan C, Zhang J, Song J, Jiang H, Wei HG, Wang H, Bouhamdan M, Ruan J, Yang D, Qiu Y, Xie Y, Barrett R, McClellan S, Mou H, Wu Q, Chen X, Rogers TD, Wilkinson KJ, Gilmore RC, Esther CR, Zaman K, Liang X, Sobolic M, Hazlett L, Zhang K, Frizzell RA, Gentzsch M, O'Neal WK, Grubb BR, Chen YE, Boucher RC, Sun F. Phenotypes of CF rabbits generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of the CFTR gene. JCI Insight 2021; 6:139813. [PMID: 33232302 PMCID: PMC7821608 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.139813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Existing animal models of cystic fibrosis (CF) have provided key insights into CF pathogenesis but have been limited by short lifespans, absence of key phenotypes, and/or high maintenance costs. Here, we report the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated generation of CF rabbits, a model with a relatively long lifespan and affordable maintenance and care costs. CF rabbits supplemented solely with oral osmotic laxative had a median survival of approximately 40 days and died of gastrointestinal disease, but therapeutic regimens directed toward restoring gastrointestinal transit extended median survival to approximately 80 days. Surrogate markers of exocrine pancreas disorders were found in CF rabbits with declining health. CFTR expression patterns in WT rabbit airways mimicked humans, with widespread distribution in nasal respiratory and olfactory epithelia, as well as proximal and distal lower airways. CF rabbits exhibited human CF–like abnormalities in the bioelectric properties of the nasal and tracheal epithelia. No spontaneous respiratory disease was detected in young CF rabbits. However, abnormal phenotypes were observed in surviving 1-year-old CF rabbits as compared with WT littermates, and these were especially evident in the nasal respiratory and olfactory epithelium. The CF rabbit model may serve as a useful tool for understanding gut and lung CF pathogenesis and for the practical development of CF therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan (UM) Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jifeng Zhang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan (UM) Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jun Song
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan (UM) Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | - Hui Wang
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute
| | | | - Jinxue Ruan
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan (UM) Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Dongshan Yang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan (UM) Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yining Qiu
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, and
| | - Youming Xie
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute
| | - Ronald Barrett
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Sharon McClellan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Hongmei Mou
- Mucosal Immunology & Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Troy D Rogers
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kristen J Wilkinson
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rodney C Gilmore
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charles R Esther
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Khalequz Zaman
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Research University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Xiubin Liang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan (UM) Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Linda Hazlett
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Wayne State University (WSU) School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Raymond A Frizzell
- Department of Pediatrics and Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvnia, USA
| | - Martina Gentzsch
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wanda K O'Neal
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Barbara R Grubb
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan (UM) Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Richard C Boucher
- Marsico Lung Institute, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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11
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Song J, Zhang J, Xu J, Garcia-Barrio M, Chen YE, Yang D. Genome engineering technologies in rabbits. J Biomed Res 2021; 35:135-147. [PMID: 32934190 PMCID: PMC8038526 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.34.20190133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The rabbit has been recognized as a valuable model in various biomedical and biological research fields because of its intermediate size and phylogenetic proximity to primates. However, the technology for precise genome manipulations in rabbit has been stalled for decades, severely limiting its applications in biomedical research. Novel genome editing technologies, especially CRISPR/Cas9, have remarkably enhanced precise genome manipulation in rabbits, and shown their superiority and promise for generating rabbit models of human genetic diseases. In this review, we summarize the brief history of transgenic rabbit technology and the development of novel genome editing technologies in rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Song
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Minerva Garcia-Barrio
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Y Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Dongshan Yang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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12
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Hirata M, Wittayarat M, Namula Z, Le QA, Lin Q, Nguyen NT, Takebayashi K, Sato Y, Tanihara F, Otoi T. Evaluation of multiple gene targeting in porcine embryos by the CRISPR/Cas9 system using electroporation. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:5073-5079. [PMID: 32519310 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05576-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 system now allows for unprecedented possibilities of genome editing. However, there are some limitations, including achieving efficient one-step multiple genome targeting to save costs, time, and ensure high quality. In the present study, we investigated the efficiency of one-step multiple gene modification by electroporation in porcine zygotes using pooled guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting CMAH, GHR, GGTA1, and PDX1. We first selected the best-performing gRNA from three different designs for each gene based on the effect on embryo development and mutation efficiency. The three gRNAs showed equivalent effects on the rates of blastocyst formation in each targeted gene; however, gRNAs CMAH #2, GHR #3, GGTA1 #3, and PDX1 #3 showed the highest biallelic mutation rate, although the total mutation rate of PDX1 #3 was significantly lower than that of PDX1 #1. Therefore, CMAH #2, GHR #3, GGTA1 #3, and PDX1 #1 were used as a mixture in electroporation to further clarify whether multiple genes can be targeted simultaneously. Individual sequencing of 43 blastocysts at the target sites of each gene showed mutations in one and two target genes in twenty-four (55.8%) and nine (20.9%) blastocysts, respectively. No mutation was detected in any target gene in ten (23.3%) blastocysts and no blastocysts had a mutation in three or more target genes. These results indicate that electroporation could effectively deliver multiple gRNAs and Cas9 protein into porcine zygotes to target multiple genes in a one-step process. However, the technique requires further development to increase the success rate of multiple gene modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maki Hirata
- Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, 2272-1 Ishii, Myozai-gun, Tokushima, 779-3233, Japan
| | - Manita Wittayarat
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand
| | - Zhao Namula
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Quynh Anh Le
- Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, 2272-1 Ishii, Myozai-gun, Tokushima, 779-3233, Japan
| | - Qingyi Lin
- Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, 2272-1 Ishii, Myozai-gun, Tokushima, 779-3233, Japan
| | - Nhien Thi Nguyen
- Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, 2272-1 Ishii, Myozai-gun, Tokushima, 779-3233, Japan
| | - Koki Takebayashi
- Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, 2272-1 Ishii, Myozai-gun, Tokushima, 779-3233, Japan
| | - Yoko Sato
- School of Biological Science, Tokai University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Fuminori Tanihara
- Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, 2272-1 Ishii, Myozai-gun, Tokushima, 779-3233, Japan.
| | - Takeshige Otoi
- Faculty of Bioscience and Bioindustry, Tokushima University, 2272-1 Ishii, Myozai-gun, Tokushima, 779-3233, Japan
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13
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Hashikawa Y, Hayashi R, Tajima M, Okubo T, Azuma S, Kuwamura M, Takai N, Osada Y, Kunihiro Y, Mashimo T, Nishida K. Generation of knockout rabbits with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) using CRISPR/Cas9. Sci Rep 2020; 10:9957. [PMID: 32561775 PMCID: PMC7305219 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66780-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe immunodeficient mice are widely used to examine human and animal cells behaviour in vivo. However, mice are short-lived and small in size; while large animals require specific large-scale equipment. Rabbits are also commonly employed as experimental models and are larger than mice or rats, easy to handle, and suitable for long-term observational and pre-clinical studies. Herein, we sought to develop and maintain stable strains of rabbits with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) via the CRISPR/Cas9 system targeting Il2rg. Consequently, X-SCID rabbits presented immunodeficient phenotypes including the loss of T and B cells and hypoplasia of the thymus. Further, these rabbits exhibited a higher success rate with engraftments upon allogeneic transplantation of skin tissue than did wild type controls. X-SCID rabbits could be stably maintained for a minimum of four generations. These results indicate that X-SCID rabbits are effective animals for use in a non-rodent model of severe immunodeficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Hashikawa
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- Institute of Large Laboratory Animal Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Stem Cells and Applied Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ryuhei Hayashi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Stem Cells and Applied Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Masaru Tajima
- Institute of Large Laboratory Animal Sciences, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- Institute of Experimental Animal Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Toru Okubo
- Department of Stem Cells and Applied Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shohei Azuma
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Kuwamura
- Osaka Prefecture University School of Life and Environmental Sciences Veterinary Pathology, Osaka, Japan
| | | | | | - Yayoi Kunihiro
- Institute of Experimental Animal Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomoji Mashimo
- Institute of Experimental Animal Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Laboratory Animal Research Center, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kohji Nishida
- Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
- Integrated Frontier Research for Medical Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives (OTRI), Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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14
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Hlongwane NL, Hadebe K, Soma P, Dzomba EF, Muchadeyi FC. Genome Wide Assessment of Genetic Variation and Population Distinctiveness of the Pig Family in South Africa. Front Genet 2020; 11:344. [PMID: 32457791 PMCID: PMC7221027 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic diversity is of great importance and a prerequisite for genetic improvement and conservation programs in pigs and other livestock populations. The present study provides a genome wide analysis of the genetic variability and population structure of pig populations from different production systems in South Africa relative to global populations. A total of 234 pigs sampled in South Africa and consisting of village (n = 91), commercial (n = 60), indigenous (n = 40), Asian (n = 5) and wild (n = 38) populations were genotyped using Porcine SNP60K BeadChip. In addition, 389 genotypes representing village and commercial pigs from America, Europe, and Asia were accessed from a previous study and used to compare population clustering and relationships of South African pigs with global populations. Moderate heterozygosity levels, ranging from 0.204 for Warthogs to 0.371 for village pigs sampled from Capricorn municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa were observed. Principal Component Analysis of the South African pigs resulted in four distinct clusters of (i) Duroc; (ii) Vietnamese; (iii) Bush pig and Warthog and (iv) a cluster with the rest of the commercial (SA Large White and Landrace), village, Wild Boar and indigenous breeds of Koelbroek and Windsnyer. The clustering demonstrated alignment with genetic similarities, geographic location and production systems. The PCA with the global populations also resulted in four clusters that where populated with (i) all the village populations, wild boars, SA indigenous and the large white and landraces; (ii) Durocs (iii) Chinese and Vietnamese pigs and (iv) Warthog and Bush pig. K = 10 (The number of population units) was the most probable ADMIXTURE based clustering, which grouped animals according to their populations with the exception of the village pigs that showed presence of admixture. AMOVA reported 19.92%-98.62% of the genetic variation to be within populations. Sub structuring was observed between South African commercial populations as well as between Indigenous and commercial breeds. Population pairwise F ST analysis showed genetic differentiation (P ≤ 0.05) between the village, commercial and wild populations. A per marker per population pairwise F ST analysis revealed SNPs associated with QTLs for traits such as meat quality, cytoskeletal and muscle development, glucose metabolism processes and growth factors between both domestic populations as well as between wild and domestic breeds. Overall, the study provided a baseline understanding of porcine diversity and an important foundation for porcine genomics of South African populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nompilo Lucia Hlongwane
- Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort, South Africa
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermartizburg, South Africa
| | - Khanyisile Hadebe
- Biotechnology Platform, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Pranisha Soma
- Animal Production Institute, Agricultural Research Council, Irene, South Africa
| | - Edgar Farai Dzomba
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermartizburg, South Africa
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15
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Rajabzadeh N, Fathi E, Farahzadi R. Stem cell-based regenerative medicine. Stem Cell Investig 2019; 6:19. [PMID: 31463312 DOI: 10.21037/sci.2019.06.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recent developments in the stem cell biology provided new hopes in treatment of diseases and disorders that yet cannot be treated. Stem cells have the potential to differentiate into various cell types in the body during age. These provide new cells for the body as it grows, and replace specialized cells that are damaged. Since mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be easily harvested from the adipose tissue and can also be cultured and expanded in vitro they have become a good target for tissue regeneration. These cells have been widespread used for cell transplantation in animals and also for clinical trials in humans. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of our current knowledge regarding the important and types of isolated stem cells from different sources of animal models such as horse, pig, goat, dog, rabbit, cat, rat, mice etc. In this regard, due to the widespread use and lot of attention of MSCs, in this review, we will elaborate on use of MSCs in veterinary medicine as well as in regenerative medicine. Based on the studies in this field, MSCs found wide application in treatment of diseases, such as heart failure, wound healing, tooth regeneration etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nassim Rajabzadeh
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ezzatollah Fathi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Raheleh Farahzadi
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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16
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Campenhout CV, Cabochette P, Veillard AC, Laczik M, Zelisko-Schmidt A, Sabatel C, Dhainaut M, Vanhollebeke B, Gueydan C, Kruys V. Guidelines for optimized gene knockout using CRISPR/Cas9. Biotechniques 2019; 66:295-302. [PMID: 31039627 DOI: 10.2144/btn-2018-0187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 technology has evolved as the most powerful approach to generate genetic models both for fundamental and preclinical research. Despite its apparent simplicity, the outcome of a genome-editing experiment can be substantially impacted by technical parameters and biological considerations. Here, we present guidelines and tools to optimize CRISPR/Cas9 genome-targeting efficiency and specificity. The nature of the target locus, the design of the single guide RNA and the choice of the delivery method should all be carefully considered prior to a genome-editing experiment. Different methods can also be used to detect off-target cleavages and decrease the risk of unwanted mutations. Together, these optimized tools and proper controls are essential to the assessment of CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pauline Cabochette
- Laboratoire de Signalisation Neurovasculaire, Faculté des Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Profs. Jeener et Brachet, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | | | - Miklos Laczik
- Diagenode, SA, Liège Science Park, 4102 Seraing, Belgium
| | | | - Céline Sabatel
- Diagenode, SA, Liège Science Park, 4102 Seraing, Belgium
| | - Maxime Dhainaut
- Precision Immunology Institute, Department of Genetics & Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Benoit Vanhollebeke
- Laboratoire de Signalisation Neurovasculaire, Faculté des Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Profs. Jeener et Brachet, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
- Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences & Biotechnology (WELBIO), Belgium
| | - Cyril Gueydan
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire du Gène, Faculté des Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Profs. Jeener et Brachet, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Véronique Kruys
- Laboratoire de Biologie Moléculaire du Gène, Faculté des Sciences, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 12 rue des Profs. Jeener et Brachet, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
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17
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Uniyal AP, Mansotra K, Yadav SK, Kumar V. An overview of designing and selection of sgRNAs for precise genome editing by the CRISPR-Cas9 system in plants. 3 Biotech 2019; 9:223. [PMID: 31139538 PMCID: PMC6529479 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-019-1760-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A large number of computational tools have been documented in recent years for identification of target-specific valid single-guide (sg) RNAs (18-20 nucleotide long sequence) that is an important component for the efficient utilization of the CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated Protein) system. Despite optimization of Cas9, other major concerns are on-target efficiency and off-target activity that depend upon the sequence(s) of target-specific sgRNA(s). However, a very little attention has been paid for identification of the best-hit sgRNA for precise targeting as well as minimizing the off-target effects. The aim of this present work is to offer comparative insight into existing CRISPR software tools with their unique features (including targeted genome) and utilities. These available web tools were found to be designed based upon only a few limited mathematical models. Among all these available web tools, three (Benchling, Desktop and CRISPR-P) have been curated as exclusively available for plant genome-editing purpose. These three software tools have been comprehensively described and analyzed with single same target enquiry from two randomly selected genes (IDM2 and IDM3 from Arabidopsis thaliana). Interestingly, all these selected tools generated different results (sgRNAs) even for the same query. In fact, the sequence of sgRNA is considered an important parameter to determine the efficiency and specificity of sgRNAs for precise genome editing. Thus, there is an urgent requirement to pay attention for a validated sgRNA-designing tool for precise DNA editing in plants. In conclusion, this work will encourage building up a consensus for developing a universal valid sgRNA designing for different organisms including plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Prakash Uniyal
- Department of Plant Sciences, School for Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 161001 India
| | - Komal Mansotra
- Department of Plant Sciences, School for Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 161001 India
| | | | - Vinay Kumar
- Department of Plant Sciences, School for Basic and Applied Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 161001 India
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18
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Abstract
Due to the lack of germline transmitting pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) cell lines and the extreme difficulty of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in rabbit, the gene targeting technology in rabbit was lagging far behind those in rodents and in farm animals. As a result, the development and application of genetically engineered rabbit model are much limited. With the advent of gene editing nucleases, including ZFN, TALEN, and CRISPR/Cas9, it is now possible to produce gene targeting (i.e., knockout, knockin) rabbits with high success rates. In this chapter, we describe a comprehensive, step-by-step protocol for rabbit genome editing based on gene editing nucleases with specific emphasis of CRISPR/Cas9.
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19
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Villano JS, Vleck SE, Felt SA, Myers DD, Lester PA. Safety Considerations When Working with Humanized Animals. ILAR J 2018; 59:150-160. [PMID: 30541024 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ily012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Research using laboratory animals has been revolutionized by the creation of humanized animal models, which are immunodeficient animals engrafted with human cells, tissues, or organs. These animal models provide the research community a unique and promising opportunity to mimic a wide variety of disease conditions in humans, from infectious disease to cancer. A vast majority of these models are humanized mice like those injected with human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells and patient-derived xenografts. With this technology comes the need for the animal research enterprise to understand the inherent and potential risks, such as exposure to bloodborne pathogens, associated with the model development and research applications. Here, we review existing humanized animal models and provide recommendations for their safe use based on regulatory framework and literature. A risk assessment program-from handling the human material to its administration to animals and animal housing-is a necessary initial step in mitigating risks associated with the use of humanized animals in research. Ultimately, establishing institutional policies and guidelines to ensure personnel safety is a legal and ethical responsibility of the research institution as part of the occupational health and safety program and overall animal care and use program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Villano
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Susan E Vleck
- Department of Environmental Health and Safety at Stanford University in Stanford, California
| | - Stephen A Felt
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Daniel D Myers
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.,Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Patrick A Lester
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan
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20
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Lee JG, Sung YH, Baek IJ. Generation of genetically-engineered animals using engineered endonucleases. Arch Pharm Res 2018; 41:885-897. [PMID: 29777358 PMCID: PMC6153862 DOI: 10.1007/s12272-018-1037-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The key to successful drug discovery and development is to find the most suitable animal model of human diseases for the preclinical studies. The recent emergence of engineered endonucleases is allowing for efficient and precise genome editing, which can be used to develop potentially useful animal models for human diseases. In particular, zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat systems are revolutionizing the generation of diverse genetically-engineered experimental animals including mice, rats, rabbits, dogs, pigs, and even non-human primates that are commonly used for preclinical studies of the drug discovery. Here, we describe recent advances in engineered endonucleases and their application in various laboratory animals. We also discuss the importance of genome editing in animal models for more closely mimicking human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Geol Lee
- ConveRgence mEDIcine research cenTer (CREDIT), Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Hoon Sung
- ConveRgence mEDIcine research cenTer (CREDIT), Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Convergence Medicine, ConveRgence mEDIcine research cenTer (CREDIT), Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - In-Jeoung Baek
- ConveRgence mEDIcine research cenTer (CREDIT), Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Convergence Medicine, ConveRgence mEDIcine research cenTer (CREDIT), Asan Institute for Life Sciences, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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21
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Song J, Wang G, Hoenerhoff MJ, Ruan J, Yang D, Zhang J, Yang J, Lester PA, Sigler R, Bradley M, Eckley S, Cornelius K, Chen K, Kolls JK, Peng L, Ma L, Chen YE, Sun F, Xu J. Bacterial and Pneumocystis Infections in the Lungs of Gene-Knockout Rabbits with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency. Front Immunol 2018; 9:429. [PMID: 29593714 PMCID: PMC5854650 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology, we recently produced a number of rabbits with mutations in immune function genes, including FOXN1, PRKDC, RAG1, RAG2, and IL2RG. Seven founder knockout rabbits (F0) and three male IL2RG null (-/y) F1 animals demonstrated severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), characterized by absence or pronounced hypoplasia of the thymus and splenic white pulp, and absence of immature and mature T and B-lymphocytes in peripheral blood. Complete blood count analysis showed severe leukopenia and lymphocytopenia accompanied by severe neutrophilia. Without prophylactic antibiotics, the SCID rabbits universally succumbed to lung infections following weaning. Pathology examination revealed severe heterophilic bronchopneumonia caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica in several animals, but a consistent feature of lung lesions in all animals was a severe interstitial pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis oryctolagi, as confirmed by histological examination and PCR analysis of Pneumocystis genes. The results of this study suggest that these SCID rabbits could serve as a useful model for human SCID to investigate the disease pathogenesis and the development of gene and drug therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Song
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Guoshun Wang
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Mark J. Hoenerhoff
- In Vivo Animal Core, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jinxue Ruan
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Dongshan Yang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jifeng Zhang
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jibing Yang
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Patrick A. Lester
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Robert Sigler
- In Vivo Animal Core, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Michael Bradley
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Samantha Eckley
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Kelsey Cornelius
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Kong Chen
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jay K. Kolls
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Li Peng
- Critical Care Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Liang Ma
- Critical Care Medicine Department, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yuqing Eugene Chen
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Fei Sun
- Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Jie Xu
- Center for Advanced Models for Translational Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Michigan Medical Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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