[Genome Editing in Therapy of Genodermatoses]

This review is devoted to the prospects for the use of fundamentally important approaches and methods for the correction and therapy of genodermatoses, a group of inherited skin diseases. The greatest number of methods was applicable for the group of inherited epidermolysis bullosa. Gene replacement using viral and non-viral methods of delivery to cells has been replaced by genome editing using programmable nucleases used both in vitro and in vivo. The focus is on more widely used methods applied in vitro to various cell types. The description of the methods used is classified based on the use of DNA break repair pathways: the canonical non-homologous end-reconnection pathway-cNHEJ, and directed homologous recombination-HDR. The choice of editing strategy depends on the type of mutation causing the disease, the type of mutation inheritance, and the nucleotide environment of the mutation. Animal disease models obtained by genome editing are considered. The experience of developing methods for editing the genome and their application for the treatment of genodermatoses, previously recognized as incurable, is summarized.

Oxidative Damage of Proteins Precedes Loss of Cholinergic Phenotype in the Septal Neurons of Olfactory Bulbectomized Mice

BACKGROUND

The development of cholinergic deficit is considered an early sign of a number of pathological conditions, including Alzheimer's disease. Cholinergic dysfunction underlies cognitive decline associated with both normal aging and Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE

Here, we studied a possible mechanism of functional impairment of cholinergic neurons using an olfactory bulbectomy model.

METHODS

Male mice were subjected to olfactory bulbectomy or sham surgery. Three weeks after that they were trained in Morris water maze and then euthanized one month after surgery. The cholinergic indices as well as the indices of oxidative stress were studied using immunohistochemistry, western blot and ELISA. Gene expression was studied using RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

The experimental treatment was followed by impaired learning of a standard spatial task in a water maze. This was associated with a decrease in the number of cells containing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), in relation to total number of neurons in the medial septum and lower ChAT enzymatic activity in the hippocampus. However, the levels of mRNAs of ChAT, vesicular ACh transporter and acetylcholine esterase remained unchanged in bulbectomized mice compared to sham-operated animals. These alterations were preceded by the accumulation of protein-bound carbonyls, indicating oxidative damage of proteins, whereas oxidative damage of nucleic acids was not detected.

CONCLUSION

We assume that in olfactory bulbectomy model, oxidative damage of proteins may cause cholinergic dysfunction rather than irreversible neuronal damage. These data indicate that cholinergic neurons of the basal forebrain are very sensitive to oxidative stress, which may be responsible for the appearance of early cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.

Immortalization of Human Keratinocytes Using the Catalytic Subunit of Telomerase

A new stable line of human keratinocytes was obtained. The cells have altered morphology, both abnormal chromosomal composition and expression of keratinocyte markers, do not show contact inhibition, could be cultured in various media and have limited stratification ability in vitro. Upon transplantation into nude mice the cells have tumorigenic properties.