[HTML][HTML] HDAd5/35++ adenovirus vector expressing anti-CRISPR peptides decreases CRISPR/Cas9 toxicity in human hematopoietic stem cells

C Li, N Psatha, S Gil, H Wang… - … Therapy-Methods & …, 2018 - cell.com
C Li, N Psatha, S Gil, H Wang, T Papayannopoulou, A Lieber
Molecular Therapy-Methods & Clinical Development, 2018cell.com
We generated helper-dependent HDAd5/35++ adenovirus vectors expressing
CRISPR/Cas9 for potential hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) gene therapy of β-thalassemia
and sickle cell disease through re-activation of fetal γ-globin expression (HDAd-globin-
CRISPR). The process of CRISPR/Cas9 gene transfer using these vectors was not
associated with death of human CD34+ cells and did not affect their in vitro expansion and
erythroid differentiation. However, functional assays for primitive HSCs, eg, multi-lineage …
We generated helper-dependent HDAd5/35++ adenovirus vectors expressing CRISPR/Cas9 for potential hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) gene therapy of β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease through re-activation of fetal γ-globin expression (HDAd-globin-CRISPR). The process of CRISPR/Cas9 gene transfer using these vectors was not associated with death of human CD34+ cells and did not affect their in vitro expansion and erythroid differentiation. However, functional assays for primitive HSCs, e.g., multi-lineage progenitor colony formation and engraftment in irradiated NOD/Shi-scid/interleukin-2 receptor γ (IL-2Rγ) null (NSG) mice, revealed toxicity of HDAd-globin-CRISPR vectors related to the prolonged expression and activity of CRISPR/Cas9. To control the duration of CRISPR/Cas9 activity, we generated an HDAd5/35++ vector that expressed two anti-CRISPR (Acr) peptides (AcrII4 and AcrII2) capable of binding to the CRISPR/Cas9 complex (HDAd-Acr). CD34+ cells that were sequentially infected with HDAd-CRISPR and HDAd-Acr engrafted at a significantly higher rate. Target site disruption frequencies in engrafted human cells were similar to those in pre-transplantation CD34+ cells, indicating that genome-edited primitive HSCs survived. In vitro differentiated HSCs isolated from transplanted mice demonstrated increased γ-globin expression as a result of genome editing. Our data indicate that the HDAd-Acr vector can be used as a tool to reduce HSC cytotoxicity of the CRISPR/Cas9 complex.
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