Application of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technique in the study of cancer treatment

In recent years, gene editing, especially that using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9, has made great progress in the field of gene function. Rapid development of gene editing techniques has contributed to their significance in the field of medicine. Because the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool is not only powerful but also has features such as strong specificity and high efficiency, it can accurately and rapidly screen the whole genome, facilitating the administration of gene therapy for specific diseases. In the field of tumor research, CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to edit genomes to explore the mechanisms of tumor occurrence, development, and metastasis. In these years, this system has been increasingly applied in tumor treatment research. CRISPR/Cas9 can be used to treat tumors by repairing mutations or knocking out specific genes. To date, numerous preliminary studies have been conducted on tumor treatment in related fields. CRISPR/Cas9 holds great promise for gene-level tumor treatment. Personalized and targeted therapy based on CRISPR/Cas9 will possibly shape the development of tumor therapy in the future. In this study, we review the findings of CRISPR/Cas9 for tumor treatment research to provide references for related future studies on the pathogenesis and clinical treatment of tumors.     

CRISPR/Cas9技术研究进展

CRISPR/Cas9系统可以很容易的改写多种生物体的基因组,这一技术很快席卷了整个基因组工程领域.在此基础上的实验方法在各个领域都具有相当大的潜力.因而了解以CRISPR/Cas9为基础的基因功能研究,探讨这一技术开发新一代疾病模型的各种途径,疾病治疗以及基因调控等方面的研究进展很有必要.     

Repurposing CRISPR/Cas9 for in situ functional assays

RNAi combined with next-generation sequencing has proven to be a powerful and cost-effective genetic screening platform in mammalian cells. Still, this technology has its limitations and is incompatible with in situ mutagenesis screens on a genome-wide scale. Using p53 as a proof-of-principle target, we readapted the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR associated 9) genome-editing system to demonstrate the feasibility of this methodology for targeted gene disruption positive selection assays. By using novel “all-in-one” lentiviral and retroviral delivery vectors heterologously expressing both a codon-optimized Cas9 and its synthetic guide RNA (sgRNA), we show robust selection for the CRISPR-modified Trp53 locus following drug treatment. Furthermore, by linking Cas9 expression to GFP fluorescence, we use an “all-in-one” system to track disrupted Trp53 in chemoresistant lymphomas in the Eμ-myc mouse model. Deep sequencing analysis of the tumor-derived endogenous Cas9-modified Trp53 locus revealed a wide spectrum of mutants that were enriched with seemingly limited off-target effects. Taken together, these results establish Cas9 genome editing as a powerful and practical approach for positive in situ genetic screens.     

The implication of CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology in combating human oncoviruses

It is evidenced that 20% of all tumors in humans are caused by oncoviruses, including human papilloma viruses, Epstein-Barr virus, Kaposi sarcoma virus, human polyomaviruses, human T-lymphotrophic virus-1, and hepatitis B and C viruses. Human immunodeficiency virus is also involved in carcinogenesis, although not directly, but by facilitating the infection of many oncoviruses through compromising the immune system. Being intracellular parasites with the property of establishing latency and integrating into the host genome, these viruses are a therapeutic challenge for biomedical researchers. Therefore, strategies able to target nucleotide sequences within episomal or integrated viral genomes are of prime importance in antiviral or anticancerous armamentarium. Recently, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) has emerged as a powerful genome editing tool. Standing out as a precise and efficient oncoviruses method, it has been extensively applied in recent experimental ventures in the field of molecular medicine, particularly in combating infections including tumor inducing viruses. This review is aimed at collating the experimental and clinical advances in CRISPR/Cas9 technology in terms of its applications against oncoviruses. Primarily, it will focus on the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in combating tumor viruses, types of mechanisms targeted, and the significant outcomes till date. The technical pitfalls of the CRISPR/Cas9 and the comparative approaches in evaluating this technique with respect to other available alternatives are also described briefly. Furthermore, the review also discussed the clinical aspects and the ethical, legal, and social issues associated with the use of CRISPR/Cas9.     

A simple and efficient workflow for generation of knock-in mutations in Jurkat T cells using CRISPR/Cas9

CRISPR/Cas9 is a powerful gene-editing tool allowing for specific gene manipulation at targeted sites in the genome. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to introduce single amino acid mutations into proteins involved in T cell receptor signalling pathways. Knock-in mutations were introduced in Jurkat T cells by homologous directed repair using single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides. Specifically, we aimed to create targeted mutations at two loci within LCK, a constitutively expressed gene, and at three loci within SH2D2A, whose expression is induced upon T cell activation. Here, we present a simple workflow that can be applied by any laboratory equipped for cell culture work, utilizing basic flow cytometry, Western blotting and PCR techniques. Our data reveal that gene editing may be locus-dependent and can vary between target sites, also within a gene. In our two targeted genes, on average 2% of the clones harboured homozygous mutations as assessed by allele-specific PCR and subsequent sequencing. We highlight the importance of decreasing the clonal heterogeneity and developing robust screening methods to accurately select for correct knock-in mutations. Our workflow may be employed in other immune cell lines and acts as a useful approach for decoding functional mechanisms of proteins of interest.     

CRISPR/Cas9-HPV-liposome enhances antitumor immunity and treatment of HPV infection-associated cervical cancer

Increasing evidence shows that human papillomavirus (HPV) E6/E7 deletion in cervical cancer cells may be related to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and adverse reactions or resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. Here, we demonstrate that liposome delivery of CRISPR/cas9 can effectively knock out HPV, which, in turn, induces autophagy and triggers cell death-related immune activation by releasing damage-related molecular patterns. The results of in vivo experiments showed that HPV-targeting guide RNA–liposomes could promote CD8+ T cell infiltration in tumor tissues; enhance the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-12, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ, and reduce regulatory T cells and myeloid suppressor cells. The combination of HPV-targeting guide RNA–liposomes with immune checkpoint inhibitors and antiprogrammed death-1 antibodies produced highly effective antitumor effects. In addition, combination therapy induced immune memory in the cervical cancer model.     

Unexpected heterogeneity derived from Cas9 ribonucleoprotein‐introduced clonal cells at the HPRT1 locus

Single‐cell cloning is an essential technique for establishing genome‐edited cell clones mediated by programmable nucleases such as CRISPR‐Cas9. However, residual genome‐editing activity after single‐cell cloning may cause heterogeneity in the clonal cells. Previous studies showed efficient mutagenesis and rapid degradation of CRISPR‐Cas9 components in cultured cells by introducing Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). In this study, we investigated how the timing for single‐cell cloning of Cas9 RNP‐transfected cells affected the heterogeneity of the resultant clones. We carried out transfection of Cas9 RNPs targeting several loci in the HPRT1 gene in HCT116 cells, followed by single‐cell cloning at 24, 48, 72 hr and 1 week post‐transfection. After approximately 3 weeks of incubation, the clonal cells were collected and genotyped by high‐resolution microchip electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing. Unexpectedly, long‐term incubation before single‐cell cloning resulted in highly heterogeneous clones. We used a lipofection method for transfection, and the media containing transfectable RNPs were not removed before single‐cell cloning. Therefore, the active Cas9 RNPs were considered to be continuously incorporated into cells during the precloning incubation. Our findings provide a warning that lipofection of Cas9 RNPs may cause continuous introduction of gene mutations depending on the experimental procedures.     

Construction of the PG-deficient mutant of Fusarium equiseti by CRISPR/Cas9 and its pathogenicity of pitaya

Fusarium is an important plant pathogen and many cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) are produced in Fusarium-infected plant tissues. To investigate the role of CWDEs in the pathogenicity of pitaya pathogen, we isolated a Fusarium equiseti strain from the diseased pitaya fruit and the activities of CWDEs were determined. The higher polygalacturonase (PG) activity was confirmed both in vitro and vivo. Aiming at the PG gene, the CRISPR/Cas9 system of F. equiseti was constructed and optimized for the first time. Through the process of microhomology-mediated end joining, the flanking region containing 30 bp was used to mediate the homologous recombination of Cas9 double-strand breaks, and the PG gene knockout mutants were obtained by protoplast transformation. Through the phenotypic and pathogenicity experiments of the wild-type strain and mutant strain, the results showed that the colony growth rate and spore production of the strain without the PG gene decreased to some extent, and the lesion diameter and the degree of pericarp cell damage decreased, which showed that the CRISPR/Cas9 system could be used in F. equiseti and PG enzyme and can play a significant role in the interaction between F. equiseti and pitaya fruit.     

基于CRISPR/Cas9技术构建SETD2基因敲除鼻咽癌细胞株并分析其增殖特性

目的:基于CRISPR/Cas9技术构建SETD2基因敲除鼻咽癌(NPC)细胞株,并对该细胞株的增殖特性进行分析。方法:采用RT-PCR及Western blot检测永生化鼻咽黏膜细胞系NP-69及不同分化NPC细胞系CNE1、CNE2Z和C666-1中SETD2的表达情况,筛选出SETD2高表达细胞系CNE1。应用CRISPR/Cas9技术敲除CNE1细胞中的SETD2基因,筛选SETD2稳定敲除细胞株。采用CCK-8和平板集落形成实验分析SETD2基因敲除前后CNE1细胞的增殖能力,流式细胞术检测细胞周期的分布,Western blot检测细胞周期相关蛋白的表达。结果:与NP-69细胞相比,随着细胞分化程度的降低,SETD2在CNE1、CNE2Z和C666-1细胞中的表达逐渐下降(P 0. 01)。基于CRISPR/Cas9方法成功地从15个转染了小向导RNA(small guide RNA,sgRNA)的CNE1细胞单克隆中筛选出2个SETD2稳定敲除的细胞株CNE1-SETD2-KO-#5和#9。CCK-8及平板集落形成实验结果证实,相对于CNE1-WT细胞,CNE1-SETD2-KO-#5和#9细胞的增殖能力增强(P 0. 05);流式细胞术分析表明,CNE1-SETD2-KO-#5和#9细胞G1期减少而G2/M和S期均增加(P 0. 05); Western blot证实,SETD2敲除后增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)、细胞周期素D1(cyclin D1)、cyclin B1、cyclin A2、cyclin E1、细胞周期素依赖性激酶2(CDK2)和CDK4表达增加,p21表达减少(P 0. 05)。结论:基于CRISPR/Ca9技术成功构建SETD2基因敲除NPC细胞株。NPC细胞中SETD2表达与细胞分化程度有关; SETD2表达缺失通过上调cyclin D1、cyclin B1、cyclin A2、cyclin E1、CDK2和CDK4并下调p21表达而促进细胞增殖。     

利用CRISPR/Cas9技术构建22q-Enh3增强子元件敲除型A549稳定细胞系

目的 增强子元件敲除细胞系是探索增强子功能的理想细胞模型,为了探索位于22q12.2肺癌易感染色质区的增强子元件22q-Enh3的生物学功能,建立敲除22q-Enh3增强子元件的纯合细胞系.方法 利用CRISPR/Cas9(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/crispr-associated 9)基因敲除技术在非小细胞肺癌A549细胞系中敲除22q-Enh3增强子,并运用流式细胞术、细胞培养以及PCR技术筛选和鉴定敲除型克隆.结果 我们最终获得了3个敲除增强子元件22q-Enh3的纯合子细胞克隆.结论 本研究为进一步研究22q-Enh3增强子元件的生物学功能提供了细胞模型,并为应用CRISPR/Cas9基因敲除技术建立其他增强子元件敲除型纯合子细胞模型积累了宝贵经验.     

Generation of tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene knockout pigs by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene targeting

Unbalanced brain serotonin (5-HT) levels have implications in various behavioral abnormalities and neuropsychiatric disorders. The biosynthesis of neuronal 5-HT is regulated by the rate-limiting enzyme, tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2). In the present study, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/ CRISPR-associated (Cas) system was used to target the Tph2 gene in Bama mini pig fetal fibroblasts. It was found that CRISPR/Cas9 targeting efficiency could be as high as 61.5%, and the biallelic mutation efficiency reached at 38.5%. The biallelic modified colonies were used as donors for somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and 10 Tph2 targeted piglets were successfully generated. These Tph2 KO piglets were viable and appeared normal at the birth. However, their central 5-HT levels were dramatically reduced, and their survival and growth rates were impaired before weaning. These Tph2 KO pigs are valuable large-animal models for studies of 5-HT deficiency induced behavior abnomality.     

CRISPR/Cas9载体优化及CHD1L条件性敲除肝癌细胞系的构建

目的利用优化的pLV-Tet3G-CRISPR/Cas9载体系统构建条件性敲除CHD1L的QGY-7703肝癌细胞系,验证敲除效果及其对细胞生物学的影响,为研究CHD1L促肿瘤细胞恶性表型机制提供重要的细胞模型。方法用点突变方法优化pLV-Tet3G-Cas9载体以降低其脱靶效应,进而将Cas9改造成eSpCas9;其次,通过筛选获得稳定表达eSpCas9的QGY-7703细胞株;将mCherry基因插入载体pLVXhU6-SgRNA中,获得携带mCherry荧光基因的pLVX-mCherry-hU6-SgRNA载体;设计和筛选特异性靶向CHD1L的SgRNA序列,用重叠PCR方法获得hU6-CHD1L-SgRNA片段,筛选具有CHD1L切割活性的靶点,随后,将其克隆到pLVX-mCherry-hU6-SgRNA载体中;用293FT细胞进行病毒包装,获得慢病毒颗粒;转染7703eSpCas9细胞株,利用Western blot验证Dox诱导下的CHD1L敲除效果,划痕和Transwell实验检测Dox诱导的CHD1L敲除对肝癌细胞生物学功能的影响。结果 pLV-Tet3G-Cas9载体Cas9成功优化为eSpCas9序列;成功构建pLVX-mCherry-hU6-CHD1L-SgRNA载体;通过转染及筛选,获得Dox诱导的CHD1L敲除QGY-7703肝癌细胞系;细胞实验显示Dox可诱导eSpCas9表达,靶向性切割CHD1L,抑制QGY-7703细胞的迁移侵袭。结论成功构建Dox诱导的CHD1L敲除肝癌细胞株,此载体系统可为靶向肿瘤特异性基因研究提供细胞模型。     

The Generation of Zebrafish Mariner Model Using the CRISPR/Cas9 System

Targeted genome editing mediated by clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) technology has emerged as a powerful tool for gene function studies and has great potential for gene therapy. Although CRISPR/Cas9 has been widely used in many research fields, only a few successful zebrafish models have been established using this technology in hearing research. In this study, we successfully created zebrafish mariner mutants by targeting the motor head domain of Myo7aa using CRISPR/Cas9. The CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutants showed unbalanced swimming behavior and disorganized sterocilia of inner ear hair cells, which resemble the phenotype of the zebrafish mariner mutants. In addition, we found that CRISPR/Cas9-generated mutants have reduced number of stereociliary bundles of inner ear hair cells and have significant hearing loss. Furthermore, phenotypic analysis was performed on F0 larvae within the first week post fertilization, which dramatically shortens data collection period. Therefore, results of this study showed that CRISPR/Cas9 is a quick and effective method to generate zebrafish mutants as a model for studying human genetic deafness. Anat Rec, 303:556–562, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy     

Efficient Generation of Gene‐Modified Pigs Harboring Precise Orthologous Human Mutation via CRISPR/Cas9‐Induced Homology‐Directed Repair in Zygotes

Precise genetic mutation of model animals is highly valuable for functional investigation of human mutations. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated 9 (Cas9)‐induced homology‐directed repair (HDR) is usually used for precise genetic mutation, being limited by the relatively low efficiency compared with that of non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ). Although inhibition of NHEJ was shown to enhance HDR‐derived mutation, in this work, without inhibition of NHEJ, we first generated gene‐modified pigs harboring precise orthologous human mutation (Sox10 c.A325>T) via CRISPR/Cas9‐induced HDR in zygotes using single‐strand oligo DNA (ssODN) as template with an efficiency as high as 80%, indicating that pig zygotes exhibited high activities of HDR relative to NHEJ and were highly amendable to genetic mutation via CIRSPR/Cas9‐induced HDR. Besides, we found a higher concentration of ssODN remarkably reduced HDR‐derived mutation in pig zygotes, suggesting a possible balance for optimal HDR‐derived mutation in zygotes between the excessive accessibility to HDR templates and the activities of HDR relative to NHEJ which appeared to be negatively correlated to ssODN concentration. In addition, the HDR‐derived mutation, as well as those from NHEJ, extensively integrated into various tissues including gonad of founder pig without detected off‐targeting, suggesting CRISPR/Cas9‐induced HDR in zygotes is a reliable approach for precise genetic mutation in pigs.     

利用CRISPR/Cas9系统构建4T1细胞CXCR4基因敲除稳定细胞株

目的 利用CRISPR/Cas9系统敲除4T1细胞中的CXCR4基因,构建稳定敲除CXCR4基因的4T1细胞株。 方法 根据CRISPR/Cas9靶点设计原则,在美国国立生物技术信息中心（NCBI）上找到CXCR4基因序列的外显子区域,设计两条sgRNA,用LentiCRISPRv2作为载体构建LentiCRISPRv2-sgRNA重组质粒并转化至感受态的Stbl3菌体中,挑取单克隆测序验证并扩大培养提质粒后转染至293T细胞中包装成慢病毒。 收集病毒并感染4T1细胞,通过嘌呤霉素筛选并用有限稀释法分离培养出单克隆细胞。 提取筛选出的单克隆细胞基因组DNA并对敲除位点附近的DNA片段进行PCR扩增并测序;用Real-time PCR检测细胞株CXCR4基因mRNA表达情况;用免疫印迹法检测CXCR4蛋白质的表达情况。 结果 LentiCRISPRv2-sgRNA重组质粒构建成功;经过基因组DNA片段PCR扩增测序得1株缺失27 bp的稳定敲除CXCR4基因的细胞株;细胞株CXCR4mRNA的表达量低且几乎无CXCR4蛋白质的表达。 结论 通过CRISPR/Cas9系统获得靶向敲除CXCR4基因的重组质粒,并筛选出稳定敲除CXCR4基因的细胞株。