RRC ID |
77259
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Author |
Pavani G, Fabiano A, Laurent M, Amor F, Cantelli E, Chalumeau A, Maule G, Tachtsidi A, Concordet JP, Cereseto A, Mavilio F, Ferrari G, Miccio A, Amendola M.
|
Title |
Correction of β-thalassemia by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the α-globin locus in human hematopoietic stem cells.
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Journal |
Blood Adv
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Abstract |
β-thalassemias (β-thal) are a group of blood disorders caused by mutations in the β-globin gene (HBB) cluster. β-globin associates with α-globin to form adult hemoglobin (HbA, α2β2), the main oxygen-carrier in erythrocytes. When β-globin chains are absent or limiting, free α-globins precipitate and damage cell membranes, causing hemolysis and ineffective erythropoiesis. Clinical data show that severity of β-thal correlates with the number of inherited α-globin genes (HBA1 and HBA2), with α-globin gene deletions having a beneficial effect for patients. Here, we describe a novel strategy to treat β-thal based on genome editing of the α-globin locus in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). Using CRISPR/Cas9, we combined 2 therapeutic approaches: (1) α-globin downregulation, by deleting the HBA2 gene to recreate an α-thalassemia trait, and (2) β-globin expression, by targeted integration of a β-globin transgene downstream the HBA2 promoter. First, we optimized the CRISPR/Cas9 strategy and corrected the pathological phenotype in a cellular model of β-thalassemia (human erythroid progenitor cell [HUDEP-2] β0). Then, we edited healthy donor HSPCs and demonstrated that they maintained long-term repopulation capacity and multipotency in xenotransplanted mice. To assess the clinical potential of this approach, we next edited β-thal HSPCs and achieved correction of α/β globin imbalance in HSPC-derived erythroblasts. As a safer option for clinical translation, we performed editing in HSPCs using Cas9 nickase showing precise editing with no InDels. Overall, we described an innovative CRISPR/Cas9 approach to improve α/β globin imbalance in thalassemic HSPCs, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies for β-thal.
|
Volume |
5(5)
|
Pages |
1137-1153
|
Published |
2021-3-9
|
DOI |
10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001996
|
PII |
S2473-9529(21)00140-3
|
PMID |
33635334
|
PMC |
PMC7948300
|
MeSH |
Animals
CRISPR-Cas Systems
Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
Humans
Mice
alpha-Globins / genetics
beta-Globins / genetics
beta-Thalassemia* / genetics
beta-Thalassemia* / therapy
|
IF |
4.91
|
Resource |
Human and Animal Cells |
HUDEP-2(RCB4557) |