CRISPR/Cas9 mediated mutation of mouse IL-1? nuclear localisation sequence abolishes expression.

ABSTRACT: Inflammation is a host defense process against infection. Inflammatory mediators include cytokines of the interleukin-1 family, such as IL-1? and IL-1?. Unlike IL-1?, IL-1? carries an N-terminal nuclear localisation sequence (NLS) and is trafficked to the nucleus. The importance of IL-1? nuclear localisation is poorly understood. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to make inactivating mutations to the NLS on the Il1a gene. A colony of NLS mutant mice was successfully generated with precise knock-in mutations to incapacitate NLS function. NLS mutant mice had no gross changes in immunophenotype or inflammatory response but, surprisingly, failed to express IL-1?. We deduced that, in making specific mutations in the Il1a gene, we also mutated a long-noncoding (lnc)RNA in the complementary strand which has cis-regulatory transcriptional control of the Il1a gene itself. The mutations generated in the Il1a gene also result in mutation of the lncRNA sequence and a predicted alteration of its secondary structure, potentially explaining a subsequent failure to function as a transcriptional activator of Il1a expression. Thus, lncRNA secondary structure may regulate IL-1? expression. Our results serve as a cautionary note that CRISPR -mediated genome editing without full knowledge of genomic context can result in unexpected, yet potentially informative observations.

SUBMITTER: Daniels MJD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5719027 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature