Project description:Mouse embryonic stem cells (i.e., mESCs; line ESC 129-B13) were genetically modified using CRISPR-Cas9 to mutate the H3f3b locus, in order to carry homozygous lysine-to-alanine substitution of residues K9, K27 or K79. Two control mESC lines carrying knock-out of the H3f3a gene were used as background for the editing. Low-coverage whole-genome sequencing (~0.8/0.9X) was performed to assess the chromosomal integrity of the edited lines. Genomic DNA was extracted from each mutant and control mESC line and sonicated to obtain fragments of ~150-200bp on average. Fragmented DNA (~0.5-1 ug) was used for library preparation using the NEBNext Ultra II DNA library preparation kit (New England Biolabs). Sequencing was performed on a NextSeq500 platform in single-end mode (75bp reads).
Project description:We report a preliminary RNA-Seq data of MCF-7 cells edited in the FASN locus using CRISPR/Cas9. MCF-7 cells were edited by CRISPR/Cas9, screened by Surveyor assay, purified by limiting dilutions, validated by sanger sequencing, and characterized by diverse cellular analyses. Then, RNA from edited cells and non-edited controls were processed by TruSeq-RNA-Library-Prep-Kit and sequenced in a illumina equipment. Reads were aligned to hg38 in Galaxy using RNA-Star and transcripts were counted by FeatureCounts.
Project description:Cellular models of propionic acidemia were generated using HepG2 cells that were edited by CRISPR gene editing to introduce the pathogenic PCCA c.1285-1416A>G variant associated with propionic acidemia, and a 7 bp deletion of a predicted hnRNP A1 binding motif (c.1285-1411delTAGAACA), which causes complete and partial activation of an 84 bp pseudoexon from intron 14 in the PCCA gene, respectively. Treatment by transfection of splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides (SSO) to block inclusion of the PCCA pseudoexon in mRNA, was used to investigate this as a potential therapeutic strategy.
Project description:Aging is associated with declining immunity and inflammation as well as alterations in the gut microbiome with a decrease of beneficial microbes and increase in pathogenic ones. The aim of this study was to investigate aging associated gut microbiome in relation to immunologic and metabolic profile in a non-human primate (NHP) model. 12 old (age>18 years) and 4 young (age 3-6 years) Rhesus macaques were included in this study. Immune cell subsets were characterized in PBMC by flow cytometry and plasma cytokines levels were determined by bead based multiplex cytokine analysis. Stool samples were collected by ileal loop and investigated for microbiome analysis by shotgun metagenomics. Serum, gut microbial lysate and microbe-free fecal extract were subjected to metabolomic analysis by mass-spectrometry. Our results showed that the old animals exhibited higher inflammatory biomarkers in plasma and lower CD4 T cells with altered distribution of naïve and memory T cell maturation subsets. The gut microbiome in old animals had higher abundance of Archaeal and Proteobacterial species and lower Firmicutes than the young. Significant enrichment of metabolites that contribute to inflammatory and cytotoxic pathways was observed in serum and feces of old animals compared to the young. We conclude that aging NHP undergo immunosenescence and age associated alterations in the gut microbiome that has a distinct metabolic profile.
Project description:CRISPR-edited human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived glioma models provide a robust platform to investigate the biology of these aggressive tumors in an isogenic background or to test possible treatments in preclinical settings. We created iPSC12 lines that carry different combinations of glioma driver mutations using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology, including TP53-/-, ATRX-/-, IDH1-R132H/WT, PTEN-/-, CDKN2A/B-/-, TERT promoter(TERTp) C228T/WT, MTAP-/-, and overexpression (OE) of EGFRvIII oncogenic isoform. Edited iPSCs were then differentiated into neural progenitor cells (NPC) using a small molecule protocol. We cultured the edited NPCs in 3D organoid with an FBS-containing differentiation medium. After 14 days, different genotypes of NPCs formed organoids were harvest and RNAs were isolated and subjected to RNA-seq analysis. To create an in vivo model system, NPCs with different genotypes were intracranially transplanted into athymic mice. Mice were sacrificed when pathologic symptoms developed resulting from tumor burden or 120 days post brain transplantation. RNAs were extracted from the tumor region of brain tissue sections and subjected to RNA-seq analysis. Our study showed that the iPSC-based model of gliomas displayed distinct mutation-dependent variation in transcriptome, which recapitulated the gene expression signatures of human gliomas.
Project description:ATAC-seq was performed on peripheral blood NK cells that were CRISPR-edited to knock-out expression of T-BET and EOMES. The following samples were analyzed to elucidate the role of T-BET and EOMES in regulating mature human NK cell chromatin accessibility.
Project description:Genome editing technologies have enabled the clinical development of allogeneic cellular therapies, yet the optimal gene editing modality for multiplex editing of therapeutic T cell product manufacturing remains elusive. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive comparison of CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease and adenine base editor (ABE) technologies in generating allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, utilizing extensive in vitro and in vivo analyses. Both methods achieved high editing efficiencies across four target genes, critical for mitigating graft-versus-host disease and allograft rejection: TRAC or CD3E, B2M, CIITA, and PVR. Notably, ABE demonstrated higher manufacturing yields and distinct off-target profiles compared to Cas9, with translocations observed exclusively in Cas9-edited products. Functionally, ABE-edited CAR T cells exhibited superior in vitro effector functions under continuous antigen stimulation, including enhanced proliferative capacity and increased surface CAR expression. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that ABE editing resulted in reduced activation of p53 and DNA damage response pathways at baseline, along with sustained activation of metabolic pathways during antigen stress. Consistently, ATAC-seq data indicated that Cas9-edited, but not ABE-edited, CAR T cells showed enrichment of chromatin accessibility peaks associated with double-strand break repair and DNA damage response pathways. In a preclinical leukemia model, ABE-edited CAR T cells demonstrated improved tumor control and extended overall survival compared to their Cas9-edited counterparts. Collectively, these findings position ABE as a superior choice of Cas9 nucleases for multiplex gene editing in therapeutic T cells.
Project description:Genome editing technologies have enabled the clinical development of allogeneic cellular therapies, yet the optimal gene editing modality for multiplex editing of therapeutic T cell product manufacturing remains elusive. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive comparison of CRISPR/Cas9 nuclease and adenine base editor (ABE) technologies in generating allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, utilizing extensive in vitro and in vivo analyses. Both methods achieved high editing efficiencies across four target genes, critical for mitigating graft-versus-host disease and allograft rejection: TRAC or CD3E, B2M, CIITA, and PVR. Notably, ABE demonstrated higher manufacturing yields and distinct off-target profiles compared to Cas9, with translocations observed exclusively in Cas9-edited products. Functionally, ABE-edited CAR T cells exhibited superior in vitro effector functions under continuous antigen stimulation, including enhanced proliferative capacity and increased surface CAR expression. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that ABE editing resulted in reduced activation of p53 and DNA damage response pathways at baseline, along with sustained activation of metabolic pathways during antigen stress. Consistently, ATAC-seq data indicated that Cas9-edited, but not ABE-edited, CAR T cells showed enrichment of chromatin accessibility peaks associated with double-strand break repair and DNA damage response pathways. In a preclinical leukemia model, ABE-edited CAR T cells demonstrated improved tumor control and extended overall survival compared to their Cas9-edited counterparts. Collectively, these findings position ABE as a superior choice of Cas9 nucleases for multiplex gene editing in therapeutic T cells.