CRISPR/Cas9-Directed Gene Trap Constitutes a Selection System for Corrected BCR/ABL Leukemic Cells in CML

Fecha de publicación: 01/06/2022

Autores de IBSAL

• Elena Vuelta Ramos

  Autor

• José Luis Ordóñez García

  Autor

• Jesús María Hernández Rivas

  Autor

• 

  Manuel Adolfo Sánchez Martín

  Autor

• Ignacio García-Tuñón Llanio

  Autor

Autores ajenos a IBSAL

• Sanz, DJ
• Ballesteros, S
• Mendez-Sanchez, L

Grupos

• CANC-04 - Genética molecular en oncohematología

  Investigador Principal

  Jesús María Hernández Rivas

• CARD-08 - Farmacología cardiovascular

  

  Investigador Principal

  Mónica García Domingo

• IIMD-07 - Medicina molecular

  

  Investigador Principal

  Rogelio González Sarmiento

Abstract

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a haematological neoplasm driven by the BCR/ABL fusion oncogene. The monogenic aspect of the disease and the feasibility of ex vivo therapies in haematological disorders make CML an excellent candidate for gene therapy strategies. The ability to abolish any coding sequence by CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases offers a powerful therapeutic opportunity to CML patients. However, a definitive cure can only be achieved when only CRISPR-edited cells are selected. A gene-trapping approach combined with CRISPR technology would be an ideal approach to ensure this. Here, we developed a CRISPR-Trap strategy that efficiently inserts a donor gene trap (SA-CMV-Venus) cassette into the BCR/ABL-specific fusion point in the CML K562 human cell line. The trapping cassette interrupts the oncogene coding sequence and expresses a reporter gene that enables the selection of edited cells. Quantitative mRNA expression analyses showed significantly higher level of expression of the BCR/Venus allele coupled with a drastically lower level of BCR/ABL expression in Venus+ cell fractions. Functional in vitro experiments showed cell proliferation arrest and apoptosis in selected Venus+ cells. Finally, xenograft experiments with the selected Venus+ cells showed a large reduction in tumour growth, thereby demonstrating a therapeutic benefit in vivo. This study represents proof of concept for the therapeutic potential of a CRISPR-Trap system as a novel strategy for gene elimination in haematological neoplasms.

Keywords

• chronic myeloid leukaemia; BCR; ABL; CRISPR; gene therapy; CRISPR-Trap