Overcoming the Undesirable CRISPR-Cas9 Expression in Gene Correction

Abstract

The CRISPR-Cas9 system is attractive for gene therapy, as it allows for permanent genetic correction. However, as a new technology, Cas9 gene editing in clinical applications faces major challenges, such as safe delivery and gene targeting efficiency. Cas9 is a foreign protein to recipient cells; thus, its expression may prompt the immune system to eliminate gene-edited cells. To overcome these challenges, we have engineered a novel delivery system based on the helper-dependent adenoviral (HD-Ad) vector, which is capable of delivering genes to airway basal stem cells in vivo. Using this system, we demonstrate the successful co-delivery of both CRISPR-Cas9/single-guide RNA and the LacZ reporter or CFTR gene as donor DNA to cultured cells. HD-Ad vector genome integrity is compromised following donor DNA integration, and because the CRISPR-Cas9/single-guide RNA and donor DNA are carried on the same vector, CRISPR-Cas9 expression is concurrently eliminated. Thus, we show the feasibility of site-specific gene targeting with limited Cas9 expression. In addition, we achieved stable CFTR expression and functional correction in cultured cells following successful gene integration. Keywords: gene targeting, cystic fibrosis, lung disease, gene therapy, CRISPR