Generation of FHL2 homozygous knockout lines from human embryonic stem cells by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ablation

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Mutations in the FHL2 (Four and a half LIM domains protein 2) gene are associated with cardiomyopathy in patients. Here, we generated two homozygous knockout lines using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ablation in a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) WA09 line. These knockout lines exhibit a normal karyotype without expressing FHL2 protein, while maintaining pluripotency and differentiation properties. These isogenic mutation lines will be provided as a disease model for cardiomyopathy studies and drug screening.