HIV-1 inhibition in cells with CXCR4 mutant genome created by CRISPR-Cas9 and piggyBac recombinant technologies

Sci Rep. 2018 Jun 5;8(1):8573. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-26894-4.

Abstract

The C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) is one of the major co-receptors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) entry and is considered an important therapeutic target. However, its function in maintaining the development of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) makes it difficult to be used for HIV-1 gene therapy with HSC transplantation. A previous report showed that the natural CXCR4 P191A mutant inhibits HIV-1 infection without any defect in HSC differentiation, which could provide a basis for the development of new approaches for HIV-1 gene therapy. In the present study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 combined with the piggyBac transposon technologies to efficiently induce the expression of the CXCR4 P191A mutant in an HIV-1 reporter cell line, leading to no detectable exogenous sequences. In addition, no off-target effects were detected in the genome-edited cells. The decline of HIV-1 replication in biallelic CXCR4 gene-edited cells suggests that individuals equipped with homologous recombination of the CXCR4 P191A mutant could prevent or reduce HIV-1 infection. This study provides an effective approach to create a CXCR4 mutation with HIV-1 infection inhibition function and without leaving any genetic footprint inside cells, thereby shedding light on an application in HIV-1 gene therapy and avoiding side effects caused by deficiency or destruction of CXCR4 function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • DNA Transposable Elements / genetics*
  • DNA, Recombinant / genetics
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • Genetic Engineering / methods
  • HIV Infections / genetics
  • HIV Infections / metabolism
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • HIV-1 / metabolism
  • HIV-1 / physiology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cells / virology
  • Humans
  • Mutation, Missense*
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / genetics*
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / metabolism
  • Virus Internalization

Substances

  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • DNA Transposable Elements
  • DNA, Recombinant
  • Receptors, CXCR4