KEAP1 editing using CRISPR/Cas9 for therapeutic NRF2 activation in primary human T lymphocytes

S Noel, SA Lee, M Sadasivam… - The Journal of …, 2018 - journals.aai.org
S Noel, SA Lee, M Sadasivam, ARA Hamad, H Rabb
The Journal of Immunology, 2018journals.aai.org
Oxidant stress modifies T lymphocyte activation and function. Previous work demonstrated
that murine T cell–specific kelch like-ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) deletion enhances
antioxidant capacity and protects from experimental acute kidney injury. In this study, we
used CRISPR technology to develop clinically translatable human T cell–specific KEAP1
deletion. Delivery of KEAP1 exon 2 specific Cas9: guide RNA in Jurkat T cells led to
significant (∼ 70%) editing and upregulation of NRF2-regulated antioxidant genes NADPH …
Abstract
Oxidant stress modifies T lymphocyte activation and function. Previous work demonstrated that murine T cell–specific kelch like-ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) deletion enhances antioxidant capacity and protects from experimental acute kidney injury. In this study, we used CRISPR technology to develop clinically translatable human T cell–specific KEAP1 deletion. Delivery of KEAP1 exon 2 specific Cas9: guide RNA in Jurkat T cells led to significant (∼ 70%) editing and upregulation of NRF2-regulated antioxidant genes NADPH dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1)(up to 11-fold), heme oxygenase 1 (HO1)(up to 11-fold), and GCLM (up to 2-fold). In primary human T cells, delivery of KEAP1 exon 2 target site 2-specific ATTO 550–labeled Cas9: guide RNA edited KEAP1 in∼ 40% cells and significantly (p≤ 0.04) increased NQO1 (16-fold), HO1 (9-fold), and GCLM (2-fold) expression. To further enrich KEAP1-edited cells, ATTO 550–positive cells were sorted 24 h after electroporation. Assessment of ATTO 550–positive cells showed KEAP1 editing in∼ 55% cells. There was no detectable off-target cleavage in the top three predicted genes in the ATTO 550–positive cells. Gene expression analysis found significantly (p≤ 0.01) higher expression of NQO1 mRNA in ATTO 550–positive cells compared with control cells. Flow cytometric assessment showed increased (p≤ 0.01) frequency of CD4-, CD25-, and CD69-expressing KEAP1 edited cells whereas frequency of CD8-(p≤ 0.01) and IL-17–(p≤ 0.05) expressing cells was reduced compared with control cells. Similar experimental conditions resulted in significant KEAP1 editing, increased antioxidant gene expression, and frequency of CD69 and IL-10 positive cells in highly enriched KEAP1-edited regulatory T cells. KEAP1-edited T cells could potentially be used for treating multiple human diseases.
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