Synthetic gRNA/Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein Inhibits HIV Reactivation and Replication

The current antiretroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can halt viral replication but cannot eradicate HIV infection because proviral DNA integrated into the host genome remains genetically silent in reservoir cells and is replication-competent upon interruption or cessation of ART. CRISPR/Cas9-based technology is widely used to edit target genes via mutagenesis (i.e., nucleotide insertion/deletion and/or substitution) and thus can inactivate integrated proviral DNA. However, CRISPR/Cas9 delivery systems often require viral vectors, which pose safety concerns for therapeutic applications in humans. In this study, we used synthetic guide RNA (gRNA)/Cas9-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) as a non-viral formulation to develop a novel HIV gene therapy. We designed a series of gRNAs targeting different HIV genes crucial for HIV replication and tested their antiviral efficacy and cellular cytotoxicity in lymphoid and monocytic latent HIV cell lines. Compared with the scramble gRNA control, HIV-gRNA/Cas9 RNP-treated cells exhibited efficient viral suppression with no apparent cytotoxicity, as evidenced by the significant inhibition of latent HIV DNA reactivation and RNA replication. Moreover, HIV-gRNA/Cas9 RNP inhibited p24 antigen expression, suppressed infectious viral particle production, and generated specific DNA cleavages in the targeted HIV genes that are confirmed by DNA sequencing. Because of its rapid DNA cleavage, low off-target effects, low risk of insertional mutagenesis, easy production, and readiness for use in clinical application, this study provides a proof-of-concept that synthetic gRNA/Cas9 RNP drugs can be utilized as a novel therapeutic approach for HIV eradication.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2022

Erschienen:

2022

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:14

Enthalten in:

Viruses - 14(2022), 9 vom: 28. Aug.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Khanal, Sushant [VerfasserIn]
Cao, Dechao [VerfasserIn]
Zhang, Jinyu [VerfasserIn]
Zhang, Yi [VerfasserIn]
Schank, Madison [VerfasserIn]
Dang, Xindi [VerfasserIn]
Nguyen, Lam Ngoc Thao [VerfasserIn]
Wu, Xiao Y [VerfasserIn]
Jiang, Yong [VerfasserIn]
Ning, Shunbin [VerfasserIn]
Zhao, Juan [VerfasserIn]
Wang, Ling [VerfasserIn]
Gazzar, Mohamed El [VerfasserIn]
Moorman, Jonathan P [VerfasserIn]
Yao, Zhi Q [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

9007-49-2
Antiviral Agents
Cas9
DNA
GRNA
HIV-1
Journal Article
Nucleotides
RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Ribonucleoprotein
Ribonucleoproteins
Viral inhibition

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 26.09.2022

Date Revised 04.01.2024

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.3390/v14091902

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM346630819