A novel gene editing technique was able to correct mutations inCOL7A1 in cells taken from people with recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB), providing a proof of concept for using the editing technique in the disease.

The finding was published in theJournal of Investigative Dermatology in a study titled, Base editor correction of COL7A1 in recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa patient-derived fibroblasts and iPSCs.

The idea behind gene editing is simple: If a disease (such as RDEB) is caused by a mutation in a gene (COL7A1), then changing the genetic code to remove the mutation should functionally cure the disease. Of course, rewriting genetic code in living cells much less in human beings is far from simple.

Most current lab techniques basically involve cutting out the section of DNA that has the mutation, then replacing it with a healthy version. The problem is that there are often small insertions or deletions in the code where the DNA is cut, which isnt desirable.

In the new study, researchers tested a novel editing technique that uses a lab-made protein called an adenine base editor (ABE) to change just one nucleotide (a letter in the DNA code) without the need to cut out a whole chunk of DNA.

The researchers tried using ABE to correct mutations in COL7A1in skin cells taken from two RDEB patients. Broadly, they were successful, correcting the mutation in the DNA in about 24% of the cells; these cells also expressed collagen type VII (C7), the protein encoded by COL7A1.

The researchers then used the corrected skin cells to generate induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs, a type of cell that will perpetually divide and that, through chemical cues, can be led to differentiate into many different cell types). These iPSCs still expressed C7, providing a proof of concept that could be helpful in translating these findings into patients.

The researchers also surveyed other spots in the cells genomes to see whether there were any places the ABE was making changes it wasnt intended to. They didnt find any, suggesting a fairly low off-target rate.

Collectively, our study shows the feasibility of autologous cellular engineering using base editing to correct COL7A1 mutations in cell populations currently employed clinically for RDEB, the researchers concluded.

Marisa holds an MS in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied novel genetic drivers of ovarian cancer. She specializes in cancer biology, immunology, and genetics. Marisa began working with BioNews in 2018, and has written about science and health for SelfHacked and the Genetics Society of America. She also writes/composes musicals and coaches the University of Pittsburgh fencing club.

Total Posts: 12

Ins Martins holds a BSc in Cell and Molecular Biology from Universidade Nova de Lisboa and is currently finishing her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Universidade de Lisboa. Her work has been focused on blood vessels and their role in both hematopoiesis and cancer development.

Read the rest here:
New Gene Editing Technique Shown to Correct COL7A1 Gene in RDEB Cells - Epidermolysis Bullosa News