Elimination of HIV-1 Genomes from Human T-lymphoid Cells by CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 4:6:22555. doi: 10.1038/srep22555.

Abstract

We employed an RNA-guided CRISPR/Cas9 DNA editing system to precisely remove the entire HIV-1 genome spanning between 5' and 3' LTRs of integrated HIV-1 proviral DNA copies from latently infected human CD4+ T-cells. Comprehensive assessment of whole-genome sequencing of HIV-1 eradicated cells ruled out any off-target effects by our CRISPR/Cas9 technology that might compromise the integrity of the host genome and further showed no effect on several cell health indices including viability, cell cycle and apoptosis. Persistent co-expression of Cas9 and the specific targeting guide RNAs in HIV-1-eradicated T-cells protected them against new infection by HIV-1. Lentivirus-delivered CRISPR/Cas9 significantly diminished HIV-1 replication in infected primary CD4+ T-cell cultures and drastically reduced viral load in ex vivo culture of CD4+ T-cells obtained from HIV-1 infected patients. Thus, gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 may provide a new therapeutic path for eliminating HIV-1 DNA from CD4+ T-cells and potentially serve as a novel and effective platform toward curing AIDS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / physiology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology*
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics*
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Survival
  • Endonucleases / genetics*
  • Gene Editing
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • HIV Infections / therapy*
  • HIV-1 / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Proviruses / genetics*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Virus Latency / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • RNA, Viral
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9
  • Cas9 endonuclease Streptococcus pyogenes
  • Endonucleases