Insights of CRISPR-Cas systems in stem cells: progress in regenerative medicine

Mol Biol Rep. 2022 Jan;49(1):657-673. doi: 10.1007/s11033-021-06832-w. Epub 2021 Oct 23.

Abstract

Regenerative medicine, a therapeutic approach using stem cells, aims to rejuvenate and restore the normalized function of the cells, tissues, and organs that are injured, malfunctioning, and afflicted. This influential technology reaches its zenith when it is integrated with the CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR associated) technology of genome editing. This tool acts as a programmable restriction enzyme system, which targets DNA as well as RNA and gets redeployed for the customization of DNA/RNA sequences. The dynamic behaviour of nuclear manipulation and transcriptional regulation by CRISPR-Cas technology renders it with numerous employment in the field of biologics and research. Here, the possible impact of the commonly practiced CRISPR-Cas systems in regenerative medicines is being reviewed. Primarily, the discussion of the working mechanism of this system and the fate of stem cells will be scrutinized. A detailed description of the CRISPR based regenerative therapeutic approaches for a horde of diseases like genetic disorders, neural diseases, and blood-related diseases is elucidated.

Keywords: CRISPR-associated proteins; Gene therapy; Genetic disorders; Genome editing; Protospacer adjacent motif; Stem cells.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / genetics
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats / genetics
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Regenerative Medicine / methods*
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*

Substances

  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9