Rescue of STAT3 Function in Hyper-IgE Syndrome Using Adenine Base Editing

CRISPR J. 2021 Apr;4(2):178-190. doi: 10.1089/crispr.2020.0111.

Abstract

STAT3-hyper IgE syndrome (STAT3-HIES) is a primary immunodeficiency presenting with destructive lung disease along with other symptoms. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated adenine base editors (ABEs) have the potential to correct one of the most common STAT3-HIES causing heterozygous STAT3 mutations (c.1144C>T/p.R382W). As a proof-of-concept, we successfully applied ABEs to correct STAT3 p.R382W in patient fibroblasts and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Treated primary STAT3-HIES patient fibroblasts showed a correction efficiency of 29% ± 7% without detectable off-target effects evaluated through whole-genome and high-throughput sequencing. Compared with untreated patient fibroblasts, corrected single-cell clones showed functional rescue of STAT3 signaling with significantly increased STAT3 DNA-binding activity and target gene expression of CCL2 and SOCS3. Patient-derived iPSCs were corrected with an efficiency of 30% ± 6% and differentiated to alveolar organoids showing preserved plasticity in treated cells. In conclusion, our results are supportive for ABE-based gene correction as a potential causative treatment of STAT3-HIES.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
  • Fibroblasts
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • Heterozygote
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / genetics
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
  • Job Syndrome / genetics*
  • Job Syndrome / therapy*
  • Mutation
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • Whole Genome Sequencing

Substances

  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Adenine