A precise gene delivery approach for human induced pluripotent stem cells using Cas9 RNP complex and recombinant AAV6 donor vectors

PLoS One. 2022 Jul 7;17(7):e0270963. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270963. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Genome editing in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offers a potential tool for studying gene functions in disease models and correcting genetic mutations for cell-based therapy. Precise transgene insertion in hiPSCs represents a significant challenge. In the past decade, viral transduction has been widely used due to its high transduction efficiency; however, it can result in random transgene integration and variable transgene copy numbers. Non-viral-based strategies are generally safer but limited by their low transfection efficiency in hiPSCs. Recently, genome engineering using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors has emerged as a promising gene delivery approach due to AAVs' low immunogenicity, toxicity, and ability to infect a broad range of cells. The following protocol describes the workflow for genome editing in hiPSCs using the CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex combined with the recombinant AAV serotype 6 (AAV6) donor vectors to introduce a gene of interest (GOI) fused with mCherry fluorescent reporter gene into the AAVS1 safe harbor site. This approach leads to efficient transgene insertion and is applicable to precise genome editing of hiPSCs or other types of stem cells for research purposes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • Dependovirus / genetics
  • Gene Editing / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells*

Supplementary concepts

  • Adeno-associated virus-1

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Thailand Research Fund (grant no. RSA6280090 to MW), the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT): NRCT5-RGJ63012-126 to NT and MW, and the Distinguished Research Professor Grant (NRCT 808/2563 to MW), the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (grant no. B05F630080 to MW and B05F630102 to CT), and Mahidol University under the New Discovery and Frontier Research Grant to MW. NT is supported by Siriraj Graduate Scholarship, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. MW is supported by Chalermphrakiat Grant, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University. The funders had and will not have a role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.