Challenges associated with homologous directed repair using CRISPR-Cas9 and TALEN to edit the DMD genetic mutation in canine Duchenne muscular dystrophy

PLoS One. 2020 Jan 21;15(1):e0228072. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228072. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the DMD gene that abolish the expression of dystrophin protein. Dogs with the genetic homologue, golden retriever muscular dystrophy dog (GRMD), have a splice site mutation that leads to skipping of exon 7 and a stop codon in the DMD transcript. Gene editing via homology-directed repair (HDR) has been used in the mdx mouse model of DMD but not in GRMD. In this study, we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) to restore dystrophin expression via HDR in myoblasts/myotubes and later via intramuscular injection of GRMD dogs. In vitro, DNA and RNA were successfully corrected but dystrophin protein was not translated. With intramuscular injection of two different guide arms, sgRNA A and B, there was mRNA expression and Sanger sequencing confirmed inclusion of exon 7 for all treatments. On Western blot analysis, protein expression of up to 6% of normal levels was seen in two dogs injected with sgRNA B and up to 16% of normal in one dog treated with sgRNA A. TALEN did not restore any dystrophin expression. While there were no adverse effects, clear benefits were not seen on histopathologic analysis, immunofluorescence microscopy, and force measurements. Based on these results, methods must be modified to increase the efficiency of HDR-mediated gene repair and protein expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics
  • Dogs
  • Dystrophin / genetics*
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne* / genetics
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne* / therapy
  • Mutation
  • Myoblasts / cytology
  • Myoblasts / metabolism*
  • Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases / genetics

Substances

  • Dystrophin
  • Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases

Grants and funding

The Olympus FV1000 confocal microscope acquisition was supported by the Office of the Vice President of Research at Texas A&M University. Mass spectrometry work was partially supported by Proteomics core facility at Binghamton University NY and The Decker Foundation. All studies performed at Texas A&M were fully funded by a start-up package to PPN from the Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences. SML’s salary was funded by SOLID Biosciences. SOLID Biosciences provided support in the form of salaries for SML, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of all authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.