Functional significance of U2AF1 S34F mutations in lung adenocarcinomas.

The functional role of U2AF1 mutations in lung adenocarcinomas (LUADs) remains incompletely understood. Here, we report a significant co-occurrence of U2AF1 S34F mutations with ROS1 translocations in LUADs. To characterize this interaction, we profiled effects of S34F on the transcriptome-wide distribution of RNA binding and alternative splicing in cells harboring the ROS1 translocation. Compared to its wild-type counterpart, U2AF1 S34F preferentially binds and modulates splicing of introns containing CAG trinucleotides at their 3' splice junctions. The presence of S34F caused a shift in cross-linking at 3' splice sites, which was significantly associated with alternative splicing of skipped exons. U2AF1 S34F induced expression of genes involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and increased tumor cell invasion. Finally, S34F increased splicing of the long over the short SLC34A2-ROS1 isoform, which was also associated with enhanced invasiveness. Taken together, our results suggest a mechanistic interaction between mutant U2AF1 and ROS1 in LUAD.

Author Correction: Gene correction for SCID-X1 in long-term hematopoietic stem cells.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Engineering in Engraftable Human Brain-Derived Neural Stem Cells.

Human neural stem cells (NSCs) offer therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases, such as inherited monogenic nervous system disorders, and neural injuries. Gene editing in NSCs (GE-NSCs) could enhance their therapeutic potential. We show that NSCs are amenable to gene targeting at multiple loci using Cas9 mRNA with synthetic chemically modified guide RNAs along with DNA donor templates. Transplantation of GE-NSC into oligodendrocyte mutant shiverer-immunodeficient mice showed that GE-NSCs migrate and differentiate into astrocytes, neurons, and myelin-producing oligodendrocytes, highlighting the fact that GE-NSCs retain their NSC characteristics of self-renewal and site-specific global migration and differentiation. To show the therapeutic potential of GE-NSCs, we generated GALC lysosomal enzyme overexpressing GE-NSCs that are able to cross-correct GALC enzyme activity through the mannose-6-phosphate receptor pathway. These GE-NSCs have the potential to be an investigational cell and gene therapy for a range of neurodegenerative disorders and injuries of the central nervous system, including lysosomal storage disorders.

Gene correction for SCID-X1 in long-term hematopoietic stem cells.

Gene correction in human long-term hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs) could be an effective therapy for monogenic diseases of the blood and immune system. Here we describe an approach for X-linked sSevere cCombined iImmunodeficiency (SCID-X1) using targeted integration of a cDNA into the endogenous start codon to functionally correct disease-causing mutations throughout the gene. Using a CRISPR-Cas9/AAV6 based strategy, we achieve up to 20% targeted integration frequencies in LT-HSCs. As measures of the lack of toxicity we observe no evidence of abnormal hematopoiesis following transplantation and no evidence of off-target mutations using a high-fidelity Cas9 as a ribonucleoprotein complex. We achieve high levels of targeting frequencies (median 45%) in CD34+ HSPCs from six SCID-X1 patients and demonstrate rescue of lymphopoietic defect in a patient derived HSPC population in vitro and in vivo. In sum, our study provides specificity, toxicity and efficacy data supportive of clinical development of genome editing to treat SCID-Xl.

Author Correction: Gene correction for SCID-X1 in long-term hematopoietic stem cells.

The original version of this Article omitted the following from the Acknowledgements: "G.B. acknowledges the support from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (RR140081 and RR170721)."This has now been corrected in both the PDF and HTML versions of the Article.

Gene therapy for primary immunodeficiencies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are an often-devastating class of genetic disorders that can be effectively treated by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but the lack of a suitable donor precludes this option for many patients. Gene therapy overcomes this obstacle by restoring gene expression in autologous hematopoietic stem cells and has proven effective in clinical trials, but widespread use of this approach has been impeded by the occurrence of serious complications. In this review, we discuss recent advances in gene therapy with an emphasis on strategies to improve safety, including the emergence of gene targeting technologies for the treatment of PIDs. RECENT FINDINGS: New viral vectors, including lentiviral vectors with self-inactivating long terminal repeats, have been shown to have improved safety profiles in preclinical studies, and clinical trials using these vectors are now underway. Preclinical studies using engineered nucleases to stimulate precise gene targeting have also demonstrated correction of disease phenotypes for X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, and other diseases. SUMMARY: Advances in viral vector design and the development of new technologies that allow precise alteration of the genome have the potential to begin a new chapter for gene therapy where effective treatment of PIDs is achieved without serious risk for patients.

An intronic polymorphism associated with increased XRCC1 expression, reduced apoptosis and familial breast cancer.

XRCC1 coordinates the activities of DNA polymerase-beta and DNA ligase for base excision repair of oxidative DNA damage. In addition, there is some evidence that XRCC1 is a negative regulator of apoptosis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in XRCC1 have been inconsistently associated with breast cancer risk. We evaluated XRCC1 gene expression in breast cancer cell lines and carcinogen-induced apoptosis in benign breast epithelial cells in relation to XRCC1 genotypes. XRCC1 IVS10+141G>A was associated with increased expression of XRCC1 mRNA and protein, and reduced apoptosis in response to benzo-[a]-pyrene or ionizing radiation, but XRCC1 R399Q was not. These genotypes were also assessed in a clinic-based sample that included 190 breast cancer patients with a family history of breast cancer and 95 controls with no family history of breast cancer. Heterozygous XRCC1 IVS10+141G>A was associated with an increased breast cancer risk (O.R. = 1.7, 95% C.I. 1.016-2.827, P = 0.04) as was homozygous XRCC1 IVS10+141G>A (O.R. = 4.7, 95% C.I. 1.028-21.444, P = 0.03). XRCC1 R399Q was not associated with breast cancer (O.R. 1.00, 95% C.I. 0.61-1.64). The XRCC1 IVS10+141G>A locus is centered in a sequence that is nearly identical to the consensus binding site for the PLAG1 transcription factor. XRCC1 IVS10+141G>A is an intronic polymorphism that is associated with XRCC1 expression, apoptosis and familial breast cancer. It may occur within an intronic regulatory sequence.