Targeted epigenetic editing of SPDEF reduces mucus production in lung epithelial cells.
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol
; 312(3): L334-L347, 2017 03 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28011616
ABSTRACT
Airway mucus hypersecretion contributes to the morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic inflammatory lung diseases. Reducing mucus production is crucial for improving patients' quality of life. The transcription factor SAM-pointed domain-containing Ets-like factor (SPDEF) plays a critical role in the regulation of mucus production and, therefore, represents a potential therapeutic target. This study aims to reduce lung epithelial mucus production by targeted silencing SPDEF using the novel strategy, epigenetic editing. Zinc fingers and CRISPR/dCas platforms were engineered to target repressors (KRAB, DNA methyltransferases, histone methyltransferases) to the SPDEF promoter. All constructs were able to effectively suppress both SPDEF mRNA and protein expression, which was accompanied by inhibition of downstream mucus-related genes [anterior gradient 2 (AGR2), mucin 5AC (MUC5AC)]. For the histone methyltransferase G9A, and not its mutant or other effectors, the obtained silencing was mitotically stable. These results indicate efficient SPDEF silencing and downregulation of mucus-related gene expression by epigenetic editing, in human lung epithelial cells. This opens avenues for epigenetic editing as a novel therapeutic strategy to induce long-lasting mucus inhibition.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Epigênese Genética
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Células Epiteliais
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Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-ets
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Edição de Genes
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Pulmão
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Muco
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2017
Tipo de documento:
Article