Gene editing in human stem cells using zinc finger nucleases and integrase-defective lentiviral vector delivery

A Lombardo, P Genovese, CM Beausejour… - Nature …, 2007 - nature.com
A Lombardo, P Genovese, CM Beausejour, S Colleoni, YL Lee, KA Kim, D Ando, FD Urnov
Nature biotechnology, 2007nature.com
Achieving the full potential of zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) for genome engineering in
human cells requires their efficient delivery to the relevant cell types. Here we exploited the
infectivity of integrase-defective lentiviral vectors (IDLV) to express ZFNs and provide the
template DNA for gene correction in different cell types. IDLV-mediated delivery supported
high rates (13–39%) of editing at the IL-2 receptor common γ-chain gene (IL2RG) across
different cell types. IDLVs also mediated site-specific gene addition by a process that …
Abstract
Achieving the full potential of zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) for genome engineering in human cells requires their efficient delivery to the relevant cell types. Here we exploited the infectivity of integrase-defective lentiviral vectors (IDLV) to express ZFNs and provide the template DNA for gene correction in different cell types. IDLV-mediated delivery supported high rates (13–39%) of editing at the IL-2 receptor common γ-chain gene (IL2RG) across different cell types. IDLVs also mediated site-specific gene addition by a process that required ZFN cleavage and homologous template DNA, thus establishing a platform that can target the insertion of transgenes into a predetermined genomic site. Using IDLV delivery and ZFNs targeting distinct loci, we observed high levels of gene addition (up to 50%) in a panel of human cell lines, as well as human embryonic stem cells (5%), allowing rapid, selection-free isolation of clonogenic cells with the desired genetic modification.
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