Long-range gene editing by homology-directed repair (HDR) in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) often relies on viral transduction with recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) for template delivery. Here, we uncover unexpected load and prolonged persistence of AAV genomes and their fragments, which trigger sustained p53-mediated DNA damage response (DDR) upon recruiting the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex on the AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). Accrual of viral DNA in cell-cycle-arrested HSPCs led to its frequent integration, predominantly in the form of transcriptionally competent ITRs, at nuclease on-and off-target sites. Optimized delivery of integrase-defective lentiviral vector (IDLV) induced lower DNA load and less persistent DDR, improving clonogenic capacity and editing efficiency in long-term repopulating HSPCs. Because insertions of viral DNA fragments are less frequent with IDLV, its choice for template delivery mitigates the adverse impact and genotoxic burden of HDR editing and should facilitate its clinical translation in HSPC gene therapy.

Choice of template delivery mitigates the genotoxic risk and adverse impact of editing in human hematopoietic stem cells

Ferrari, Samuele;Beretta, Stefano;Unali, Giulia;Canarutto, Daniele;Vavassori, Valentina;Brombin, Chiara;Cugnata, Federica;Naldini, Luigi
2022-01-01

Abstract

Long-range gene editing by homology-directed repair (HDR) in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) often relies on viral transduction with recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) for template delivery. Here, we uncover unexpected load and prolonged persistence of AAV genomes and their fragments, which trigger sustained p53-mediated DNA damage response (DDR) upon recruiting the MRE11-RAD50-NBS1 (MRN) complex on the AAV inverted terminal repeats (ITRs). Accrual of viral DNA in cell-cycle-arrested HSPCs led to its frequent integration, predominantly in the form of transcriptionally competent ITRs, at nuclease on-and off-target sites. Optimized delivery of integrase-defective lentiviral vector (IDLV) induced lower DNA load and less persistent DDR, improving clonogenic capacity and editing efficiency in long-term repopulating HSPCs. Because insertions of viral DNA fragments are less frequent with IDLV, its choice for template delivery mitigates the adverse impact and genotoxic burden of HDR editing and should facilitate its clinical translation in HSPC gene therapy.
2022
CRISPR-Cas9
DNA damage response
DNA double-strand breaks
adeno-associated vector
gene editing
genotoxicity
hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells
integrase-defective lentiviral vector
inverted terminal repeats
p53 pathway
CRISPR-Cas Systems
DNA Damage
Gene Editing
Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Humans
Integrases
DNA, Viral
Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11768/133895
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