title: The CRISPR/Cas9 system efficiently reverts the tumorigenic ability of BCR/ABL in vitro and in a xenograft model of chronic myeloid leukemia.
abstract: CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to abrogate p210 oncoprotein expression in the Boff-p210 cell line, a pro-B line derived from interlukin-3-dependent Baf/3, that shows IL-3-independence arising from the constitutive expression of BCR-ABL p210. Using this approach, pools of Boff-p210-edited cells and single edited cell-derived clones were obtained and functionally studied in vitro. The loss of p210 expression in Boff-p210 cells resulted in the loss of ability to grow in the absence of IL-3, as the Baf/3 parental line, showing significantly increased apoptosis levels. Notably, in a single edited cell-derived clone carrying a frame-shift mutation that prevents p210 oncoprotein expression, the effects were even more drastic, resulting in cell death. These edited cells were injected subcutaneously in immunosuppressed mice and tumor growth was followed for three weeks. BCR/ABL-edited cells developed smaller tumors than those originating from unedited Boff-p210 parental cells. Interestingly, the single edited cell-derived clone was unable to develop tumors, similar to what is observed with the parental Baf/3 cell line.CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing technology allows the ablation of the BCR/ABL fusion gene, causing an absence of oncoprotein expression, and blocking its tumorigenic effects in vitro and in the in vivo xenograft model of CML. The future application of this approach in in vivo models of CML will allow us to more accurately assess the value of CRISPR/Cas9 technology as a new therapeutic tool that overcomes resistance to the usual treatments for CML patients.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: García-Tuñón
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández-Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ordoñez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alonso-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Álamo-Quijada
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.affiliation: IBSAL, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.|Instituto Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (USAL/CSIC), Salamanca, Spain.|Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer-IBMCC (USAL-CSIC), Salamanca, Spain.|IBSAL, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.|Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hernández-Rivas
authors.affiliation: IBSAL, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.|Servicio de Transgénesis, Nucleus, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.|Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Martín
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D064113:CRISPR-Cas Systems; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl / Q000235:genetics*; D000072669:Gene Editing; D018390:Gene Targeting; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D064593:Heterografts; D006801:Humans; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D047368:Tumor Burden / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016044:Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl
keywords: BCR/ABL; CRISPR/Cas9; genome edition; leukemia