Published in

MDPI, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 9(21), p. 3268, 2020

DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093268

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

CRISPR/Cas9 Editing for Gaucher Disease Modelling

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

Gaucher disease (GD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the acid β-glucosidase gene (GBA1). Besides causing GD, GBA1 mutations constitute the main genetic risk factor for developing Parkinson’s disease. The molecular basis of neurological manifestations in GD remain elusive. However, neuroinflammation has been proposed as a key player in this process. We exploited CRISPR/Cas9 technology to edit GBA1 in the human monocytic THP-1 cell line to develop an isogenic GD model of monocytes and in glioblastoma U87 cell lines to generate an isogenic GD model of glial cells. Both edited (GBA1 mutant) cell lines presented low levels of mutant acid β-glucosidase expression, less than 1% of residual activity and massive accumulation of substrate. Moreover, U87 GBA1 mutant cells showed that the mutant enzyme was retained in the ER and subjected to proteasomal degradation, triggering unfolded protein response (UPR). U87 GBA1 mutant cells displayed an increased production of interleukin-1β, both with and without inflammosome activation, α-syn accumulation and a higher rate of cell death in comparison with wild-type cells. In conclusion, we developed reliable, isogenic, and easy-to-handle cellular models of GD obtained from commercially accessible cells to be employed in GD pathophysiology studies and high-throughput drug screenings.