Cell-targeted gene modification by delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes in pseudotyped lentivirus-derived nanoparticles

• Main Authors: Ian Helstrup Nielsen (Author), Anne Bruun Rovsing (Author), Jacob Hørlück Janns (Author), Emil Aagaard Thomsen (Author), Albert Ruzo (Author), Andreas Bøggild (Author), Frederikke Nedergaard (Author), Charlotte Thornild Møller (Author), Thomas Boesen (Author), Søren Egedal Degn (Author), Jagesh V. Shah (Author), Jacob Giehm Mikkelsen (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2024-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2162-2531; 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102318
• Keywords: Delivery; LVNP; Gag; virus-like particle, VLP, CRISPR-Cas9; pseudotyping; cell-targeted gene modification; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950
• Source: Molecular Therapy: Nucleic Acids, Vol 35, Iss 4, Pp 102318- (2024)

To fully utilize the potential of CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genome editing, time-restricted and targeted delivery is crucial. By modulating the pseudotype of engineered lentivirus-derived nanoparticles (LVNPs), we demonstrate efficient cell-targeted delivery of Cas9/single guide RNA (sgRNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes, supporting gene modification in a defined subset of cells in mixed cell populations. LVNPs pseudotyped with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein resulted in angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-dependent insertion or deletion (indel) formation in an ACE2+/ACE2− population of cells, whereas Nipah virus glycoprotein pseudotyping resulted in Ephrin-B2/B3-specific gene knockout. Additionally, LVNPs pseudotyped with Edmonston strain measles virus glycoproteins (MV-H/F) delivered Cas9/sgRNA RNPs to CD46+ cells with and without additional expression of SLAM (signaling lymphocytic activation molecule; CD150). However, an engineered SLAM-specific measles virus pseudotype (measles virus-hemagglutinin/fusion [MV-H/F]-SLAM) efficiently targeted LVNPs to SLAM+ cells. Lentiviral vectors (LVs) pseudotyped with MV-H/F-SLAM efficiently transduced >80% of interleukin (IL)-4/IL-21-stimulated primary B cells cultured on CD40 ligand (CD40L)-expressing feeder cells. Notably, LVNPs pseudotyped with MV-H/F and MV-H/F-SLAM reached indel rates of >80% and >60% in stimulated primary B cells, respectively. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the modularity of LVNP-directed delivery of ready-to-function Cas9/sgRNA complexes. Using a panel of different pseudotypes, we provide evidence that LVNPs can be engineered to induce effective indel formation in a subpopulation of cells defined by the expression of surface receptors.