Harnessing CRISPR/Cas9 technology in cardiovascular disease

Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2020 Feb;30(2):93-101. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2019.03.005. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Abstract

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a precisely targeted bacterial defense system, used to control invading viruses. This technology has many potential applications including genetic changes in somatic and germ cells and the creation of knockout animals. Compared to other genome editing techniques such as zinc-finger nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENS), the CRISPR/Cas9 system is much easier and more efficient. Most importantly, the multifunctional capacity of this technology allows simultaneous editing of several genes. The CRISPR/Cas9 system also potentially has the ability to prevent and treat human diseases. The present article addresses some key points related to the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system as a powerful tool in cardiovascular research and as a new strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9; Cardiovascular disease; Genome editing.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / genetics*
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / metabolism
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / genetics
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / therapy*
  • Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats*
  • Gene Editing / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Genetic Therapy / adverse effects
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects
  • Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*

Substances

  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9