Inactivation of porcine endogenous retrovirus in pigs using CRISPR-Cas9

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aan4187
• Publication Date: 2017-08-11T00:50:19Z
• Authors: Dong Niu; Hong-Jiang Wei; Lin Lin; Haydy George; Tao Wang; I-Hsiu Lee; Hong-Ye Zhao; Yong Wang; Yinan Kan; Ellen Shrock; Emal Lesha; Gang Wang; Yonglun Luo; Yubo Qing; Deling Jiao; Heng Zhao; Xiaoyang Zhou; Shouqi Wang; Hong Wei; Marc Güell; George M. Church; Luhan Yang
• Keywords: Gene Editing; 0301 basic medicine; Endogenous Retroviruses; Sus scrofa; Transplantation, Heterologous; Xenotrasplantament; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; HEK293 Cells; Journal Article; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Malalties transmissibles; Animals; Humans; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Silenciament gènic; Retroviridae Infections

Taking the PERVs out of pigs

With the severe shortage of organs needed for transplants, xenotransplantation (transplantation of nonhuman organs to humans) offers an alternative source. Some pig organs have similar size and function to those of humans. The challenge is that the pig genome harbors porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) that can potentially pass to humans with possibly damaging consequences. Niu et al. generated pigs in which all copies of PERVs were inactivated by CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering (see the Perspective by Denner). Not only does this work provide insights into PERV activity, but it also opens the door to a safer source of organs and tissues for pig-to-human xenotransplantation.

Science , this issue p. 1303 ; see also p. 1238