Zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs) are a powerful tool that can be used to edit the human genome ad libitum. The technology has experienced remarkable development in the last few years with regard to both the target site specificity and the engineering platforms used to generate zinc-finger proteins. As a result, two phase I clinical trials aimed at knocking out the CCR5 receptor in T cells isolated from HIV patients to protect these lymphocytes from infection with the virus have been initiated. Moreover, ZFNs have been successfully employed to knockout or correct disease-related genes in human stem cells, including hematopoietic precursor cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Targeted genome engineering approaches in multipotent and pluripotent stem cells hold great promise for future strategies geared toward correcting inborn mutations for personalized cell replacement therapies. This review describes how ZFNs have been applied to models of gene therapy, discusses the opportunities and the risks associated with this novel technology, and suggests future directions for their safe application in therapeutic genome engineering.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/hum.2011.087 | DOI Listing |
Adv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Institute of Microsurgery on Extremities, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China.
Chondrocyte senescence is an important pathogenic factor causing osteoarthritis (OA) progression through persistently producing pro-inflammatory factors. Mesenchymal stem cells-derived small extracellular vesicles (MSC-sEVs) have shown anti-inflammatory effects in OA models, while persistent existence of senescent chondrocytes still promotes cartilage destruction. Therefore, improving the targeted elimination ability on senescent chondrocytes is required to facilitate the translation of MSC-sEVs in OA treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOphthalmol Ther
January 2025
Corneoplastic Unit and Eye Bank, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead, UK.
Introduction: This study compared the clinical outcomes of allogenic cultured limbal epithelial transplantation (ACLET) and cultivated oral mucosal epithelial transplantation (COMET) in the management of limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD).
Methods: Forty-one COMET procedures in 40 eyes and 69 ACLET procedures in 54 eyes were performed in the Corneoplastic Unit of Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. Data were examined for demographics, indications, ocular surface stability, absence of epithelial defect, ocular surface inflammation, visual outcomes, and intra- and postoperative complications.
Sci Rep
January 2025
Foot and Ankle Research and Innovation Lab (FARIL), Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Tendon injuries present significant medical, social, and economic challenges globally. Despite advancements in tendon injury repair techniques, outcomes remain suboptimal due to inferior tissue quality and functionality. Tissue engineering offers a promising avenue for tendon regeneration, with biocompatible scaffolds playing a crucial role.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreserving a large number of essential yet highly unstable ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repeats is critical for the germline to perpetuate the genome through generations. Spontaneous rDNA loss must be countered by rDNA copy number (CN) expansion. Germline rDNA CN expansion is best understood in Drosophila melanogaster, which relies on unequal sister chromatid exchange (USCE) initiated by DNA breaks at rDNA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
January 2025
Medicinal Plants Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
A series of novel phenylamino quinazolinone derivatives were designed and synthesized as potential tyrosinase inhibitors. Among these compounds, 9r emerged as the most potent derivative, exhibiting IC values of 17.02 ± 1.
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