Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa‐reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons

Abstract Direct reprogramming based on genetic factors resembles a promising strategy to replace lost cells in degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. For this, we developed a knock‐in mouse line carrying a dual dCas9 transactivator system (dCAM) allowing the conditional in vivo acti...

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Main Authors: Jessica Giehrl‐Schwab, Florian Giesert, Benedict Rauser, Chu Lan Lao, Sina Hembach, Sandrine Lefort, Ignacio L Ibarra, Christina Koupourtidou, Malte Daniel Luecken, Dong‐Jiunn Jeffery Truong, Judith Fischer‐Sternjak, Giacomo Masserdotti, Nilima Prakash, Jovica Ninkovic, Sabine M Hölter, Daniela M Vogt Weisenhorn, Fabian J Theis, Magdalena Götz, Wolfgang Wurst
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2022-04-01
Series:EMBO Molecular Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202114797
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author Jessica Giehrl‐Schwab
Florian Giesert
Benedict Rauser
Chu Lan Lao
Sina Hembach
Sandrine Lefort
Ignacio L Ibarra
Christina Koupourtidou
Malte Daniel Luecken
Dong‐Jiunn Jeffery Truong
Judith Fischer‐Sternjak
Giacomo Masserdotti
Nilima Prakash
Jovica Ninkovic
Sabine M Hölter
Daniela M Vogt Weisenhorn
Fabian J Theis
Magdalena Götz
Wolfgang Wurst
author_facet Jessica Giehrl‐Schwab
Florian Giesert
Benedict Rauser
Chu Lan Lao
Sina Hembach
Sandrine Lefort
Ignacio L Ibarra
Christina Koupourtidou
Malte Daniel Luecken
Dong‐Jiunn Jeffery Truong
Judith Fischer‐Sternjak
Giacomo Masserdotti
Nilima Prakash
Jovica Ninkovic
Sabine M Hölter
Daniela M Vogt Weisenhorn
Fabian J Theis
Magdalena Götz
Wolfgang Wurst
author_sort Jessica Giehrl‐Schwab
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Direct reprogramming based on genetic factors resembles a promising strategy to replace lost cells in degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. For this, we developed a knock‐in mouse line carrying a dual dCas9 transactivator system (dCAM) allowing the conditional in vivo activation of endogenous genes. To enable a translational application, we additionally established an AAV‐based strategy carrying intein‐split‐dCas9 in combination with activators (AAV‐dCAS). Both approaches were successful in reprogramming striatal astrocytes into induced GABAergic neurons confirmed by single‐cell transcriptome analysis of reprogrammed neurons in vivo. These GABAergic neurons functionally integrate into striatal circuits, alleviating voluntary motor behavior aspects in a 6‐OHDA Parkinson's disease model. Our results suggest a novel intervention strategy beyond the restoration of dopamine levels. Thus, the AAV‐dCAS approach might enable an alternative route for clinical therapies of Parkinson's disease.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1757-4676
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language English
publishDate 2022-04-01
publisher Springer Nature
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spelling doaj-art-d6d64f7bdd884a3b9299b97fa956cf9b2025-08-20T04:03:02ZengSpringer NatureEMBO Molecular Medicine1757-46761757-46842022-04-0114512010.15252/emmm.202114797Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa‐reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neuronsJessica Giehrl‐Schwab0Florian Giesert1Benedict Rauser2Chu Lan Lao3Sina Hembach4Sandrine Lefort5Ignacio L Ibarra6Christina Koupourtidou7Malte Daniel Luecken8Dong‐Jiunn Jeffery Truong9Judith Fischer‐Sternjak10Giacomo Masserdotti11Nilima Prakash12Jovica Ninkovic13Sabine M Hölter14Daniela M Vogt Weisenhorn15Fabian J Theis16Magdalena Götz17Wolfgang Wurst18Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute for Diabetes and Obesity, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center MunichLaboratory of Applied Genetics and Stem Cell Biology, Department Hamm 2, Hamm‐Lippstadt University of Applied SciencesInstitute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center MunichInstitute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center MunichMunich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy)Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Center MunichAbstract Direct reprogramming based on genetic factors resembles a promising strategy to replace lost cells in degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease. For this, we developed a knock‐in mouse line carrying a dual dCas9 transactivator system (dCAM) allowing the conditional in vivo activation of endogenous genes. To enable a translational application, we additionally established an AAV‐based strategy carrying intein‐split‐dCas9 in combination with activators (AAV‐dCAS). Both approaches were successful in reprogramming striatal astrocytes into induced GABAergic neurons confirmed by single‐cell transcriptome analysis of reprogrammed neurons in vivo. These GABAergic neurons functionally integrate into striatal circuits, alleviating voluntary motor behavior aspects in a 6‐OHDA Parkinson's disease model. Our results suggest a novel intervention strategy beyond the restoration of dopamine levels. Thus, the AAV‐dCAS approach might enable an alternative route for clinical therapies of Parkinson's disease.https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202114797astrocytesCRISPRaGABAergic neuronsParkinson's diseasereprogramming
spellingShingle Jessica Giehrl‐Schwab
Florian Giesert
Benedict Rauser
Chu Lan Lao
Sina Hembach
Sandrine Lefort
Ignacio L Ibarra
Christina Koupourtidou
Malte Daniel Luecken
Dong‐Jiunn Jeffery Truong
Judith Fischer‐Sternjak
Giacomo Masserdotti
Nilima Prakash
Jovica Ninkovic
Sabine M Hölter
Daniela M Vogt Weisenhorn
Fabian J Theis
Magdalena Götz
Wolfgang Wurst
Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa‐reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons
EMBO Molecular Medicine
astrocytes
CRISPRa
GABAergic neurons
Parkinson's disease
reprogramming
title Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa‐reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons
title_full Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa‐reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons
title_fullStr Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa‐reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons
title_full_unstemmed Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa‐reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons
title_short Parkinson's disease motor symptoms rescue by CRISPRa‐reprogramming astrocytes into GABAergic neurons
title_sort parkinson s disease motor symptoms rescue by crispra reprogramming astrocytes into gabaergic neurons
topic astrocytes
CRISPRa
GABAergic neurons
Parkinson's disease
reprogramming
url https://doi.org/10.15252/emmm.202114797
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