High frequency CCR5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from HIV infection

Abstract The only cure of HIV has been achieved in a small number of people who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) comprising allogeneic cells carrying a rare, naturally occurring, homozygous deletion in the CCR5 gene. The rarity of the mutation and the significant morbidity and mo...

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Main Authors: Daniel T. Claiborne, Zachary Detwiler, Steffen S. Docken, Todd D. Borland, Deborah Cromer, Amanda Simkhovich, Youdiil Ophinni, Ken Okawa, Timothy Bateson, Tao Chen, Wesley Hudson, Radiana Trifonova, Miles P. Davenport, Tony W. Ho, Christian L. Boutwell, Todd M. Allen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55873-3
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author Daniel T. Claiborne
Zachary Detwiler
Steffen S. Docken
Todd D. Borland
Deborah Cromer
Amanda Simkhovich
Youdiil Ophinni
Ken Okawa
Timothy Bateson
Tao Chen
Wesley Hudson
Radiana Trifonova
Miles P. Davenport
Tony W. Ho
Christian L. Boutwell
Todd M. Allen
author_facet Daniel T. Claiborne
Zachary Detwiler
Steffen S. Docken
Todd D. Borland
Deborah Cromer
Amanda Simkhovich
Youdiil Ophinni
Ken Okawa
Timothy Bateson
Tao Chen
Wesley Hudson
Radiana Trifonova
Miles P. Davenport
Tony W. Ho
Christian L. Boutwell
Todd M. Allen
author_sort Daniel T. Claiborne
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The only cure of HIV has been achieved in a small number of people who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) comprising allogeneic cells carrying a rare, naturally occurring, homozygous deletion in the CCR5 gene. The rarity of the mutation and the significant morbidity and mortality of such allogeneic transplants precludes widespread adoption of this HIV cure. Here, we show the application of CRISPR/Cas9 to achieve >90% CCR5 editing in human, mobilized hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPC), resulting in a transplant that undergoes normal hematopoiesis, produces CCR5 null T cells, and renders xenograft mice refractory to HIV infection. Titration studies transplanting decreasing frequencies of CCR5 edited HSPCs demonstrate that <90% CCR5 editing confers decreasing protective benefit that becomes negligible between 54% and 26%. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using CRISPR/Cas9/RNP to produce an HSPC transplant with high frequency CCR5 editing that is refractory to HIV replication. These results raise the potential of using CRISPR/Cas9 to produce a curative autologous HSCT and bring us closer to the development of a cure for HIV infection.
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spelling doaj-art-5790057bf80c4af896cb0de74b715dab2025-01-12T12:31:18ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-01-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-55873-3High frequency CCR5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from HIV infectionDaniel T. Claiborne0Zachary Detwiler1Steffen S. Docken2Todd D. Borland3Deborah Cromer4Amanda Simkhovich5Youdiil Ophinni6Ken Okawa7Timothy Bateson8Tao Chen9Wesley Hudson10Radiana Trifonova11Miles P. Davenport12Tony W. Ho13Christian L. Boutwell14Todd M. Allen15Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, The Wistar InstituteCRISPR TherapeuticsKirby Institute, University of New South WalesCRISPR TherapeuticsKirby Institute, University of New South WalesRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardKirby Institute, University of New South WalesCRISPR TherapeuticsRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardRagon Institute of MGH, MIT and HarvardAbstract The only cure of HIV has been achieved in a small number of people who received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) comprising allogeneic cells carrying a rare, naturally occurring, homozygous deletion in the CCR5 gene. The rarity of the mutation and the significant morbidity and mortality of such allogeneic transplants precludes widespread adoption of this HIV cure. Here, we show the application of CRISPR/Cas9 to achieve >90% CCR5 editing in human, mobilized hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPC), resulting in a transplant that undergoes normal hematopoiesis, produces CCR5 null T cells, and renders xenograft mice refractory to HIV infection. Titration studies transplanting decreasing frequencies of CCR5 edited HSPCs demonstrate that <90% CCR5 editing confers decreasing protective benefit that becomes negligible between 54% and 26%. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of using CRISPR/Cas9/RNP to produce an HSPC transplant with high frequency CCR5 editing that is refractory to HIV replication. These results raise the potential of using CRISPR/Cas9 to produce a curative autologous HSCT and bring us closer to the development of a cure for HIV infection.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55873-3
spellingShingle Daniel T. Claiborne
Zachary Detwiler
Steffen S. Docken
Todd D. Borland
Deborah Cromer
Amanda Simkhovich
Youdiil Ophinni
Ken Okawa
Timothy Bateson
Tao Chen
Wesley Hudson
Radiana Trifonova
Miles P. Davenport
Tony W. Ho
Christian L. Boutwell
Todd M. Allen
High frequency CCR5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from HIV infection
Nature Communications
title High frequency CCR5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from HIV infection
title_full High frequency CCR5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from HIV infection
title_fullStr High frequency CCR5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from HIV infection
title_full_unstemmed High frequency CCR5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from HIV infection
title_short High frequency CCR5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from HIV infection
title_sort high frequency ccr5 editing in human hematopoietic stem progenitor cells protects xenograft mice from hiv infection
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55873-3
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