scholarly journals The Future of CRISPR: Looking at Gene Editing as a Treatment For Cystic Fibrosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Harisha Kosanam ◽  
Ananya Udyaver ◽  
Waliya Muhammad

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetically inherited chronic disease that causes the production of a thick and sticky mucus primarily in the lungs. The condition tends to become worse over time. Clogged lungs and other internal organs result in breathing issues, susceptibility to infections, digestive problems, and lack of nutrition. CF is an autosomal recessive disease, indicating that an individual must inherit two copies of the defective Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene, which then encodes for a malfunctioning CFTR protein. Because of the large number of CF patients that cannot be treated with these CFTR modulators, using gene editing to directly target the mutation can be more effective and efficient in treating cystic fibrosis. In this paper, we will discuss the promises and limitations for using gene editing as a treatment for CF.

Breathe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 210112
Author(s):  
Daniel H. Tewkesbury ◽  
Rebecca C. Robey ◽  
Peter J. Barry

The genetic multisystem condition cystic fibrosis (CF) has seen a paradigm shift in therapeutic approaches within the past decade. Since the first clinical descriptions in the 1930s, treatment advances had focused on the downstream consequences of a dysfunctional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride ion channel. The discovery of the gene that codes for CFTR and an understanding of the way in which different genetic mutations lead to disruption of normal CFTR function have led to the creation and subsequent licensing of drugs that target this process. This marks an important move towards precision medicine in CF and results from clinical trials and real-world clinical practice have been impressive. In this review we outline how CFTR modulator drugs restore function to the CFTR protein and the progress that is being made in this field. We also describe the real-world impact of CFTR modulators on both pulmonary and multisystem complications of CF and what this will mean for the future of CF care.


Author(s):  
E. Elson ◽  
Paula Capel ◽  
Jessica Haynes ◽  
Stephanie Duehlmeyer ◽  
Michelle Fischer ◽  
...  

This report describes a case of a 15-year-old male with cystic fibrosis caused by N1303K and Q493X cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein variants. In this case, CFTR modulators including tezacaftor/ivacaftor and subsequently elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor were utilized and resulted in clinical stability and improvement.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 42-46
Author(s):  
Marcin Makuch ◽  
Marcelina Makuch

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is life-shortening autosomal recessive disease, caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein. The most common of CF complications is cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD). The pathophysiology of CFRD is complex. The best test for screening and diagnosis of CFRD is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Insulin therapy is a treatment of choice in CFDR pharmacotherapy. An inseparable element of CFRD therapy is also physical activity and diet.


Author(s):  
Danielle Goetz ◽  
Adrienne Savant

CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) modulators are small molecules that directly change the CFTR protein, improving function of the CFTR chloride channel. Beginning in 2012 with the FDA approval of the first CFTR modulator, ivacaftor, this class of medication has had largely positive effects on many outcomes in people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF), including lung function, quality of life, and growth. There have been continued exciting developments in the current research on CFTR modulators, expanding beyond original studies. This first part of a three-part Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Year in Review 2020 will focus on research on CFTR modulators. Subsequent parts of the CF year in review will cover pulmonary and infectious inflammatory aspects, and the multisystem effects of CF in the 2020 literature. The review focuses on articles from Pediatric Pulmonology, but it includes articles from other journals that are of particular interest to clinicians. New developments in CF research continue to be brought forth to the CF community, deepening the understanding of this disease and improving clinical care.


2021 ◽  
pp. 004947552199818
Author(s):  
Uttam Kumar Thakur ◽  
Niladri Mohan Raypattanaik ◽  
Manish Kumar ◽  
Cherring Tandup ◽  
Lileswar Kaman

Micro-gallbladder is a rare clinical entity and mostly linked with cystic fibrosis (CF), which is an autosomal recessive disease involving a protein Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) which regulates secretion and absorption in the pulmonary, reproductive and gastrointestinal systems including the liver. Biliary secretion becomes hyperviscous, leading to cholestasis and partial obstruction of the cystic duct. This causes recurrent cholecystitis and gallstone formation. Ultimately, atrophy of the gallbladder results, thus a ‘micro-gallbladder’ defined as being <2–3 cm in length and 0.5–1.5 cm in width. A shrunken gallbladder from recurrent attacks of gallstone-induced cholecystitis is not typically termed as a micro-gallbladder. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is definitive treatment for symptomatic micro-gallbladder, even though most cases are managed conservatively without surgery. We report a case of symptomatic micro-gallbladder in a non-CF patient, managed successfully by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.


Impact ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (3) ◽  
pp. 52-54
Author(s):  
Nicolas Lamontagne

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a progressive life–shortening disease caused by a mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene leading to a dysfunctional CFTR protein. The disease affects over 70,000 patients worldwide and while many mutations are known, the F508del mutation affects 90% of all patients. The absence of CFTR in the plasma membrane leads to a dramatic decrease in chloride efflux, resulting in viscous mucus that causes severe symptoms in vital organs like the lungs and intestines. For CF patients that suffer from the life threatening F508del mutation only palliative treatment exist. PRO–CF–MED addresses the specific challenge of this call by introducing the first disease modifying medication for the treatment of the CF patients with F508del mutation. The PRO–CF–MED project has been designed to assess the potential clinical efficacy of QR–010, an innovative disease modifying oligonucleotide–based treatment for F508del patients. Partners within PRO–CF–MED have generated very promising preclinical evidence for QR–010 which allows for further clinical assessment of QR–010 in clinical trials. PRO–CF–MED will enable the fast translation of QR–010 towards clinical practice and market authorisation. PRO–CF–MED has the potential to transform this life–threatening condition into a manageable one.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaiq Sultan ◽  
Andrea Rozzi ◽  
Jessica Gasparello ◽  
Alex Manicardi ◽  
Roberto Corradini ◽  
...  

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have been demonstrated to be very useful tools for gene regulation at different levels and with different mechanisms of action. In the last few years the use of PNAs for targeting microRNAs (anti-miRNA PNAs) has provided impressive advancements. In particular, targeting of microRNAs involved in the repression of the expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which is defective in cystic fibrosis (CF), is a key step in the development of new types of treatment protocols. In addition to the anti-miRNA therapeutic strategy, inhibition of miRNA functions can be reached by masking the miRNA binding sites present within the 3′UTR region of the target mRNAs. The objective of this study was to design a PNA masking the binding site of the microRNA miR-145-5p present within the 3′UTR of the CFTR mRNA and to determine its activity in inhibiting miR-145-5p function, with particular focus on the expression of both CFTR mRNA and CFTR protein in Calu-3 cells. The results obtained support the concept that the PNA masking the miR-145-5p binding site of the CFTR mRNA is able to interfere with miR-145-5p biological functions, leading to both an increase of CFTR mRNA and CFTR protein content.


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