CRISPR genome editing has been tested in feline cells on the genes that cause allergic reactions in humans, potentially paving the way to hypoallergenic cats.
Human allergic responses to cats are caused by reactions with a single feline protein, called Fel d 1, in 60-90 percent of cases. This protein is formed from the products of two genes, CH1 and CH2. Scientists working at the Virginia-based company Indoor Biotechnologies performed the pilot study to determine whether the CRISPR approach could be used to inactivate CH1 and CH2, which would theoretically prevent most immune responses.
In the paper, published in the CRIPSR Journal, the researchers said that their results 'demonstrate that Fel d 1 is a viable target for gene deletion, which is expected to improve the health of cat allergic patients substantially by effectively removing the allergen at the source'.
The scientists developed CRISPR methods to inactivate both CH1 and CH2 separately. These strategies were shown to be up to 55 percent efficient at introducing mutations in feline cells grown in a lab dish, almost all of which were predicted to inactivate the genes. Analysis of the genes also suggested that their inactivation could be harmless to feline health, although this needs to be confirmed.
The cells used by the research group do not naturally make Fel d 1, so it was impossible to confirm whether their approach does stop the protein's production. The authors say in the paper's conclusion that they next plan to replicate the CRISPR edits in Fel d 1expressing primary feline cells, and – eventually – in live cats.
Dr Nicole Brackett, the lead researcher on the study, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the editing efficiency she achieved was significant because 'cat cells are notoriously difficult to work with'. For this reason, it will be challenging 'figuring out how to deliver the genetic treatment to embryos or adult cats'.
Targeting Fel d 1 has previously been researched as a way to prevent cat allergies. Purina released a cat food that they observed reduced Fel d 1 levels in cat fur by as much as 47 percent. The Swiss company Saiba Animal Health is also developing a vaccine against Fel d 1 that would be given to cats to reduce the protein's production.
There is a significant market for hypoallergenic cats. Indoor Biotechnologies' CEO, Dr Martin Chapman, noted that based on previous commercialisation attempts by other companies this could be 'up to $7000 a piece'. While the published results are a first step, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the approach is still 'years from fruition'.
Sources and References
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US biofirm plans to make hypoallergenic cats using CRISPR genome editing
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Evolutionary biology and genome editing of cat allergen, Fel d 1
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A CRISPR kitty? Genome editing breathes new life into the hypoallergenic cat
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InBio makes strong progress toward CRISPR-edited hypoallergenic cats
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The future of human cat allergy treatment may be in changing cats with food, vaccines or genome editing
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