CRISPR–Cas3-based editing for targeted deletions in a mouse model of transthyretin amyloidosis

Abstract

CRISPR–Cas3 represents a mechanistically distinct genome-editing system compared to Cas9 that generates long-range deletions rather than small indels, thereby reducing the risk of residual protein function from in-frame mutations. Here we evaluated CRISPR–Cas3 to correct mutations in the TTR gene causing transthyretin amyloidosis, a systemic proteinopathy where loss of mutant TTR in the liver offers therapeutic benefit. Through CRISPR RNA optimization we achieved 58.9% ± 0.5% editing at the TTR locus in vitro, inducing large deletions that abolished TTR expression. Cas3 generated mostly directional deletions up to 75 kb without reproducible off-target mutations, in contrast to Cas9, which induced indels at several off-target sites. In vivo, a single lipid-nanoparticle-based treatment achieved 48.7% ± 1.1% hepatic editing and reduced serum TTR levels by 80.1% ± 4.6%. Deletion size was limited to 21 kb. In TTR exon-humanized mice, Cas3 editing reduced serum TTR without in-frame mutations and attenuated macrophage-associated TTR deposition. These findings highlight Cas3 as an efficient and distinct sytem for in vivo genome editing.