Gene editing for corneal stromal regeneration

Abstract

CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing holds the promise of sequence-specific alteration of the genome to achieve therapeutic benefit in the treated tissue. Cas9 is an RNA-guided nuclease in which the sequence of the RNA can be altered to match the desired target. However, care must be taken in target choice and RNA guide design to ensure both maximum on-target and minimum off-target activity. The cornea is an ideal tissue for gene therapy due to its small surface area, accessibility, immune privilege, avascularity, and ease of visualization. Herein, we describe the design, testing, and delivery of Cas9 and guide RNAs to target genes expressed in the cornea.