CRISPR-based editing techniques for genetic manipulation of primary T cells

Journal article : Review

While clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based genome editing techniques have been widely adapted for use in immortalised immune cells, efficient manipulation of primary T cells has proved to be more challenging. Nonetheless, the rapid expansion of the CRISPR toolbox accompanied by the development of techniques for delivery of CRISPR components into primary T cells now affords the possibility to genetically manipulate primary T cells both with precision and at scale. Here, we review the key features of the techniques for primary T cell editing and discuss how the new generation of CRISPR-based tools may advance genetic engineering of these immune cells. This improved ability to genetically manipulate primary T cells will further enhance our fundamental understanding of cellular signalling and transcriptional networks in T cells and more importantly has the potential to revolutionise T cell-based therapies.

Authors: Kotowski, M; Sharma, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: MDPI
• Journal: Methods and Protocols
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 4
• Article number: 79
• Publication date: 2020-11-18
• Acceptance date: 2020-11-14
• DOI: 10.3390/mps3040079
• EISSN: 2409-9279
• ISSN: 2409-9279
• Pmid: 33217926
• Language: English
• Keywords: genome-editing; CAR-T cells; FFR; primary T cells; CRISPR/Cas9
• Subtype: Review