June 2017
Volume 58, Issue 8
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   June 2017
Combining CRISPR based genome editing and patient specific iPSCs to elucidate the pathophysiologic role of WFS1 mutations in optic atrophy.
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Tasneem Putliwala Sharma
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Joseph C Giacalone
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Erin R Burnight
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Kristin R. Anfinson
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Jill S. Wiley
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • John Fingert
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Robert F Mullins
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Edwin M Stone
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Budd Tucker
    Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Tasneem Sharma, None; Joseph Giacalone, None; Erin Burnight, None; Kristin Anfinson, None; Jill Wiley, None; John Fingert, None; Robert Mullins, None; Edwin Stone, None; Budd Tucker, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  NIH R21 EY026207, Stephen A. Wynn Professor of Regenerative Ophthalmology
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science June 2017, Vol.58, 5585. doi:
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      Tasneem Putliwala Sharma, Joseph C Giacalone, Erin R Burnight, Kristin R. Anfinson, Jill S. Wiley, John Fingert, Robert F Mullins, Edwin M Stone, Budd Tucker; Combining CRISPR based genome editing and patient specific iPSCs to elucidate the pathophysiologic role of WFS1 mutations in optic atrophy.. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2017;58(8):5585.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Mutations in wolframin ER transmembrane glycoprotein 1 (WFS1) gene have been associated with optic atrophy and Wolfram syndrome. The purpose of this study was to use patient specific iPSCs and CRISPR based genome editing to determine how mutations in WFS1 cause retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death.

Methods : Dermal fibroblasts were obtained and expanded from two patients with suspected WFS1 associated optic atrophy and one patient with molecularly confirmed Wolfram syndrome. Fibroblasts were targeted for induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) generation using Sendai viruses driving expression of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and c-MYC. Pluripotency was confirmed using rt-PCR, immunocytochemistry and the TaqMan Scorecard Assay. Immunofluorescence, quantitative rt-PCR, and Western blot analyses were used to characterize expression of ER stress associated markers. Cells generated from a patient with molecularly confirmed Wolfram syndrome and isogenic CRISPR/Cas9 corrected patient-specific iPSCs were used as controls.

Results : Homozygous Arg558Cys WFS1 variants were identified in two patients with non-syndromic recessive optic atrophy using exome sequencing. As determined by a TaqMan ER stress assay, patient-specific iPSC-derived retinal ganglion cells generated from these two individuals were found to have increased expression of key ER stress genes such as BIP and ERO1LB (P<0.05). Likewise, ER-stress mediated RGC dysfunction, as evident by increased levels of BIP, HSP90AB, CANX, DDIT3, EIF2AK3, CASP3 and BAX were identified (P<0.05). CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology dependent repair of the WFS1 gene mitigated the mutant phenotype and enabled generation of normal RGCs.

Conclusions : Mutations in WFS1 can cause non-syndromic early onset optic atrophy. By combining patient specific iPSCs and CRISPR based genome editing we have successfully demonstrated that mutations in WFS1 lead to activation of the ER-stress pathway.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.

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