CRISPR-Mediated Editing of the B Cell Receptor in Primary Human B Cells

Summary

Vaccination approaches have generally focused on the antigen rather than the resultant antibodies generated, which differ greatly in quality and function between individuals. The ability to replace the variable regions of the native B cell receptor (BCR) heavy and light chain loci with defined recombined sequences of a preferred monoclonal antibody could enable curative adoptive cell transfer. We report CRISPR-mediated homologous recombination (HR) into the BCR of primary human B cells. Ribonucleoprotein delivery enabled editing at the model CXCR4 locus, as demonstrated by T7E1 assay, flow cytometry, and TIDE analysis. Insertion via HR was confirmed by sequencing, cross-boundary PCR, and restriction digest. Optimized conditions were used to achieve HR at the BCR variable heavy and light chains. Insertion was confirmed at the DNA level, and transgene expression from the native BCR promoters was observed. Reprogramming the specificity of antibodies in the genomes of B cells could have clinical importance.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

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  Methods to perform Cas9-mediated gene editing in primary human B cells are reported

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  Homologous recombination was confirmed by sequencing, PCR, and restriction digest

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  Replacement of B cell receptor loci in primary human B cells was achieved

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  Reprogramming the antibody specificity of B cells could have clinical importance

Abstract

Molecular Biology; Immunology; Biotechnology; Cell Biology; Biological Sciences Research Methodologies