Synergistic CRISPRa-Regulated Chondrogenic Extracellular Matrix Deposition Without Exogenous Growth Factors.

ABSTRACT: Stem cell therapies have shown promise for regenerative treatment for musculoskeletal conditions, but their success is mixed. To enhance regenerative effects, growth factors are utilized to induce differentiation into native cell types, but uncontrollable in vivo conditions inhibit differentiation, and precise control of expressed matrix proteins is difficult to achieve. To address these issues, we investigated a novel method of enhancing regenerative phenotype through direct upregulation of major cartilaginous tissue proteins, aggrecan (ACAN), and collagen II (COL2A1) using dCas9-VPR CRISPR gene activation systems. We demonstrated increased expression and deposition of targeted proteins independent of exogenous growth factors in pellet culture. Singular upregulation o

SUBMITTER: Farhang N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7869877 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature