CRISPR-mediated engineering of bovine satellite cells for AGS-compatible cultivated meat
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ABSTRACT: Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS) is a potentially life-threatening allergy caused by an IgE-mediated immune response to galactose-α-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), a carbohydrate epitope present in most mammalian meats. Currently, strict avoidance of mammalian meat remains the primary management strategy for affected individuals, and alpha-gal–free beef is not commercially available. Here, we leverage cultivated meat as a biotechnology platform to address this unmet clinical need by engineering alpha-gal–free bovine muscle cells. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we disrupted GGTA1, the gene encoding α1,3-galactosyltransferase, in immortalized bovine satellite cells. High-efficiency editing produced clonal GGTA1 knockout cell lines harboring a homozygous frameshift mutation. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence confirmed loss of the alpha-gal epitope, while bulk RNA-seq indicated minimal disruption of global gene expression and preserved myogenic differentiation capacity. Importantly, lysates from GGTA1 knockout cells elicited substantially reduced basophil activation in assays using plasma from a patient with AGS, indicating reduced basophil activation consistent with reduced allergenic potential. Together, these findings establish a proof of concept for engineering AGS-compatible cultivated meat and demonstrate the potential of cultivated meat technologies to address human health challenges.
ORGANISM(S): Bos taurus
PROVIDER: GSE330550 | GEO | 2026/05/13
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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