SoylentNews

Key CRISPR Gene Editing Methods Might Not Work for Most Humans

posted by janrinok on Tuesday January 09 2018, @06:46PM   
from the patient-cured-to-death dept.

Fnord666 writes:

At first glance, CRISPR gene editing looks like the solution to all the world's ills: it could treat or even cure diseases, improve birth rates and otherwise fix genetic conditions that previously seemed permanent. You might want to keep your expectations low, though. Scientists have published preliminary findings indicating that two variants of CRISPR Cas9 (the most common gene editing technique) might not work for most humans. In a study, between 65 percent and 79 percent of subjects had antibodies that would fight Cas9 proteins.

The potential reaction isn't shocking. Both Cas9 variants are based on common bacteria, S. aureus and S. pyrogenes, that tend to infect humans. However, that could also produce reactions that would be... unpleasant. At the least, they could "hinder the safe and effective use" of CRISPR to treat disease. And in the worst cases, they could result in "significant toxicity" for patients.

It's important to stress that the research hasn't been peer-reviewed yet. Geneticists might not need to go back to the drawing board just yet.

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/07/crispr-gene-editing-methods-might-not-work-for-most-humans/

---

Original Submission

• Simple solution if needed: Simple solution if needed: (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @07:35PM (1 child)

  by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @07:35PM (#620168)

  You use immunosuppressing drugs while administering treatment, which should only have a few hours/days to operate, then wean them back off when your treatment is finished.

  Given that many of the diseases which CAS9 treatments would be intended to treat involve immunocompromised individuals (whether causing an underactive or overactive immune system) the dangers of chemical suppression are likely outweighed by the therapy the treatment would offer.

  Doesn't solve issues for doing treatments on healthy individuals without having to compromise them, but they should be in the minority for genetic treatments.

  Parent

  Starting Score:	0		points
  Moderation		+1
  Insightful=1, Total=1
  Extra 'Insightful' Modifier		0
  Total Score:		1

• Re:Simple solution if needed: (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 10 2018, @02:02AM

  by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday January 10 2018, @02:02AM (#620306)

  genetic treatments, if thorough, can be a "one pass" so yeah it's fine to lower defenses, do the gene swap/toggle/whatever, then re-enable defenses. As long as every cell type except primordial germ cells, because that's not the treatment subject, but their potential progeny

  Parent