Generation of a homozygous CIITA knockout iPS cell line using the CRISPR-Cas9 system

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have great promise in regenerative medicine. However, several limitations, including immune-incompatibility, have raised concerns regarding their clinical application. Recent studies have shown that human iPSCs and their derivatives lose their immunogenicity when major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II genes are inactivated and CD47 is over-expressed. In this study, we used CRISPR-Cas9 technology to generate an isogenic iPSC line with a homozygous frameshift mutation in the MHC II transactivator (CIITA) gene. The CIITA(-/-) iPSCs exhibit typical morphology of pluripotent cells, normal karyotype, expression of pluripotency markers and differentiation capacity in the three germ layers.

Automated summary

The study successfully generated an isogenic iPSC line with a homozygous frameshift mutation in the CIITA gene using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The CIITA(-/-) iPSCs exhibited typical pluripotent cell characteristics, normal karyotype, and differentiation potential.