Off-target effects in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing

Gene editing stands for the methods to precisely make changes to a specific nucleic acid sequence. With the recent development of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system, gene editing has become efficient, convenient and programmable, leading to promising translational studies and clinical trials for both genetic and non-genetic diseases. A major concern in the applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 system is about its off-target effects, namely the deposition of unexpected, unwanted, or even adverse alterations to the genome. To date, many methods have been developed to nominate or detect the off-target sites of CRISPR/Cas9, which laid the basis for the successful upgrades of CRISPR/Cas9 derivatives with enhanced precision. In this review, we summarize these technological advancements and discuss about the current challenges in the management of off-target effects for future gene therapy.

Automated summary

Gene editing involves precise changes to specific nucleic acid sequences. The CRISPR/Cas9 system has revolutionized gene editing, making it efficient, convenient, and programmable. However, off-target effects remain a major concern, leading to unexpected alterations in the genome. Various methods have been developed to detect and mitigate these off-target effects, advancing the precision of CRISPR/Cas9 derivatives. This review summarizes these technological advancements and discusses the challenges in managing off-target effects for future gene therapy.