Utility of CRISPR/Cas9 systems in hematology research

Since the end of the 20th century, the development of novel approaches have emerged to manipulate experimental models of hematological disorders, so they would more accurately mirror what is observed in the clinic. Despite these technological advances, the characterization of crucial genes for benign or malignant hematological disorders remains challenging, mainly because of the dynamic nature of the hematopoietic system and the genetic heterogeneity of these disorders. To overcome this limitation, genome editing technologies have been developed to specifically manipulate the genome via deletion, insertion or modification of targeted loci. These technologies have swiftly progressed, allowing their common use to investigate genetic function in experimental hematology. Amongst them, homologous recombination (HR)-mediated targeting technologies have facilitated the manipulation of specific loci by generating knockout and knock-in models. Despite promoting significant advances in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in hematology, these inefficient, time-consuming and labor-intensive approaches did not permit the development of cellular or animal models recapitulating the complexity of hematological disorders. In October 2016, Dr. Ben Ebert and Dr. Chad Cowan shared their knowledge and experiences with the utilization of CRISPR for models of myeloid malignancy, disease, and novel therapeutics. Here we provide an overview of the topics they covered including insights into the novel applications of the technique as well as its strengths and limitations