Title:Therapeutic Potential of CRISPR/Cas in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis:
A
Comprehensive Review
Volume: 24
Issue: 3
Author(s): Apoorva Upreti and Sayali Mukherjee*
Affiliation:
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Campus, Lucknow 226028, Uttar Pradesh,
India
Keywords:
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, CRISPR/Cas, TSH hormone, Cas9, genome editing, immunomodulation.
Abstract: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a commonly occurring illness of autoimmune endocrine
origin. It is usually present in the pediatric age group along with other well-known diseases,
such as type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes. The defining feature of this disease is the immune--
mediated attack on the thyroid gland resulting in the destruction of thyroid tissues and cells. Given
that HT frequently affects family members, it is well-recognized that individuals are genetically
predisposed to this disease. Patients with HT also display a significantly increased risk for several
different cancers, justifying the eminent need for the development of therapies for managing and
treating HT. Gene editing has made several advancements in the field of molecular biology and
has turned out to become a promising approach to correct several autoimmune diseases. Currently,
CRISPR/Cas, a nuclease-based editing technique, is publicized as a promising tool for curing several
genetic diseases and cancers. However, very limited research has been conducted as of now
on autoimmune disease management and cure via CRISPR/Cas technique. This review provides
an account of the potential candidate genes associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and only a
few animal and human models have been generated via the CRISPR/Cas gene editing technique.
Mouse models of autoimmune thyroiditis generated through the CRISPR/Cas gene editing technique
by targeting the candidate genes will provide us with a deeper insight into the pathophysiology
of HT and further pave the way for the immunomodulation of HT via gene editing.
