Gene therapies for inherited skin diseases using CRISPR technology might require special consideration, according to American researchers. They demonstrated that CRISPR transfection in keratinocytes activates antiviral responses that lead to the induction of IFN-κ and decreased plasmid stability. However, JAK inhibition via baricitinib before CRISPR transfection restored regular IFN-κ activity and increased transfection efficiency.
Science reports from the recent Third International Summit on Human Genome Editing at the Francis Crick Institute in London and concludes that while the gene-editing summit touts sickle cell success, questions on embryo editing linger. The surge in trials that alter nonheritable DNA excites some researchers, but others wonder whether even high-income countries can afford the therapies.
Chinese scientist Jiankui He, who defied the law and bioethics basics by attempting to create the world's first CRISPR gene-edited babies, is now out of jail. On Twitter, he is recruiting patients and raising funds for more trials, this time in adults, not embryos. In a Science Friction podcast from ABC Radio National, Joy Zhang, founding director of the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice at the University of Kent, and Dr Katie Hasson, Associate Director of the Center for Genetics and Society, discusses if this is an unhelpful distraction or a cautionary lesson for the world's scientists?
