Genetic Engineering Publications - GEG Tech top picks

Researchers are improving non-invasive treatment options for degenerative disc disease, a condition that affects 3 million adults each year in the U.S. Stem cell therapy has been a viable field in regenerative technologies for many pathologies for several years. However, the degenerated intervertebral disc provides a hostile environment that is detrimental to stem cell survival, resulting in limited clinical success of stem cell therapy for the disc. Previous research has shown that stem cell-derived electrical vehicles contain many therapeutically beneficial proteins, lipids and nucleic acids and carry much of the regenerative potential of stem cells. However, by using CRISPR in mesenchymal stem cells, researchers have added to the growing field of regenerative medicine the process of producing cell-based therapies to alleviate pain and lack of mobility. In their study, the researchers target TSG6, an essential stem cell marker known to be linked to the regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties of these stem cells.  Their hypothesis is that if they CRISPR-activate TSG6 in stem cells, they will not only increase TSG6 protein levels in the extracellular vesicle cargo, but potentially amplify the stem cells' anti-inflammatory and regenerative properties.