Validation of a CRISPR/cas9-based technology platform for examining specific immune gene functions in an experimental murine model of IBD

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are complex, multifactorial disorders characterized by chronic relapsing intestinal inflammation. Association studies have identified hundreds of genes that are linked to IBD and potentially regulate its pathology. The further dissection of the genetic network underlining IBD pathogenesis and pathophysiology is hindered by the limited capacity to investigate the role of each GWAS association through functional studies, including the generation of knockout animal models for each of the associated genes. The CRISPR/Cas9 system represents a cutting edge technology which has the potential to transform the field of IBD research by facilitating the introduction of genetic alterations in an efficient and effective manner. Using the CD40-mediated-colitis model, our results demonstrate the validity of a CRISPR/Cas9-based platform as a tool for the validation of target genes or interference strategies in experimental IBD. The utilization of this discovery strategy will allow for the timely in vivo validation of therapeutic targets as the rapidly emerge from current genetic and genomics efforts with human disease tissue. As such, the CRISPR/Cas9-based platform can significantly shorten the time span between target identification and generation of proof of principle experiments for drug discovery.