CRISPR activation to repair ECG abnormalities caused by a FLNC truncating variant in mice.

BACKGROUND

Truncating variants in the Filamin C gene (FLNCtv) are a frequent cause of genetic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and non-dilated left ventricular cardiomyopathy (NDLVC), both characterized by arrhythmic complications and increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Currently, no gene-specific therapies exist for FLNCtv-induced cardiomyopathy. CRISPR activation (CRISPRa), which upregulates gene expression via transcriptional activation without cutting the genome, offers a promising strategy, particularly for genes like FLNC whose large size precludes conventional AAV-based gene replacement. However, CRISPRa has not yet been tested in vivo for cardiomyopathy treatment.

METHODS

We generated a mouse model with a constitutive heterozygous deletion of FLNC exon 15 (FLNC-Ex15del/wt), mimicking a pathogenic human variant. We assessed cardiac expression of FLNC by qRT-PCR and western blot and evaluated electrical function via electrocardiography (ECG), including flecainide challenge. We designed a cardiacspecific, all-in-one AAV-CRISPRa system encoding a dead Cas9 linked to the transcription activation domain of VP64 (dSaCas9-VP64) under the cTnT promoter and sgRNAs previously optimised in HL-1 cardiomyocytes. The final construct was packaged in a myotropic AAVMYO capsid and systemically administered to FLNC mutant mice. Five weeks post-injection, qRT-PCR and ECGs and expression analyses were carried out to determine restoration of FLNC expression and rescue of ECG abnormalities.

RESULTS

FLNC-Ex15del/wt mice exhibited no overt systolic dysfunction but showed significant ECG abnormalities, including prolonged QRS duration and reduced amplitude. Flecainide induced ventricular arrhythmias in ∼40% of mutant mice, further exacerbating ECG changes. Mutant hearts showed reduced FLNC mRNA and protein levels, consistent with haploinsufficiency. Transfection studies in HL-1 cells identified a highly effective sgRNA and scaffold combination, achieving up to 1.8-fold upregulation of endogenous FLNC expression. Systemic AAV delivery of the CRISPRa construct to mutant mice at 32 weeks restored FLNC mRNA to wild-type levels. Post-treatment ECGs showed increased QRS amplitude, and flecainide-induced arrhythmias were completely prevented in treated animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Our heterozygous FLNCtv model partially recapitulates the electrical abnormalities observed in FLNCtv carriers with DCM/NDLVC, offering valuable insight into disease pathogenesis. Most importantly, this study provides the first in vivo demonstration that CRISPRa-AAV-mediated gene activation can effectively treat an inherited cardiomyopathy driven by haploinsufficiency. We show that even after disease onset, electrical dysfunction can be reversed through this targeted therapeutic approach. Our findings open new avenues for broader applications of CRISPRa-AAV platforms in addressing cardiac disorders rooted in insufficient gene dosage.