Introduction: CRISPR-Cas, which stands for "Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats," is recognized as a bacterial defense system that bacteria use to protect themselves against viral infections. In recent years, CRISPR has emerged as a powerful tool for gene editing in more complex organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. This technology enables scientists to make precise and targeted changes to the genome. Bacteria use CRISPR to cut and destroy the DNA of viruses that attack them. This system includes a guide RNA segment and an enzyme called Cas9, which cuts the DNA at specific locations.
Methods: The present review study explores the role of CRISPR-Cas in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer and RNA viruses, as well as recent technological advancements in this system. Relevant documents were sought through searches in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect using keywords including CRISPR-Cas9, gene editing, and gene therapy. 40 articles were selected within the timeframe of 2019 to 2024. After analyzing the sources, 28 articles that were more comprehensive and closely related in topic, were selected for inclusion in this paper.
Results: The high precision and efficiency of the CRISPR-Cas system have enabled it to target and edit specific genes associated with the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, aiding in the control of this disease. One of the important applications of CRISPR-Cas in cancer treatment is immunotherapy. In this approach, the patient's T cells are engineered using CRISPR, enhancing their ability to identify and attack cancer cells. This strategy has shown promising results in treating cancers such as leukemia and advanced melanoma. Additionally, CRISPR-Cas is effective in treating infections caused by RNA viruses. This technology can eliminate the genome of the HIV virus from infected cells, potentially leading to a cure for this disease. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, efforts have been made to use CRISPR-Cas to destroy the RNA of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and reduce the severity of the infection. Technological advancements also include the use of CRISPR-Cas for epigenetic editing and controlling gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. This new approach can serve as a powerful tool for scientific research and disease treatment.
Conclusion: CRISPR-Cas, as a powerful gene editing tool, holds tremendous potential for treating various diseases, especially cancer and viral infections. With continuous advancements in this technology, it is expected that its clinical applications will expand, potentially leading to a major breakthrough in medical science. The findings from this study indicate that CRISPR-Cas is not only impactful in basic research but also in clinical applications, paving the way for its acceptance as a standard therapeutic approach in the near future.
Keywords: CRISPR-Cas, Genome editing, Gene therapy, Cancer treatment