The research progress of correcting pathogenic mutations by base editing

Abstract

Over 6500 Mendelian disorders have been documented, with approximately 4500 genes linked to these conditions. The majority of inherited diseases present in childhood and, currently, lack effective treatments, which imposes significant economic and psychological burdens on families and society. Gene editing, particularly base editing, offers an effective and safe strategy for repairing pathogenic point mutations. It has the potential to become a treatment, even a cure, for rare diseases. Currently, multiple gene editing-related drugs have entered clinical trials. In this chapter, we summarize the various gene editing systems, including CRISPR/Cas, base editing, and prime editing. We then focus on the current research progress of base editing in correcting pathogenic mutations. This includes applications such as building animal models, correcting mutations in various diseases, germline cell editing, delivery methods, and approved clinical trials. Finally, we discuss current challenges related to delivery methods, efficiency, precision, and cost.