Factor 3 regulates airway engraftment by human bronchial basal cells

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene editing and transplantation of CFTR-gene corrected airway basal cells has the potential to cure CF lung disease. Although mouse studies established that cell transplantation was feasible, the engraftment rate was typically low and frequently less than the estimated therapeutic threshold. The purpose of this study was to identify genes and culture conditions that regulate the therapeutic potential of human bronchial basal cells. Factor 3 (F3, Tissue Factor 1) is a component of the extrinsic coagulation pathway and activates a cascade of proteases that convert fibrinogen to fibrin. Based on reports that F3 was necessary for human basal cell survival and adhesion in vitro, the present study evaluated F3 as a potential determinant of therapeutic fitness. The gene expression profile of F3 mRNA-positive human bronchial basal cells was evaluated by scRNAseq and the impact of the lung environment on F3 expression was modeled by varying in vitro culture conditions. F3 necessity for adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation was determined by CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (KO) of the F3 gene. Finally, the impact of F3 manipulation on engraftment was determined by orthotropic co-transplantation of wild-type and F3-KO cells into the airways of immunocompromised mice. In contrast with the hypothesis that F3 increases the therapeutic fitness of basal cells, F3 expression decreased engraftment. These studies guide the ongoing development of cellular therapies by showing that in vitro assessments may not predict therapeutic potential and that the lung milieu influences the functional properties of transplanted bronchial basal cells.