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Updated: May 31, 2026

A Familial Hypercholesterolemia Human Liver Chimeric Mouse Model Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Hepatocytes
Published on: September 15, 2018
Dual-functional poly(disulfide) enables "Once-and-for-all" atherosclerosis therapy via precision hepatocyte base
Xiaoping Zhang1, Shijuan Gao2, Danyang Chen3
1State Key Laboratory of Mechanism and Quality of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, and MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China.
Abstract:
CRISPR-based base editors hold transformative potential for genetic medicine, but their clinical translation is hampered by the need for cell-specific delivery, efficient cytosolic release, and durable activity. Here, we report a dual-functional poly(disulfide) that simultaneously achieves both hepatocyte-specific targeting and direct cytosolic delivery of adenine base editors (ABEs). By displaying galactose ligands for binding to asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGPRs) on hepatocytes, our polymer enables specific recognition of hepatocytes. Crucially, the poly(disulfide) backbone then facilitates direct cytosolic delivery via thiol-disulfide exchange, bypassing endosomal entrapment. This dual-function system mediates efficient ABEs delivery to hepatocytes, resulting in durable editing of the ANGPTL-3 gene after a single administration. In a mouse model of atherosclerosis, this one-dose treatment produced sustained reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and significantly attenuated plaque formation. To our knowledge, this represents the first successful application of base editing for the effective prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis with a single-dose. Our work establishes a "once-and-for-all" atherosclerosis treatment that creates a transformative platform for precision genome medicine in atherosclerosis and other metabolic diseases.
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