LIMA1 Gene Knockout by CRISPR/Cas9 System Using Lentiviruses as an in Vitro Model for Reducing Cholesterol Absorption

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular diseases, with an estimated 18.6 million deaths per year, are the leading cause of death worldwide. One of the major risk factors is elevated blood low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) secondary to multiple environmental and genetic factors. Genes involved in LDL-C metabolism are the targets of the most common treatment options. Advanced molecular techniques could pave the way for identifying novel targets in dyslipidemia therapies. The LIM domain and actin-binding 1 (LIMA1) gene binds to the NPC1L1 protein and facilitates its more efficient recycling to the plasma membrane. Inhibition of LIMA1 could disrupt cellular cholesterol hemostasis with a probable decrease in blood LDL-C levels.