Optimization Strategy for Generating Gene-edited Tibet Minipigs by Synchronized Oestrus and Cytoplasmic Microinjection.

The Tibet minipig is a rare highland pig breed worldwide and has many applications in biomedical and agricultural research. However, Tibet minipigs are not like domesticated pigs in that their ovulation number is low, which is unfavourable for the collection of zygotes. Partly for this reason, few studies have reported the successful generation of genetically modified Tibet minipigs by zygote injection. To address this issue, we described an efficient way to generate gene-edited Tibet minipigs, the major elements of which include the utilization of synchronized oestrus instead of superovulation to obtain zygotes, optimization of the preparation strategy, and co-injection of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat sequences associated protein 9 (Cas9) mRNA and single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) into the cytoplasm of zygotes. We successfully obtained allelic TYR gene knockout (TYR -/-) Tibet minipigs with a typical albino phenotype (i.e., red-coloured eyes with light pink-tinted irises and no pigmentation in the skin and hair) as well as TYR -/- IL2RG -/- and TYR -/- RAG1 -/- Tibet minipigs with typical phenotypes of albinism and immunodeficiency, which was characterized by thymic atrophy and abnormal immunocyte proportions. The overall gene editing efficiency was 75% for the TYR single gene knockout, while for TYR-IL2RG and TYR-RAG1 dual gene editing, the values were 25% and 75%, respectively. No detectable off-target mutations were observed. By intercrossing F0 generation minipigs, targeted genetic mutations can also be transmitted to gene-edited minipigs' offspring through germ line transmission. This study is a valuable exploration for the efficient generation of gene-edited Tibet minipigs with medical research value in the future. © The author(s).

Introduction

As a rare highland pig breed worldwide, Tibet minipigs originally inhabited the highland region of Tibet, China1. They are small in size, they are characterized by good adaptability to harsh environmental conditions and superior disease-resistance capability2, and they have many applications in biomedical and agricultural research. Unlike domesticated pigs, the related reproductive genes of Tibet minipigs have successfully evolved to produce offspring under harsh conditions at high altitudes3. On the other hand, Tibet minipigs produce heavier and stronger piglets by sacrificing their litter size (four to eight piglets per litter)3. We can obtain only a limited number of embryos from Tibet minipigs in natural oestrous, which severely limits the generation of gene-edited Tibet minipigs through embryo injection. With progress in gene editing technology, especially the emergence of CRISPR gene editing tools4, 5, researchers began to adopt a zygote cytoplasmic injection method to generate genetically modified animals6-10. Although this method is simpler and more technically convenient than somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT)11, there is still no report on the successful generation of genetically modified Tibet minipigs by the zygote cytoplasmic injection method. Here, we aimed to explore a feasible way to generate gene-edited Tibet minipigs by embryo cytoplasmic microinjection of the CRISPR/Cas9 system.

We did not choose the traditional superovulation method to obtain Tibet minipig zygotes due to its less satisfactory applicability in Tibet minipigs. Instead, we adopted another simple and effective strategy: altrenogest has been proven to be efficient in synchronizing oestrus in pigs12, 13. Oestrus synchronization by feeding altrenogest to Tibet minipigs makes them enter into oestrus at the same time. In this way, the donor Tibet minipigs can mate on the same day, and enough zygotes are gathered on the next day. The tyrosinase gene (TYR) in Tibet minipigs, encoding tyrosinase, which is responsible for the biochemical synthesis of melanin14, was initially chosen as the target gene. Mutation of TYR in animals often leads to inhibition of the melanin synthesis pathway, resulting in partial pigment loss or albinism15. Therefore, chimeras composed of TYR mutant and wild-type (WT) melanocyte cells can be evaluated by visual examination15, 16. The CRISPR/Cas9 system can also be used to efficiently knock out multiple genes in embryos8. As such, we also aimed to target two genes in the same zygotes. We targeted the TYR gene as well as the interleukin 2 receptor gamma gene (IL2RG) or recombinant activating gene 1 (RAG1). IL2RG maps to the X chromosome and encodes a common gamma chain protein, which is a subunit of various interleukin receptors involved in the immune system17. Pigs lacking functional IL2RG show symptoms of immune deficiency, including thymic atrophy, decreased or absent T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, and attenuation of B cell function18-21. The RAG1 protein, encoded by the RAG1 gene, is involved in V(D)J recombination (recombination of numerous variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) gene segments) of the immunoglobulin light and heavy chain gene loci, which is crucial to the early development of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes22, 23. RAG1 deficiency also causes immunodeficiency in pigs24, 25.

In this context, we describe an efficient way to prepare gene-edited Tibet minipigs by a combination of synchronized oestrus and zygote cytoplasmic microinjection. We successfully generated TYR-KO, IL2RG-KO, and RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs, which are phenotypically characterized by albinism and/or immunodeficiency. Technically, we have also optimized the generation process of genetically modified pigs. This study is a valuable exploration to efficiently generate genetically modified Tibet minipigs for further medical research purposes.

Materials and Methods

Animals

The Tibet minipigs used in this study were raised in the Laboratory Animal Center, Southern Medical University (Guangzhou, China). All animal protocols were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at the Institute of the Laboratory Animal Center, Southern Medical University (Animal Welfare Assurance, L2016088). All surgery was performed under anaesthesia, and all efforts were made to minimize animal suffering.

Design and construction of the CRISPR/Cas9 system

The sgRNA cloning vector was pGL3-U6-gRNA-PGK-puromycin (Addgene plasmid 51133), and the Cas9 expressing plasmid was pST1374-NLS-flag-linker-Cas9 (Addgene plasmid 44758). The sgRNAs targeting the Tibet minipig TYR, IL2RG, and RAG1 genes were designed online (http://crispor.tefor.net/). Generation of sgRNAs was performed as previously described26. Briefly, sgRNA oligonucleotide sequences complementary to the TYR, IL2RG, and RAG1 genes (Table ) were annealed and cloned into the BsaI site of pGL3-U6-sgRNA-PGK-Puro. The T7 promoter was then added to the sgRNA template by PCR amplification of sgRNA expression plasmids using the primers listed in Table . T7-sgRNA PCR products were purified and used as templates for synthesis of sgRNAs using the MEGAshortscript T7 Transcription Kit (AM1354, Life Technologies, USA). Plasmid DNA of pST1374-NLS-flag-linker-Cas9 was completely digested using the Age I restriction endonuclease, purified, and then used as a template for in vitro synthesis of Cas9 mRNA by the mMESSAGE mMACHINE T7 ULTRA Kit (AM1345, Life Technologies, USA). Both sgRNAs and Cas9 mRNA were purified by phenol:chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation.

Synchronization of oestrus in Tibet minipigs

Healthy pubertal Tibet minipig gilts (approximately 7-9 months of age, 30-40 kg body weight) were selected as donors for embryo collection. Healthy Tibet minipig sows (over 12 months old) were selected as surrogates or nanny pigs. The chemical used for oestrus synchronization was prepared by dissolving 2 g altrenogest (Altrenogest; Beijing Keyifeng Biotech Develop. Co., Ltd., China) in 20 ml ethanol, which was then emulsified by mixing with 2 ml polysorbate-20, and vegetable oil was finally added to reach a volume of 400 ml. A 5 mg/ml altrenogest emulsion was obtained and fully shaken before use. All donor pigs, surrogate pigs, and nanny pigs were simultaneously treated with oestrus synchronization. Each pig was fed 20 mg altrenogest every morning once a day for 18 days. Most of the pigs entered into oestrus within 5-8 days after drug withdrawal.

Observation of oestrus

When sows in full oestrus meet boars, they appear to be motionless. To examine whether the best oestrous state was reached, crystal violet staining of vaginal smears was performed as follows. First, a wet cotton swab was gently inserted into the sow's vagina and rotated several times. The cotton swab was removed, and a slide was coated with the cells and allowed to dry naturally. Then, the sample slides were dehydrated with methanol for 30 s, dried with methanol, and stained with crystal violet for 1 min. Finally, the slides were rinsed three times with clear water and dried again prior to examination under an optical microscope.

In vivo collection of porcine zygotes

Zygotes were collected surgically between 16 and 18 h after mating. Prior to surgery, the animals were fasted for 12 h. Anaesthesia was induced by intravenous injection of pentobarbital sodium at a dose of 30-45 mg/kg. The ovary and uterus were exposed by lower abdominal surgery and flushed with Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline solution (DPBS; 21-031-CVR, Corning, USA) containing 1% bovine serum albumin. Zygotes were collected under a stereomicroscope.

Cytoplasmic microinjection of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNAs

The concentrations of injected RNAs were 100 ng/µl (Cas9 mRNA) and 50 ng/µl (each sgRNA). Microinjections were executed using a microinjection apparatus (TransferMan NK2, Eppendorf, Germany). Cas9 mRNA plus sgRNAs were microinjected into the cytoplasm of 1-cell stage or 2-cell stage embryos. After microinjection, embryos were cultured in PZM3 medium before being transplanted to surrogates 1 h later.

Embryo transplantation

Embryo transplantation was performed through surgery. After surrogate sows in oestrus were anaesthetized, a small incision was made in the groin area to expose the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Embryos were slowly injected into a fallopian tube, followed by suturing the wound. Nineteen to twenty-one days after transplantation, pregnancy test kits (Q/CPWHS 022-2000, Beijing Wanhua Bioengineering Co., Ltd., China) were used to detect pregnancy.

Detection of target gene mutations

Mutant pig genotypes were determined by PCR and Sanger sequencing. Genomic DNA was extracted from the pig skin and semen. Boar semen samples were obtained via the gloved hand method and diluted in phosphate-buffered saline. The primers for the target gene loci are listed in Table . The PCR conditions were as follows: pre-denaturation at 94°C for 5 min, followed by 35 amplification cycles at 94°C for 30 s, 62°C for 30 s, and 72°C for 40 s, with a final extension at 72°C for 5 min. The PCR products were purified using a gel extraction purification kit and then cloned into the pMD-19-T vector (6013, Takara) following the manufacturer's instructions. Recombinant colonies selected on plates were picked from each transformation and screened by PCR using TYR, IL2RG, or RAG1 gene-specific primers, and then Sanger sequencing was applied to detect mutations. At least 10 clones were sequenced from each pig.

Off-target analysis

Potential CRISPR/Cas9 off-target sites (OTSs) in the pig genome were predicted using the CRISPR design tool (http://crispor.tefor.net/). Among them, ten potential OTSs for each sgRNA were selected (Table ). All potential OTSs were amplified by PCR, and the PCR products were sequenced to confirm whether off-target effects had occurred. The primer pairs used to amplify candidate OTSs are listed in Table .

Ammoniacal silver-nuclear fast red staining of Tibet minipig tissues to evaluate melanin distribution

Skin sections and eye sections were dewaxed and washed in distilled water. After rewashing, they were placed in silver ammonia hydroxide solution and incubated in a dark place at room temperature for 18 h. Subsequently, the sections were quickly washed in distilled water and then immersed in 0.2% chlorinated gold solution dye for 2 min. Following rewashing in distilled water, the sections were fixed in 5% sodium thiosulphate solution for 3 min. The sections were then rinsed in running water for 10 min and redyed for 5 min with nuclear fast red. Section preparation was completed by dehydration, hyalinization, and sealing.

Flow cytometric analysis of immune cell populations

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from whole blood samples from RAG1-KO and age-matched control Tibet minipigs. To identify porcine CD4+CD3+ T, CD8+CD3+ T, CD45RA+CD3- B, and CD16+CD3- NK cells, specific fluorophore-conjugated primary antibodies (pAbs) were used, including Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated mouse anti-pig CD3e (561476, BD Bioscience Pharmingen, USA), FITC-conjugated mouse anti-pig CD4a (559585, BD Bioscience Pharmingen, USA), PE-conjugated mouse anti-pig CD8a (559584, BD Bioscience Pharmingen, USA), FITC-conjugated mouse anti-pig CD16 (G7, AbDSerotec, USA), and PE-conjugated mouse anti-pig CD45RA (MIL13, AbDSerotec, USA). A total of 5 × 104 PBMCs were incubated with the indicated antibodies for 30 min at 4°C and washed twice with PBS. At least 10,000 cells were analysed per run. Samples were analysed using a BD LSRFortessa cell analyser (647794, BD Bioscience, USA), and data were processed using BD FACSDiva software.

Histological analysis of immunodeficient minipigs

The spleens of IL2RG-KO minipigs, RAG-KO minipigs and age-matched wild-type minipigs were first fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and then cut into paraffin sections. The sections were stained with H&E for histological analysis and analysed through immunohistochemistry (IHC). In IHC, rabbit anti-CD3 pAb (GB11014, Servicebio, China) was used to identify T lymphocytes, and rabbit anti-CD19 pAb (GB11061-1, Servicebio, China) was used to identify B lymphocytes. Rabbit anti-CD11b pAb (GB11058, Servicebio, China) was used to identify macrophages, neutrophil granulocytes and NK cells.

Quantification and statistical analysis

To quantify the results of IHC, three sections were selected for each group. Six non-overlapping fields (10-fold objective) were randomly selected for each section and scanned by Toup View system (Beijing Top View Technology Co., Ltd, China). The positive stained cells in each field were counted artificially. The average numbers of positive stained cells per field (10-fold objective) were used for statistical analysis. Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis between every two groups. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. Statistical analyses were performed with GraphPad Prism software (GraphPad Software, USA). The P value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

Optimization of the synchronous oestrus strategy

Considering the limited source of zygotes and the surrogate sows' occasional failure to feed piglets, we devised the procedure for oestrus synchronization and introduced nanny pigs to optimize the conventional strategy of preparing gene-edited pigs by zygote injection (Figure )8. Specifically, by using synchronized oestrus treatment instead of the superovulation method (Figure ), on average, 6 zygotes were obtained from each donor gilt, which effectively fulfilled the embryo quantity requirement (Table ). To avoid the problem that F0 generation piglets cannot be raised by surrogate sows, nanny pigs that also underwent synchronized oestrus and mating processes were introduced during the preparation of gene-edited Tibet minipigs. This enabled the nanny pigs to give birth at a very close time point to the surrogate sows. If the surrogate sow could not nurse or raise the piglets, then the nanny pig filled its role (Figure ).

The best oestrous state occurred within 5-7 days after altrenogest withdrawal, when most of the cells in the vaginal smears were large keratinized epidermal cells that contained no nucleus and displayed edge wrinkles (Figure ). If donor sows mate prematurely (Figure ), they may not ovulate the next day; if mating times are postponed too much (Figure ), the donor sows will no longer remain in oestrus and will not mate. Embryo collection (Figure ) and embryo transfer (Figure ) were performed as described.

Generation of Tibet minipigs with targeted gene mutations

As shown in Figure and Table , multiple sgRNAs specifically targeting TYR, IL2RG, or RAG1 were designed. A total of 74 embryos were injected with the Cas9 mRNA/sgRNA mixture and transplanted into seven surrogate sows in oestrus, and four pregnancies were established (referred to as surrogates A, B, C, and D) (Table ). Embryos in which the TYR gene was to be edited were microinjected at the 1-cell stage (Figure ) and then transplanted into surrogates A and B, each of which gave birth to four piglets (Table ). Dual gene-targeted (TYR-IL2RG or TYR-RAG1) embryos were microinjected at the 2-cell stage (Figure ) and then transplanted into surrogates C and D, respectively, each of which also gave birth to four piglets (Table ). One reason for choosing 2-cell stage embryos in our experimental design was that IL2RG or RAG1 gene knockout caused severe immunodeficiency in the animals, resulting in a short lifespan18, 20, 24, 27, while gene modification at the 2-cell stage embryo may generate chimeric animals, which can survive and pass on the mutated RAG1 or IL2RG gene to their offspring.

As observed, all pregnant surrogates were delivered on 114 ± 1 days without a delay in delivery (Table ). Among the 16 F0 generation piglets obtained, the male-to-female sex ratio was 9:7, and the percentage of births relative to embryos transferred ranged from 33.3% to 50% (Table ). Twelve out of 16 F0 generation piglets (i.e., a2, a3, a4, b5, b6, b7, b8, c9, c12, d14, d15 and d16) were albino, except for 4 F0 generation piglets that were black (i.e., a1 and c10) or exhibited partial pigment loss (i.e., c11 and d13) (Figure ). In addition, we obtained dual gene knockout piglets [i.e., c9 (TYR-/-IL2RG-/-), d14 (TYR-/-RAG1-/-) and d15 (TYR-/-RAG1-/-)] had phenotypes of both albinism and immunodeficiency, whereas some chimeras (i.e., piglet c12 carrying the TYR and IL2RG mutations) had the albino phenotype but did not exhibit immunodeficiency (Table ).

Genotype analysis of CRISPR/Cas9-induced targeted gene mutations in minipigs

To further characterize the CRISPR/Cas9-induced targeted gene mutations, genotype analysis was conducted by Sanger sequencing of samples from all F0 generation piglets (Table ). The results indicated that targeted gene locus mutations were characterized by short indels of various lengths or a various number of base pair substitutions (Tables S4-S6). These changes in the DNA sequence usually resulted in truncated coding regions or coding frameshifts, thereby leading to TYR, IL2RG, or RAG1 gene dysfunction.

Moreover, in some piglets, sequence-based genotype analysis revealed multiple allelic mutations of the target gene(s) (Table ), indicating that the piglets were chimeric, as shown in piglets a3, b8, c10, c11, and d13, which had TYR gene mutations (Table ), and piglet c12, which had IL2RG mutations (Table ). Chimeric piglets mainly developed from dual-gene targeted embryos, which were microinjected at the 2-cell stage.

Of the 16 F0 generation piglets, 12 had complete knockout of the TYR gene, representing a complete knockout efficiency of 75% (Table ). Editing of 2-cell stage embryos using the CRISPR/Cas9 system (Table ) generated three piglets (c9, d14, and d15) with complete double-gene knockouts (Table ). Piglet d13 had no immune abnormalities, most likely because the 9 bp deletion detected in its RAG1 gene target did not cause a coding frameshift. The double-gene modification efficiencies for TYR-IL2RG and TYR-RAG1 were 25% and 75%, respectively (Table ). The genotype data corresponded well with the observed phenotypes of albinism and/or immunodeficiency observed in the F0 generation piglets (Figure and Table ).

Further analysis of the phenotypes of TYR, IL2RG, and RAG1 gene-targeted Tibet minipigs

Pigmentation levels in the skin and hair are a good marker of whether TYR gene function is completely knocked out in F0 generation piglets16. We observed some chimeric piglets with partial pigment loss, suggesting incomplete knockout of the TYR gene (Figure ; piglets with black and white hair). Piglets (Figure ; piglets with white hair colour) and adult mutant Tibet minipigs (Figure ) with complete TYR gene knockout (TYR-/-) displayed a full-body albino phenotype, as supported by sequence-based genotype data (Table ).

Phenotypically, TYR-KO Tibet minipigs exhibited the typical features of albinism (Figure ), including red-coloured eyes with light pink-tinted irises (Figure ) and no pigmentation in the skin (Figure ), in contrast to the dark irises and black skin of wild-type Tibet minipigs (Figure ). There was no comparable melanin distribution in the ciliary muscle and irises of TYR-KO Tibet minipigs, whereas melanin was distributed in the basal layer of the epidermis and detected in hair strand cross-sections in the WT Tibet minipig (Figure ). Visually, semi-transparency of the skin makes observation of the subcutaneous blood vessels in the ears of albino Tibet minipigs more convenient than that in wild-type Tibet minipigs, facilitating intravenous injection (Figure ).

To characterize the immunodeficient phenotype of mutant Tibet minipigs, piglet c9 was selected because genotype analysis indicated that it was an IL2RG-KO piglet (IL2RG-/-) (Table ). To evaluate its immunodeficient features, the IL2RG-KO piglet was raised by breastfeeding in a clean environment. The piglet grew well in the early stage of its life; however, it later began to succumb to common bacterial infections of the digestive tract, which were then aggravated by multiple additional infections, such as flagellates (Figure ) and pneumonia (Figure ). Piglet c9 survived for only 132 days; autopsy detected the absence of a thymus (Figure ). Piglets d13, d14, d15, and d16 were RAG1-modified (Table ). Unexpectedly, piglet d16 did not exhibit any symptoms of immunodeficiency, although genotype data revealed a 9 bp deletion in the RAG1 gene. Other piglets died at 3-4.5 months of age. Piglet d14 survived only 95 days, and postmortem examination revealed colon cancer (Figure ) and metastatic lesions in the spleen (Figure ). Autopsy of piglet d13 revealed that its thymus was almost completely atrophied (Figure ).

Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis of the lymphocyte population was performed to differentiate between WT and RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs (RAG1-/-) (Figure ). The percentages of CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD3+CD8+ T cells in lymphocyte samples from RAG1-KO piglet, d13 (4 months old), were extremely low in comparison to those of their WT counterparts, at 0.5% vs. 8.8% and 0.6% vs. 35.2%, respectively. A similar situation occurred in B cells, with percentages of 21.8% vs. 46.1% in RAG1-KO and WT Tibet minipigs. In contrast, NK cells constituted a higher proportion of the total lymphocyte population in RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs than in WT Tibet minipigs, at 76.2% vs. 13.8%, respectively (Figure ). Consistently, compared to those for WT Tibet minipigs, the spleen IHC results for IL2RG-KO (piglet c9) and RAG1-KO (piglet d14) both showed an apparent decrease or almost disappearance of CD3+ T cells and CD19+ B cells, while CD11b+ NK cells and macrophages were barely detected in IL2RG-KO but seemingly upregulated in RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs (Figure ). Furthermore, H&E staining results showed that compared with those in the spleens of WT Tibet minipigs, the periarterial lymphatic sheaths in the spleens of IL2RG-KO Tibet minipigs (piglet c9) and RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs (piglet c9) were very thin, and the red pulp and white pulp could not be easily identified (Figure ).

Germ line transmission of targeted gene mutations

We next determined whether the CRISPR/Cas9-induced target gene mutations could be passed on from the F0 minipigs to the next generation by germ line transmission. To test this, selected F0 pigs were inbred, from which 36 F1 generation pigs were obtained (Figure ). Although the F0 generation piglet c11 was a TYR chimera, mutations of the TYR locus were detected in its sperm DNA by Sanger sequencing (Figure ), and all of its offspring (F1) piglets possessed TYR allelic mutations (Table ). Similarly, as the F0 generation pig c12 was an IL2RG chimera (Table ), it also transmitted its IL2RG mutation to some of its F1 offspring (Table ). Regarding the mutant TYR gene's inheritance, all F1 generation piglets exhibited the albino phenotype (Figure ), as further confirmed by identification of TYR gene complete knockout by genotype data (Table ).

Off target analysis in gene-targeted Tibet minipigs

Off-target effects are a major drawback of the CRISPR/Cas9 system28, 29. Potential OTSs (Table ) for sgRNAs were selected. Genomic fragments of approximately 600 bp containing the OTSs were amplified from genomic DNA extracted from skin tissue samples by PCR using the primers listed in Table and subjected to sequencing analysis. No off-target effect was detected.

Discussion

In this study, gene-edited Tibet minipigs were successfully prepared by synchronized oestrus and cytoplasmic injection of zygotes. Synchronized oestrus treatment played an important role in the success of this study. The synchronized oestrus of Tibet minipigs can be rendered by using synthetic progestin, altrenogest, which can make the animals enter into oestrus and ovulate at the same time. This procedure provides a sufficient quantity of zygotes that can be further used to generate genetically modified Tibet minipigs by zygote injection (Table ). Specifically, 5-8 zygotes can be obtained from one Tibet minipig at one time after synchronized oestrus treatment; thus, embryos obtained from 2-3 Tibetan pigs are sufficient for subsequent transplantation of gene-edited zygotes to a surrogate Tibet minipig.

In fact, we have tried other ways to overcome the limited source of zygotes, such as using different doses of Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) and human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) to induce superovulation in Tibet minipigs, only to find the results are not satisfactory (Table ). As shown, the quality of embryos obtained by oestrous synchronization was superior to that obtained by superovulation. In addition, oestrous synchronization allows donors to be repeatedly used for embryo collection 2-3 times. Another advantage is that donor and surrogate pigs can reach the oestrus state simultaneously. Because of their similar endometrial environment, it is easy to transplant embryos from donors to surrogates. Additionally, after synchronized oestrus in both the surrogate sows and nanny pigs (Figure ), the nanny pigs can breastfeed some F0 gene-modified piglets on behalf of the surrogate sows, who may fail to fulfil their nurturing role, as experimentally observed. This approach significantly improved the survival rate of F0 generation pigs after birth. Practically, once we obtained enough embryos, the remaining donor pigs were kept as nanny pigs. It is worth mentioning that we adopted an additional vaginal smear test to enhance the accuracy of judgements concerning the sows' oestrus state (Figure ), by which we can select the appropriate mating time and ensure that single-cell embryos can be obtained. In summary, we optimized various steps of the whole technical procedure (see the Materials and Methods section for details), such as the sows' synchronized oestrus treatment (Figure ), a reliably controlled mating time (Figure ), timely collection of zygotes and a standardized surgical procedure (Figure ), all of which help make the preparation of genetically modified pigs more efficient.

Next, albino (TYR-KO) and/or immunodeficient (IL2RG-KO or RAG1-KO) Tibet minipigs were generated by cytoplasmic microinjection of CRISPR/Cas9 RNA. Compared to SCNT, which requires a great deal of time and effort to obtain genetically modified monoclonal cell lines as nucleus donors, cytoplasmic injection of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA mixtures into zygotes to generate gene-edited animals is technically efficient. It takes only approximately one week to prepare Cas9 mRNA and sgRNAs. Gene editing in pig zygotes injected with CRISPR/Cas9 RNAs did not delay blastocyst development or alter the sex ratio30. In this study, all pregnant surrogates delivered on time, and all the piglets survived. This approach can effectively avoid the blastocyst development delay and low survival rate after birth that are typical of the SCNT method31. The sex ratio of the F0 generation was 9:7, showing no sign of gender imbalance. We also found that Tibet minipig sows were suitable and efficient as surrogate mothers of gene-edited embryos (Table ).

Although the traditional one-step method (zygotic injection with Cas9 mRNA and multiple sgRNAs spaced 10-200 bp apart, targeting only a single key exon of the target gene) can efficiently generate gene knockout animals32, unexpected additions or deletions of large fragments of DNA or chromosome breakage often occur33. To overcome this problem, we designed only 1-2 sgRNAs for each target gene and still obtained satisfactory gene-editing efficiency (Table ). Additionally, no large fragment DNA insertions or deletions were detected (Tables S4-S6). The genotype analysis (Table ) indicated partial population of F0 generation pigs are chimeras (individuals carrying more than two allelic genes): piglets a3, b8, c10, c11, d13 were identified as TYR chimeras, and piglet c12 is a IL2RG chimera. As calculated, the chimeric rate from 1-cell stage embryo microinjection was 25% while that from 2-cell stage embryo microinjection was 50%. Microinjection at 1-cell stage embryo led to a bit higher chimeric rate, and seemed more likely to generate incomplete-knockout chimeras (carrying WT allelic gene). However, we also obtained piglets (c9, d14, d15, and d16; Table ) that developed from 2-cell stage embryos were not chimeras (Table ). We hypothesize that this may be attributable to the death of one cell and overgrowth by the other cell following microinjection of these 2-cell stage embryos, whereas the surviving cell eventually continued to develop into an individual animal.

TYR-KO Tibet minipigs had red-coloured eyes and white skin and hair (Figure ). Compared with wild-type Tibet minipigs, the veins underneath the semi-transparent ear skin of the TYR-KO Tibet minipigs were more visible, which facilitates intravenous injections. In addition, white skin is more convenient for observation of inflammation and wound healing. Laboratory animals of albino strains are not unusual, such as BALB/c mice, Wistar rats, albino guinea pigs, and New Zealand white rabbits. This study demonstrates the possibility of developing an albino TYR-KO Tibet minipig strain.

IL2RG-KO and RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs exhibited an apparent immunodeficiency phenotype. Postmortem examination revealed that thymus development was severely stunted in IL2RG-KO and RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs (Figure ), consistent with previous studies18, 20, 24. The thymus is extremely important for immune cell development34. In RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs (piglet d13, d14), the percentages of CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD3+CD8+ T cells were very low, and the number of B cells was also decreased, while that of NK cells was significantly increased (Figure ). This abnormal NK cell increase is likely the result of an immune compensatory response to the major loss of T and B cells. However, piglet d16, which had a 9 bp deletion in RAG1 (Table ), did not exhibit an immunodeficient phenotype. This may be attributable to the fact that the deletion was in-frame and did not cause any significant changes to the structure or function of RAG1. Immunodeficient pigs are extremely susceptible to death and have a short life span18, 20, 24, 25; hence, appropriate methods for breeding immunodeficient pigs are still being explored. In this study, the IL2RG-KO and RAG1-KO Tibet minipigs were maintained in a clean environment, and weaning was delayed, which allowed them to survive until 3-4 months of age. Most of the immunodeficient pigs in this study had multiple infections (Figure ) or unexplained weight loss (not excluding potential infection) in the later stages of their lives. We consider that the use of specific pathogen-free pigs as surrogate mothers may be preferable. The F0 generation piglet, d14, developed colon cancer (Figure ); since it was the single case observed, its relevance to the immunodeficiency remains to be further investigated. For the reasons discussed above, heterozygous mutant pigs are the main method used for the reproduction and preservation of immunodeficient pig lines18. Alternatively, the F0 generation piglet, c12, which was a chimera for IL2RG gene mutation (Table ), could survive in conventional housing conditions without symptoms of immunodeficiency and transmit the IL2RG gene mutations to offspring (Table ). Thus, we think chimeras prepared by 2-cell stage embryo injection could partially replace heterozygotes for the preservation and reproduction of immunodeficient pigs.

By intercrossing F0 generation pigs (Figure ), 36 F1 offspring were obtained. All F1 generation animals had the albino phenotype and, in most, TYR mutant alleles were parentally derived, in accordance with Mendelian inheritance; however, a few F1 generation animals only carried the paternal TYR mutant allele, with no maternal TYR mutant allele detected (Table ). We suspect that during the embryonic development of F1 generation pigs, homologous recombination repair occurred between TYR mutant alleles, leading to duplication of the paternal mutant allele, but this requires further exploration. In fact, this new genetic phenomenon has been reported35. Interestingly, although minipig c11 was a TYR chimera, all six of its offspring were homozygous for TYR mutant alleles, and no TYR wild-type alleles were detected. This phenomenon was also reported in another similar study, suggesting that redistribution of TYR mutant alleles during reproduction is not necessarily proportional to the hair colour distribution of the parental chimera15.

In summary, our study outlined an efficient way to generate gene-edited Tibet minipigs by synchronized oestrus and zygote cytoplasmic injection. Technically, we overcame the limited source of embryos needed for gene editing and following transplantation, improved the survival rate of F0 generation piglets and successfully generated genetically modified Tibet minipigs with albino and/or immunodeficient phenotypes. This is the first report that gene-edited Tibet minipigs can be generated by zygote cytoplasmic injection.

Supplementary tables.

Click here for additional data file.

Table 1

Comparison of oestrus synchronization and superovulation in Tibet minipigs

Treatment	No. of treatment (head)	No. of oestrus (head)	Oestrus induction rate (%)	No. of operations (head)	No. ofembryos	Average No. of embryos (number/head)	Embryo quality	Sows can be reused to collect embryos	Need to observe oestrus every day	Require daily medication
1ES	30	27	90	14	89	6.36	Good	Yes	No	Yes
2S	21	6	28.6	6	75	12.5	Poor	No	Yes	No
3ES+S	5	1	20	1	20	20	Poor	No	No	Yes

Note: 1. ES, oestrus synchronization. The details are described in the previous section. 2. S, superovulation treatment. Superovulation was administered on the 14th to 15th day of the oestrus cycle. The sows' best oestrus state was set as day 0 of the oestrus cycle. The first day: intramuscular injection of PG (Prostaglandin) 500 mg at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively; the second day: intramuscular injection of PMSG (Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotropin) 1500-750 IU at 10 a.m.; the fifth day: intramuscular injection of hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) 500-750 IU at 4 p.m.; the sixth day: mating at 9 a.m. and 16 p.m.; and the seventh day: operation at 9-11 a.m. to collect embryos. 3. ES+S, oestrus synchronization combined with superovulation. Superovulation was performed on the 14th day of oestrous synchronization. For more details, refer to Zidek V, et al36.

Table 2

Cytoplasmic microinjection of zygotes generates gene-edited pigs

SurrogateID	Microinjected embryo cell stage	CRISPR guide pairs	Gestation(days)	No. of transferred embryos	No. of births	No. of births/transferred embryos	Sex ratio of piglets(male: female)	TYR-KO	TYR-KO and IL2RG-KO	TYR-KO and RAG1-KO
A	1-cell stage	tyr-sg1/tyr-sg2	113	12	4	33.3%	2:2	3	/	/
B	1-cell stage	tyr-sg1/tyr-sg2	113	9	4	44.4%	1:3	4	/	/
C	2-cell stage	tyr-sg1/tyr-sg2/il2rg-sg1	114	11	4	36.4%	3:1	2	1 (25%)	/
D	2-cell stage	tyr-sg1/rag1-sg1/rag1-sg2	115	8	4	50%	3:1	3	/	3 (75%)
Total			114 ± 1	40	16	40%	9:7	12 (75%)	/	/

Table 3

F0 generation piglets

F0 generation piglet ID	Sex	Surrogate ID	Phenotypes	Genotypes
a1	Male	A	Fully pigmented	Wild-type
a2	Male	A	Albino	TYR-KO
a3	Female	A	Albino	TYR-KO
a4	Female	A	Albino	TYR-KO
b5	Female	B	Albino	TYR-KO
b6	Male	B	Albino	TYR-KO
b7	Female	B	Albino	TYR-KO
b8	Female	B	Albino	TYR-KO
c9	Male	C	Albino, immunodeficiency	TYR-KO, IL2RG-KO
c10	Male	C	Fully pigmented	TYR partial knockout,IL2RG partial knockout
c11	Male	C	Partial pigment loss	TYR partial knockout
c12	Female	C	Albino	TYR-KO, IL2RG partial knockout
d13	Male	D	Partial pigment loss, immunodeficiency	TYR partial knockout, RAG1-KO
d14	Male	D	Albino, immunodeficiency	TYR-KO, RAG1-KO
d15	Male	D	Albino, immunodeficiency	TYR-KO, RAG1-KO
d16	Female	D	Albino	TYR-KO, RAG1 missing 9 bp