gRNA targeting HPK1 and a method for editing HPK1 gene

1. A human immune cell comprising a genetic disruption of a HPK-1 gene, wherein the immune cell further comprises a recombinant receptor expressed on the surface of the immune cell or a polynucleotide encoding the recombinant receptor, wherein the recombinant receptor specifically binds to an antigen, and wherein the immune cell is capable of inducing enhanced cytotoxicity upon binding of the recombinant receptor to the antigen on a target cell compared to a control immune cell not comprising a genetic disruption of the HPK-1 gene.

2. The immune cell of claim 1 , wherein the genetic disruption comprises a deletion, mutation, and/or insertion in the HPK-1 gene resulting in inactivation, reduced activity, and/or reduced expression of the HPK-1 gene.

3. The immune cell of claim 2 , wherein the genetic disruption comprises a double stranded break (DSB) in the HPK-1 gene repaired by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) that effects insertions and deletions in the HPK-1 gene an insertion or deletion in the HPK-1 gene that was generated by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) of a double stranded break (DSB) induced in the HPK-1 gene.

4. The immune cell of claim 1 which is characterized by one or more of the following:

a. the immune cell further comprises a genetic disruption of a gene encoding a PD-1 or PDL-1 polypeptide;

b. the immune cell is a primary cell;

c. the immune cell is CD3 positive;

d. the immune cell is a T cell;

e. the immune cell is a CD4+ or CD8+ T cell, CAR-T cell, NK T cell, alpha beta T cell or gamma delta T cell, or NK cell;

f. the immune cell is derived from primary cells of a subject suffering from cancer;

g. wherein the recombinant receptor is a recombinant T cell receptor or a chimeric antigen receptor;

h. the recombinant receptor specifically binds to one or more antigens independently selected from ROR1, Her2, L1-CAM, CD19, CD20, CD22, CEA, hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-folate receptor, CD23, CD24, CD30, CD33, CD38, CD276, CD44, EGFR, EGP-2, EGP-4, EPHa2, ErbB2, ErbB3, ErbB4, FBP, fetal acetylcholine receptor, GD2, GD3, HMW-MAA, IL-22R-alpha, IL-13R-alpha2, kdr, kappa light chain, Lewis Y, L1-cell adhesion molecule (CD171), MAGE-A1, mesothelin, MUC1, MUC16, PSCA, NKG2D Ligands, NY-ESO-1, MART-1, gp100, oncofetal antigen, TAG72, VEGF-R2, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), prostate specific antigen, PSMA, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, ephrinB2, CD123, CS-1, c-Met, GD-2, MAGE A3, CE7, Wilms Tumor 1 (WT-1), cyclin Al (CCNA1), BCMA and interleukin 12; and

i. the immune cell comprises a gRNA, wherein the gRNA comprises a targeting domain that is the same or differs no more than 3 nucleotides from a sequence fully complementary with a target sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 and 11-15.

5. A cell population comprising the immune cell of claim 1 , characterized by one or more of the following: (1) at least 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% of cells in the cell population do not express the endogenous HPK-1 polypeptide; do not contain a contiguous HPK-1 gene, a HPK-1 gene, and/or a functional HPK-1 gene; (2) a HPK-1 gene knockout efficiency in the cell population of at least 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95%; (3) the percentage of cells in the cell population expressing PD-1, TIM-3, and/or Lag-3 on cell surface, as determined by flow cytometry, is lower than that in a control cell population; (4) the percentage of cells in the cell population expressing Annexin V on cell surface, as determined by flow cytometry, is lower than that in a control cell population; and (5) the percentage of cells in the cell population expressing CD107a on cell surface, as determined by flow cytometry, is higher than that in a control cell population.

6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the immune cell of claim 1 , and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.