The Werner syndrome gene product (WRN): a repressor of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 activity

Multifaceted roles of mitochondria in wound healing and chronic wound pathogenesis

Mitochondria are intracellular organelles that play a critical role in numerous cellular processes including the regulation of metabolism, cellular stress response, and cell fate. Mitochondria themselves are subject to well-orchestrated regulation in order to maintain organelle and cellular homeostasis. Wound healing is a multifactorial process that involves the stringent regulation of several cell types and cellular processes. In the event of dysregulated wound healing, hard-to-heal chronic wounds form and can place a significant burden on healthcare systems. Importantly, treatment options remain limited owing to the multifactorial nature of chronic wound pathogenesis. One area that has received more attention in recent years is the role of mitochondria in wound healing. With regards to this, current literature has demonstrated an important role for mitochondria in several areas of wound healing and chronic wound pathogenesis including metabolism, apoptosis, and redox signalling. Additionally, the influence of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy has also been investigated. However, few studies have utilised patient tissue when studying mitochondria in wound healing, instead using various animal models. In this review we dissect the current knowledge of the role of mitochondria in wound healing and discuss how future research can potentially aid in the progression of wound healing research.

Characterization of Stress Responses in a Drosophila Model of Werner Syndrome

As organisms age, their resistance to stress decreases while their risk of disease increases. This can be shown in patients with Werner syndrome (WS), which is a genetic disease characterized by accelerated aging along with increased risk of cancer and metabolic disease. WS is caused by mutations in WRN, a gene involved in DNA replication and repair. Recent research has shown that WRN mutations contribute to multiple hallmarks of aging including genomic instability, telomere attrition, and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, questions remain regarding the onset and effect of stress on early aging. We used a fly model of WS (WRNexoΔ) to investigate stress response during different life stages and found that stress sensitivity varies according to age and stressor. While larvae and young WRNexoΔ adults are not sensitive to exogenous oxidative stress, high antioxidant activity suggests high levels of endogenous oxidative stress. WRNexoΔ adults are sensitive to stress caused by elevated temperature and starvation suggesting abnormalities in energy storage and a possible link to metabolic dysfunction in WS patients. We also observed higher levels of sleep in aged WRNexoΔ adults suggesting an additional adaptive mechanism to protect against age-related stress. We suggest that stress response in WRNexoΔ is multifaceted and evokes a systemic physiological response to protect against cellular damage. These data further validate WRNexoΔ flies as a WS model with which to study mechanisms of early aging and provide a foundation for development of treatments for WS and similar diseases.

Faces of cellular senescence in skin aging

The skin is comprised of different cell types with different proliferative capacities. Skin aging occurs with chronological age and upon exposure to extrinsic factors such as photodamage. During aging, senescent cells accumulate in different compartments of the human skin, leading to impaired skin physiology. Diverse skin cell types may respond differently to senescence-inducing stimuli and it is not clear how this results in aging-associated skin phenotypes and pathologies. This review aims to examine and provide an overview of current evidence of cellular senescence in the skin. We will focus on cellular characteristics and behaviour of different skin cell types undergoing senescence in the epidermis and dermis, with a particular focus on the complex interplay between mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy and DNA damage pathways. We will also examine how the dermis and epidermis cope with the accumulation of DNA damage during aging.

The Impact of Vitamin C on Different System Models of Werner Syndrome

Significance: Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal recessive malady typified by a pro-oxidant/proinflammatory status, genetic instability, and by the early onset of numerous age-associated illnesses. The protein malfunctioning in WS individuals (WRN) is a helicase/exonuclease implicated in transcription, DNA replication/repair, and telomere maintenance. Recent Advances: In the last two decades, a series of important biological systems were created to comprehend at the molecular level the effect of a defective WRN protein. Such biological tools include mouse and worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) with a mutation in the Wrn helicase ortholog as well as human WS-induced pluripotent stem cells that can ultimately be differentiated into most cell lineages. Such WS models have identified anomalies related to the hallmarks of aging. Most importantly, vitamin C counteracts these age-related cellular phenotypes in these systems. Critical Issues: Vitamin C is the only antioxidant agent capable of reversing the cellular aging-related phenotypes in those biological systems. Since vitamin C is a cofactor for many hydroxylases and mono- or dioxygenase, it adds another level of complexity in deciphering the exact molecular pathways affected by this vitamin. Moreover, it is still unclear whether a short- or long-term vitamin C supplementation in human WS patients who already display aging-related phenotypes will have a beneficial impact. Future Directions: The discovery of new molecular markers specific to the modified biological pathways in WS that can be used for novel imaging techniques or as blood markers will be necessary to assess the favorable effect of vitamin C supplementation in WS. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 34, 856-874.

Skin Abnormalities in Disorders with DNA Repair Defects, Premature Aging, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Defects in DNA repair pathways and alterations of mitochondrial energy metabolism have been reported in multiple skin disorders. More than 10% of patients with primary mitochondrial dysfunction exhibit dermatological features including rashes and hair and pigmentation abnormalities. Accumulation of oxidative DNA damage and dysfunctional mitochondria affect cellular homeostasis leading to increased apoptosis. Emerging evidence demonstrates that genetic disorders of premature aging that alter DNA repair pathways and cause mitochondrial dysfunction, such as Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, Werner syndrome, and Cockayne syndrome, also exhibit skin disease. This article summarizes recent advances in the research pertaining to these syndromes and molecular mechanisms underlying their skin pathologies.

WRN modulates translation by influencing nuclear mRNA export in HeLa cancer cells

BACKGROUND

The Werner syndrome protein (WRN) belongs to the RecQ family of helicases and its loss of function results in the premature aging disease Werner syndrome (WS). We previously demonstrated that an early cellular change induced by WRN depletion is a posttranscriptional decrease in the levels of enzymes involved in metabolic pathways that control macromolecular synthesis and protect from oxidative stress. This metabolic shift is tolerated by normal cells but causes mitochondria dysfunction and acute oxidative stress in rapidly growing cancer cells, thereby suppressing their proliferation.

RESULTS

To identify the mechanism underlying this metabolic shift, we examined global protein synthesis and mRNA nucleocytoplasmic distribution after WRN knockdown. We determined that WRN depletion in HeLa cells attenuates global protein synthesis without affecting the level of key components of the mRNA export machinery. We further observed that WRN depletion affects the nuclear export of mRNAs and demonstrated that WRN interacts with mRNA and the Nuclear RNA Export Factor 1 (NXF1).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that WRN influences the export of mRNAs from the nucleus through its interaction with the NXF1 export receptor thereby affecting cellular proteostasis. In summary, we identified a new partner and a novel function of WRN, which is especially important for the proliferation of cancer cells.

Mitochondria in skin health, aging, and disease

The skin is a high turnover organ, and its constant renewal depends on the rapid proliferation of its progenitor cells. The energy requirement for these metabolically active cells is met by mitochondrial respiration, an ATP generating process driven by a series of protein complexes collectively known as the electron transport chain (ETC) that is located on the inner membrane of the mitochondria. However, reactive oxygen species (ROS) like superoxide, singlet oxygen, peroxides are inevitably produced during respiration and disrupt macromolecular and cellular structures if not quenched by the antioxidant system. The oxidative damage caused by mitochondrial ROS production has been established as the molecular basis of multiple pathophysiological conditions, including aging and cancer. Not surprisingly, the mitochondria are the primary organelle affected during chronological and UV-induced skin aging, the phenotypic manifestations of which are the direct consequence of mitochondrial dysfunction. Also, deletions and other aberrations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are frequent in photo-aged skin and skin cancer lesions. Recent studies have revealed a more innate role of the mitochondria in maintaining skin homeostasis and pigmentation, which are affected when the essential mitochondrial functions are impaired. Some common and rare skin disorders have a mitochondrial involvement and include dermal manifestations of primary mitochondrial diseases as well as congenital skin diseases caused by damaged mitochondria. With studies increasingly supporting the close association between mitochondria and skin health, its therapeutic targeting in the skin-either via an ATP production boost or free radical scavenging-has gained attention from clinicians and aestheticians alike. Numerous bioactive compounds have been identified that improve mitochondrial functions and have proved effective against aged and diseased skin. In this review, we discuss the essential role of mitochondria in regulating normal and abnormal skin physiology and the possibility of targeting this organelle in various skin disorders.

Absence of premature senescence in Werner's syndrome keratinocytes

Werner's syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by loss of function mutation in wrn and is a useful model of premature in vivo ageing. Cellular senescence is a plausible causal mechanism of mammalian ageing and, at the cellular level, WS fibroblasts show premature senescence resulting from a combination of telomeric attrition and replication fork stalling. Over 90% of WS fibroblast cultures achieve <20 population doublings (PD) in vitro compared to wild type human fibroblast cultures. It has been proposed that some cell types, capable of proliferation, will fail to show a premature senescence phenotype in response to wrn mutations. To test this hypothesis, human dermal keratinocytes (derived from both WS and wild type patients) were cultured long term. WS Keratinocytes showed a replicative lifespan in excess of 100 population doublings but maintained functional growth arrest mechanisms based on p16 and p53. The karyotype of the cells was superficially normal and the cultures retained markers characteristic of keratinocyte holoclones (stem cells) including p63 expression and telomerase activity. Accordingly we conclude that, in contrast to WS fibroblasts, WS keratinocytes do not demonstrate slow growth rates or features of premature senescence. These findings suggest that the epidermis is among the tissue types that do not display symptoms of premature ageing caused by loss of function of wrn. This is in support that Werner's syndrome is a segmental progeroid syndrome.

Roles of Caenorhabditis elegans WRN Helicase in DNA Damage Responses, and a Comparison with Its Mammalian Homolog: A Mini-Review

Werner syndrome protein (WRN) is unusual among RecQ family DNA helicases in having an additional exonuclease activity. WRN is involved in the repair of double-strand DNA breaks via the homologous recombination and nonhomologous end joining pathways, and also in the base excision repair pathway. In addition, the protein promotes the recovery of stalled replication forks. The helicase activity is thought to unwind DNA duplexes, thereby moving replication forks or Holliday junctions. The targets of the exonuclease could be the nascent DNA strands at a replication fork or the ends of double-strand DNA breaks. However, it is not clear which enzyme activities are essential for repairing different types of DNA damage. Model organisms such as mice, flies, and worms deficient in WRN homologs have been investigated to understand the physiological results of defects in WRN activity. Premature aging, the most remarkable characteristic of Werner syndrome, is also seen in the mutant mice and worms, and hypersensitivity to DNA damage has been observed in WRN mutants of all three model organisms, pointing to conservation of the functions of WRN. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the WRN homolog contains a helicase domain but no exonuclease domain, so that this animal is very useful for studying the in vivo functions of the helicase without interference from the activity of the exonuclease. Here, we review the current status of investigations of C. elegans WRN-1 and discuss its functional differences from the mammalian homologs.

G-quadruplexes: A possible epigenetic target for nutrition

G-quadruplexes (G4) are highly stable tetra-stranded secondary DNA structures known to mediate gene regulation. These structures are resolved by DNA helicases and are believed to be a causal factor in the phenotype of premature ageing disorders following mutations in DNA helicase genes. The relevance of G4 structures in ageing may be further implicated by their dynamic relationship with DNA modification mechanisms. When DNA methylation and oxidation occur at the vicinity of G4 elements, they can affect the stability of G4 structures which may in turn mediate gene expression resulting in deleterious effects on genome integrity. Therefore, the influence of nutritional deficiencies or excess on oxidation and methylation mechanisms may be contributing factors affecting the stability of G4 structures and their balance in the human genome. We propose that dietary nutrients such as folate and antioxidants may play a beneficial role in reducing G4-induced DNA damage through changes in G4 structure stability. The current knowledge advocates the importance of resolving G4 structures by DNA helicases for sustained genome integrity, and the existence of stability changes in G4 structures when associated with DNA methylation and oxidation modifications.

Transient overexpression of Werner protein rescues starvation induced autophagy in Werner syndrome cells

Reduced autophagy may be associated with normal and pathological aging. Here we report a link between autophagy and Werner protein (WRNp), mutated in Werner syndrome, the human premature aging Werner syndrome (WS). WRN mutant fibroblast AG11395 and AG05229 respond weakly to starvation induced autophagy compared to normal cells. While the fusion of phagosomes with lysosome is normal, WS cells contain fewer autophagy vacuoles. Cellular starvation autophagy in WS cells is restored after transfection with full length WRN. Further, siRNA mediated silencing of WRN in the normal fibroblast cell line WI-38 results in decreased autophagy and altered expression of autophagy related proteins. Thus, our observations suggest that WRN may have a role in controlling autophagy and hereby cellular maintenance.

Mitochondrial dysfunction: a neglected component of skin diseases

Aberrant mitochondrial structure and function influence tissue homeostasis and thereby contribute to multiple human disorders and ageing. Ten per cent of patients with primary mitochondrial disorders present skin manifestations that can be categorized into hair abnormalities, rashes, pigmentation abnormalities and acrocyanosis. Less attention has been paid to the fact that several disorders of the skin are linked to alterations of mitochondrial energy metabolism. This review article summarizes the contribution of mitochondrial pathology to both common and rare skin diseases. We explore the intriguing observation that a wide array of skin disorders presents with primary or secondary mitochondrial pathology and that a variety of molecular defects can cause dysfunctional mitochondria. Among them are mutations in mitochondrial- and nuclear DNA-encoded subunits and assembly factors of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes; mutations in intermediate filament proteins involved in linking, moving and shaping of mitochondria; and disorders of mitochondrial DNA metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and heme synthesis. Thus, we assume that mitochondrial involvement is the rule rather than the exception in skin diseases. We conclude the article by discussing how improving mitochondrial function can be beneficial for aged skin and can be used as an adjunct therapy for certain skin disorders. Consideration of mitochondrial energy metabolism in the skin creates a new perspective for both dermatologists and experts in metabolic disease.

Link between PI3K/AKT/PTEN Pathway and NOX Proteinin Diseases

Accumulating evidence has revealed that thePI3K/AKT/PTENpathway acts as a pivotal determinant of cell fate regarding senescence and apoptosis, which is mediated by intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. NADPH oxidase (NOX) family of enzymes generates the ROS. The regulation of NOX enzymes is complex, with many members of this family exhibiting complexity in terms of subunit composition, cellular location, and tissue-specific expression. Cells are continuously exposed to the ROS, which represent mutagens and are thought to be a major contributor to several diseases including cancer and aging process. Therefore, cellular ROS sensing and metabolism are firmly regulated by a variety of proteins involved in the redox mechanism. In this review, the roles of oxidative stress in PI3K/AKT/PTEN signaling are summarized with a focus on the links between the pathways and NOX protein in several diseases including cancer and aging.

Damaged mitochondria in Fanconi anemia - an isolated event or a general phenomenon?

Fanconi anemia (FA) is known as an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome associated with cancer predisposition and susceptibility to a number of DNA damaging stimuli, along with a number of clinical features such as upper limb malformations, increased diabetes incidence and typical anomalies in skin pigmentation. The proteins encoded by FA-defective genes (FANC proteins) display well-established roles in DNA damage and repair pathways. Moreover, some independent studies have revealed that mitochondrial dysfunction (MDF) is also involved in FA phenotype. Unconfined to FA, we have shown that other syndromes featuring DNA damage and repair (such as ataxia-telangiectasia, AT, and Werner syndrome, WS) display MDF-related phenotypes, along with oxidative stress (OS) that, altogether, may play major roles in these diseases. Experimental and clinical studies are warranted in the prospect of future therapies to be focused on compounds scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as protecting mitochondrial functions.

Transcriptional repression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) by the protein arginine methyltransferase PRMT1

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) are essential for the adaptive response of cells to low-oxygen conditions. Transcription of HIF-α subunits and HIF activity are repressed by the arginine methyltransferase PRMT1. Therefore PRMT1 is a novel regulator of hypoxic cell responses.

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF-1 and HIF-2) are essential mediators for the adaptive transcriptional response of cells and tissues to low-oxygen conditions. Under hypoxia or when cells are treated with various nonhypoxic stimuli, the active HIF-α subunits are mainly regulated through increased protein stabilization. For HIF-1α, it is clear that further transcriptional, translational, and posttranslational regulations are important for complete HIF-1 activity. Novel evidence links hypoxia and HIF-1 to arginine methylation, an important protein modification. These studies suggest that arginine methyltransferases may be important for hypoxic responses. Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1), the predominant arginine methyltransferase, can act as a transcriptional activator or repressor by modifying a diverse set of substrates. In this work, we show that PRMT1 is a repressor of both HIF-1 and HIF-2. The cellular depletion of PRMT1 by small interference RNA targeting leads to increased HIF transcriptional activity. This activation is the result of enhanced HIF-α subunit transcription, which allows increased HIF-α subunit availability. We provide evidence that PRMT1-dependent HIF-1α regulation is mediated through the activities of both specificity protein 1 (Sp1) and Sp3, two transcription factors known to control HIF-1α expression. This study therefore identifies PRMT1 as a novel regulator of HIF-1– and HIF-2–mediated responses.

A cascade leading to premature aging phenotypes including abnormal tumor profiles in Werner syndrome (review)

This perspective review focused on the Werner syndrome (WS) by addressing the issue of how a single mutation in a WRN gene encoding WRN DNA helicase induces a wide range of premature aging phenotypes accompanied by an abnormal pattern of tumors. The key event caused by WRN gene mutation is the dysfunction of telomeres. Studies on normal aging have identified a molecular circuit in which the dysfunction of telomeres caused by cellular aging activates the TP53 gene. The resultant p53 suppresses cell growth and induces a shorter cellular lifespan, and also compromises mitochondrial biogenesis leading to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causing multiple aging phenotypes. As an analogy of the mechanism in natural aging, we described a hypothetical mechanism of premature aging in WS: telomere dysfunction induced by WRN mutation causes multiple premature aging phenotypes of WS, including shortened cellular lifespan and inflammation induced by ROS, such as diabetes mellitus. This model also explains the relatively late onset of the disorder, at approximately age 20. Telomere dysfunction in WS is closely correlated with abnormality in tumorigenesis. Thus, the majority of wide and complex pathological phenotypes of WS may be explained in a unified manner by the cascade beginning with telomere dysfunction initiated by WRN gene mutation.

Redox regulation of tumor suppressor PTEN in cancer and aging (Review)

Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) has been shown to act as a tumor suppressor whose function includes important roles in regulating oxidative stress, indicating a potential role in oxidative damage-associated cancer. Accumulating evidence has revealed that PTEN also acts as a pivotal determinant of cell fate, regarding senescence and apoptosis, which is mediated by intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Cells are continuously exposed to ROS, which represent mutagens and are thought to be a major contributor to cancer and the aging process. Therefore, cellular ROS sensing and metabolism are firmly regulated by a variety of proteins involved in the redox mechanism. In this review, PTEN and the roles of oxidative stress in phosphoinositide-3 kinase/AKT signaling are summarized with a focus on the links between the pathways and ROS in cancer and aging.