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Zhao H, Zhao H, Ji S. A Mesenchymal stem cell Aging Framework, from Mechanisms to Strategies. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:1420-1440. [PMID: 38727878 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-024-10732-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are extensively researched for therapeutic applications in tissue engineering and show significant potential for clinical use. Intrinsic or extrinsic factors causing senescence may lead to reduced proliferation, aberrant differentiation, weakened immunoregulation, and increased inflammation, ultimately limiting the potential of MSCs. It is crucial to comprehend the molecular pathways and internal processes responsible for the decline in MSC function due to senescence in order to devise innovative approaches for rejuvenating senescent MSCs and enhancing MSC treatment. We investigate the main molecular processes involved in senescence, aiming to provide a thorough understanding of senescence-related issues in MSCs. Additionally, we analyze the most recent advancements in cutting-edge approaches to combat MSC senescence based on current research. We are curious whether the aging process of stem cells results in a permanent "memory" and if cellular reprogramming may potentially revert the aging epigenome to a more youthful state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongqing Zhao
- Nanbu County People's Hospital, Nanchong City, 637300, Sichuan Province, China
- Jinzhou Medical University, No.82 Songpo Road, Guta District, Jinzhou, 121001, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Houming Zhao
- Graduate School of PLA Medical College, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shuaifei Ji
- Graduate School of PLA Medical College, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100083, China.
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2
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Jothi D, Kulka LAM. Strategies for modeling aging and age-related diseases. NPJ AGING 2024; 10:32. [PMID: 38987252 PMCID: PMC11237002 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-024-00161-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
The ability to reprogram patient-derived-somatic cells to IPSCs (Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells) has led to a better understanding of aging and age-related diseases like Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. The established patient-derived disease models mimic disease pathology and can be used to design drugs for aging and age-related diseases. However, the age and genetic mutations of the donor cells, the employed reprogramming, and the differentiation protocol might often pose challenges in establishing an appropriate disease model. In this review, we will focus on the various strategies for the successful reprogramming and differentiation of patient-derived cells to disease models for aging and age-related diseases, emphasizing the accuracy in the recapitulation of disease pathology and ways to overcome the limitations of its potential application in cell replacement therapy and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Jothi
- Department of Biochemistry II, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.
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3
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Qin X, Wang J, Wang X, Huang T, Fang Z, Yan L, Fan Y, Xu D. Widespread genomic/molecular alterations of DNA helicases and their clinical/therapeutic implications across human cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114193. [PMID: 36586240 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA helicases are essential to genomic stability by regulating DNA metabolisms and their loss-of-function mutations lead to genomic instability and predisposition to cancer. Paradoxically, overexpression of DNA helicases is observed in several cancers. Here we analyzed genomic and molecular alterations in 12 important DNA helicases in TCGA pan-cancers to provide an overview of their aberrations. Significant expression heterogeneity of 12 DNA helicases was observed. We calculated DNA helicase score (DHS) based on their expression, and categorized tumors into high, low and intermediate subtypes. High DHS subtypes were robustly associated with stemness, proliferation, hyperactivated oncogenic signaling, longer telomeres, total mutation burden, copy number alterations (CNAs) and shorter survival. Importantly, tumors with high DHSs exhibited stronger expression of alternative end-join (alt-EJ) factors, indicative of sensitivity to chemo- and radio-therapies. High DHSs were also associated with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), BRCA1/2 mutations and sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. Moreover, several drugs are identified to inhibit DNA helicases, with the Auror A kinase inhibitor Danusertib as the strongest candidate that was confirmed experimentally. The aberrant expression of DNA helicases was associated with CNAs, DNA methylation and m6A regulators. Our findings thus reveal widespread dysregulation of DNA helicases and their broad connection with featured oncogenic aberrations across human cancers. The close association of DHS with the alt-EJ pathway and HRD, and identification of Danusertib as a putative DNA helicase inhibitor have translational significance. Taken together, these findings will contribute to DNA helicase-based cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Qin
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Urologic Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Urology Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241000, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Urologic Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Zhiqing Fang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Lei Yan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
| | - Yidong Fan
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum and Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Solna, Stockholm 171 76, Sweden.
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4
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CRISPR/Cas: A New Tool in the Research of Telomeres and Telomerase as Well as a Novel Form of Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063002. [PMID: 35328421 PMCID: PMC8953708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their close connection with senescence, aging, and disease, telomeres and telomerase provide a unique and vital research route for boosting longevity and health span. Despite significant advances during the last three decades, earlier studies into these two biological players were impeded by the difficulty of achieving real-time changes inside living cells. As a result of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated system’s (Cas) method, targeted genetic studies are now underway to change telomerase, the genes that govern it as well as telomeres. This review will discuss studies that have utilized CRISPR-related technologies to target and modify genes relevant to telomeres and telomerase as well as to develop targeted anti-cancer therapies. These studies greatly improve our knowledge and understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie cancer development and aging.
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5
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Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Aumailley
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Michel Lebel
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
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Choi DK, Kim YK, HoonYu J, Min SH, Park SW. Genome editing of hPSCs: Recent progress in hPSC-based disease modeling for understanding disease mechanisms. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2021; 181:271-287. [PMID: 34127196 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2021.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Generation of proper models for studying human genetic diseases has been hindered until recently by the scarcity of primary cell samples from genetic disease patients and inefficient genetic modification tools. However, recent advances in clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 technology and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have provided an opportunity to explore the function of pathogenic variants and obtain gene-corrected cells for autologous cell therapy. In this chapter, we address recent applications of CRISPR/Cas9 to hiPSCs in genetic diseases, including neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and rare diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Kyu Choi
- New Drug Development Center, DGMIF, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Kyu Kim
- New Drug Development Center, DGMIF, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji HoonYu
- New Drug Development Center, DGMIF, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyun Min
- New Drug Development Center, DGMIF, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Wook Park
- Department of Oral Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
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Giallongo S, Rehakova D, Raffaele M, Lo Re O, Koutna I, Vinciguerra M. Redox and Epigenetics in Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Differentiation. Antioxid Redox Signal 2021; 34:335-349. [PMID: 32567336 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2019.7983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Significance: Since their discovery, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) had generated considerable interest in the scientific community for their great potential in regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and cell-based therapeutic approach, due to their unique characteristics of self-renewal and pluripotency. Recent Advances: Technological advances in iPSC genome-wide epigenetic profiling led to the elucidation of the epigenetic control of cellular identity during nuclear reprogramming. Moreover, iPSC physiology and metabolism are tightly regulated by oxidation-reduction events that mainly occur during the respiratory chain. In theory, iPSC-derived differentiated cells would be ideal for stem cell transplantation as autologous cells from donors, as the risks of rejection are minimal. Critical Issues: However, iPSCs experience high oxidative stress that, in turn, confers a high risk of increased genomic instability, which is most often linked to DNA repair deficiencies. Genomic instability has to be assessed before iPSCs can be used in therapeutic designs. Future Directions: This review will particularly focus on the links between redox balance and epigenetic modifications-in particular based on the histone variant macroH2A1-that determine DNA damage response in iPSCs and derived differentiated cells, and that might be exploited to decrease the teratogenic potential on iPSC transplantation. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 34, 335-349.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Giallongo
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Rehakova
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Informatics, Centre for Biomedical Image Analysis, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marco Raffaele
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oriana Lo Re
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Koutna
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Informatics, Centre for Biomedical Image Analysis, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Manlio Vinciguerra
- International Clinical Research Center, St' Anne's University Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Zhang W, Qu J, Liu GH, Belmonte JCI. The ageing epigenome and its rejuvenation. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2020; 21:137-150. [PMID: 32020082 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-019-0204-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Ageing is characterized by the functional decline of tissues and organs and the increased risk of ageing-associated disorders. Several 'rejuvenating' interventions have been proposed to delay ageing and the onset of age-associated decline and disease to extend healthspan and lifespan. These interventions include metabolic manipulation, partial reprogramming, heterochronic parabiosis, pharmaceutical administration and senescent cell ablation. As the ageing process is associated with altered epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation, such as DNA methylation, histone modification and chromatin remodelling, and non-coding RNAs, the manipulation of these mechanisms is central to the effectiveness of age-delaying interventions. This Review discusses the epigenetic changes that occur during ageing and the rapidly increasing knowledge of how these epigenetic mechanisms have an effect on healthspan and lifespan extension, and outlines questions to guide future research on interventions to rejuvenate the epigenome and delay ageing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqi Zhang
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Genomics and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Qu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guang-Hui Liu
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Lu L, Jin W, Wang LL. RECQ DNA Helicases and Osteosarcoma. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1258:37-54. [PMID: 32767233 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-43085-6_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The RECQ family of DNA helicases is a conserved group of enzymes that plays an important role in maintaining genomic stability. Humans possess five RECQ helicase genes, and mutations in three of them - BLM, WRN, and RECQL4 - are associated with the genetic disorders Bloom syndrome, Werner syndrome, and Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS), respectively. These syndromes share overlapping clinical features, and importantly they are all associated with an increased risk of cancer. Patients with RTS have the highest specific risk of developing osteosarcoma compared to all other cancer predisposition syndromes; therefore, RTS serves as a relevant model to study the pathogenesis and molecular genetics of osteosarcoma. The "tumor suppressor" function of the RECQ helicases continues to be an area of active investigation. This chapter will focus primarily on the known cellular functions of RECQL4 and how these may relate to tumorigenesis, as well as ongoing efforts to understand RECQL4's functions in vivo using animal models. Understanding the RECQ pathways will provide insight into avenues for novel cancer therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linchao Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Weidong Jin
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lisa L Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology/Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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10
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Valenti MT, Serena M, Carbonare LD, Zipeto D. CRISPR/Cas system: An emerging technology in stem cell research. World J Stem Cells 2019; 11:937-956. [PMID: 31768221 PMCID: PMC6851009 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v11.i11.937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of new and even more precise technologies for modifying and manipulating the genome has been a challenge since the discovery of the DNA double helix. The ability to modify selectively specific genes provides a powerful tool for characterizing gene functions, performing gene therapy, correcting specific genetic mutations, eradicating diseases, engineering cells and organisms to achieve new and different functions and obtaining transgenic animals as models for studying specific diseases. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 technology has recently revolutionized genome engineering. The application of this new technology to stem cell research allows disease models to be developed to explore new therapeutic tools. The possibility of translating new systems of molecular knowledge to clinical research is particularly appealing for addressing degenerative diseases. In this review, we describe several applications of CRISPR/Cas9 to stem cells related to degenerative diseases. In addition, we address the challenges and future perspectives regarding the use of CRISPR/Cas9 as an important technology in the medical sciences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Valenti
- Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine D, University of Verona, Verona 37134, Italy.
| | - Michela Serena
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Dalle Carbonare
- Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine D, University of Verona, Verona 37134, Italy
| | - Donato Zipeto
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Verona 37134, Italy
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Rescue of premature aging defects in Cockayne syndrome stem cells by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene correction. Protein Cell 2019; 11:1-22. [PMID: 31037510 PMCID: PMC6949206 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-019-0623-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by a variety of clinical features, including increased sensitivity to sunlight, progressive neurological abnormalities, and the appearance of premature aging. However, the pathogenesis of CS remains unclear due to the limitations of current disease models. Here, we generate integration-free induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts from a CS patient bearing mutations in CSB/ERCC6 gene and further derive isogenic gene-corrected CS-iPSCs (GC-iPSCs) using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. CS-associated phenotypic defects are recapitulated in CS-iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs), both of which display increased susceptibility to DNA damage stress. Premature aging defects in CS-MSCs are rescued by the targeted correction of mutant ERCC6. We next map the transcriptomic landscapes in CS-iPSCs and GC-iPSCs and their somatic stem cell derivatives (MSCs and NSCs) in the absence or presence of ultraviolet (UV) and replicative stresses, revealing that defects in DNA repair account for CS pathologies. Moreover, we generate autologous GC-MSCs free of pathogenic mutation under a cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice)-compliant condition, which hold potential for use as improved biomaterials for future stem cell replacement therapy for CS. Collectively, our models demonstrate novel disease features and molecular mechanisms and lay a foundation for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat CS.
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12
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Brane AC, Tollefsbol TO. Targeting Telomeres and Telomerase: Studies in Aging and Disease Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 Technology. Cells 2019; 8:E186. [PMID: 30795542 PMCID: PMC6406488 DOI: 10.3390/cells8020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres and telomerase provide a unique and important avenue of study in improving both life expectancy and quality of life due to their close association with aging and disease. While major advances in our understanding of these two biological mediators have characterized the last two decades, previous studies have been limited by the inability to affect change in real time within living cells. The last three years, however, have witnessed a huge step forward to overcome this limitation. The advent of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated (CRISPR/Cas) system has led to a wide array of targeted genetic studies that are already being employed to modify telomeres and telomerase, as well as the genes that affect them. In this review, we analyze studies utilizing the technology to target and modify telomeres, telomerase, and their closely associated genes. We also discuss how these studies can provide insight into the biology and mechanisms that underlie aging, cancer, and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Brane
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Trygve O Tollefsbol
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1300 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
- Comprehensive Center for Healthy Aging, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1802 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
- Nutrition Obesity Research Center, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1675 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
- Comprehensive Diabetes Center, University of Alabama Birmingham, 1825 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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13
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Studying Werner syndrome to elucidate mechanisms and therapeutics of human aging and age-related diseases. Biogerontology 2019; 20:255-269. [PMID: 30666569 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-019-09798-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a natural and unavoidable part of life. However, aging is also the primary driver of the dominant human diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Unraveling the sophisticated molecular mechanisms of the human aging process may provide novel strategies to extend 'healthy aging' and the cure of human aging-related diseases. Werner syndrome (WS), is a heritable human premature aging disease caused by mutations in the gene encoding the Werner (WRN) DNA helicase. As a classical premature aging disease, etiological exploration of WS can shed light on the mechanisms of normal human aging and facilitate the development of interventional strategies to improve healthspan. Here, we summarize the latest progress of the molecular understandings of WRN protein, highlight the advantages of using different WS model systems, including Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) systems. Further studies on WS will propel drug development for WS patients, and possibly also for normal age-related diseases.
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