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Research on Werner Syndrome: Trends from Past to Present and Future Prospects. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101802. [PMID: 36292687 PMCID: PMC9601476 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A rare and autosomal recessive premature aging disorder, Werner syndrome (WS) is characterized by the early onset of aging-associated diseases, including shortening stature, alopecia, bilateral cataracts, skin ulcers, diabetes, osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, and chromosomal instability, as well as cancer predisposition. WRN, the gene responsible for WS, encodes DNA helicase with a 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity, and numerous studies have revealed that WRN helicase is involved in the maintenance of chromosome stability through actions in DNA, e.g., DNA replication, repair, recombination, and epigenetic regulation via interaction with DNA repair factors, telomere-binding proteins, histone modification enzymes, and other DNA metabolic factors. However, although these efforts have elucidated the cellular functions of the helicase in cell lines, they have not been linked to the treatment of the disease. Life expectancy has improved for WS patients over the past three decades, and it is hoped that a fundamental treatment for the disease will be developed. Disease-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells have been established, and these are expected to be used in drug discovery and regenerative medicine for WS patients. In this article, we review trends in research to date and present some perspectives on WS research with regard to the application of pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, the elucidation of disease mechanisms and drug discovery utilizing the vast amount of scientific data accumulated to date will be discussed.
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Kuzuya M, Shi RQ, Yanagawa M, Watanabe K, Samizo S, Ando R, Miyahara H, Iwasaki Y, Yoshida M. Cerebral pathological findings in long-lived patient with Werner syndrome and dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21:743-745. [PMID: 34129277 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masafumi Kuzuya
- Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.,Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Rong Q Shi
- Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Madoka Yanagawa
- Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Watanabe
- Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Satoshi Samizo
- Department of Community Healthcare and Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ryota Ando
- Department of Pathology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Miyahara
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Yasushi Iwasaki
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
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Tsukamoto K, Takemoto M, Kubota Y, Taniguchi T, Motegi SI, Taniguchi A, Nakagami H, Maezawa Y, Koshizaka M, Kato H, Mori S, Kuzuya M, Yokote K. Management guideline for Werner syndrome 2020 1. Dyslipidemia and fatty liver associated with Werner syndrome. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 21:133-138. [PMID: 33258561 DOI: 10.1111/ggi.14095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
For the purpose of examining the characteristics of dyslipidemia and fatty liver in patients with Werner syndrome in Japan in recent years, we searched all case reports of Japanese Werner syndrome reported on Medical Online and PubMed since 1996, and collected and examined the data and clinical features described in these reports. In addition, as there are few descriptions of treatment methods in these reports from Medical Online and PubMed, we analyzed 12 cases for which detailed data on treatment methods are available at Chiba University. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 133-138.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhisa Tsukamoto
- Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Takemoto
- Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Kubota
- Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | | | - Sei-Ichiro Motegi
- Department of Dermatology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma, Japan
| | - Akira Taniguchi
- Department of Orthopedic surgery, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan
| | - Hironori Nakagami
- Department of Health Development and Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Maezawa
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaya Koshizaka
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hisaya Kato
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Seijiro Mori
- Center for the Promotion of Clinical Investigation, Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masafumi Kuzuya
- Department of Community Healthcare & Geriatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Institutes of Innovation for Future Society, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Koutaro Yokote
- Department of Endocrinology, Hematology and Gerontology, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
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Isaev NK, Genrikhs EE, Oborina MV, Stelmashook EV. Accelerated aging and aging process in the brain. Rev Neurosci 2018; 29:233-240. [PMID: 29150992 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2017-0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
One of the approaches to the research of the problem of aging is the study of genetic pathologies leading to accelerated aging, such as the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, Werner syndrome, and Down syndrome. Probably, this approach can be used in an attempt to understand the neuronal mechanisms underlying normal and pathological brain aging. The analysis of the current state of scientific knowledge about these pathologies shows that in the Hutchinson-Gilford progeria and Werner syndrome, the rate of brain aging is significantly lower than the rate of whole body aging, whereas in Down syndrome, the brain ages faster than other organs due to amyloid-beta accumulation and chronic oxidative stress in the brain tissue. The main point of a previously proposed hypothesis is that the aging of higher animals and humans is associated with an increased level of reactive oxygen species in mitochondria with age, which activates apoptosis, thus reducing the number of functioning cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nickolay K Isaev
- Department of Bioenergetics N. A. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Biological Faculty, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119992 Leninsky Gory, 1b. 40, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | | | - Maria V Oborina
- Brain Research Department Research Center of Neurology, Moscow 125367, Russia
| | - Elena V Stelmashook
- Brain Research Department Research Center of Neurology, Moscow 125367, Russia
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Rekik K, Francés B, Valet P, Dray C, Florian C. Cognitive deficit in hippocampal-dependent tasks in Werner syndrome mouse model. Behav Brain Res 2017; 323:68-77. [PMID: 28119126 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.01.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 01/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian aging is often characterized by metabolic disturbances, cognitive declines and DNA repairs deficiency, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still not well understood. Alterations in DNA repair can significantly exacerbate aging. Mammalian neuronal cells which accumulate unrepaired DNA damage over time could potentially lead to brain functions disorders. Focusing on the ATP-dependent RecQ-type DNA helicase, an enzyme involved in repair of double strand DNA, a mouse model of Werner syndrome (WS) had been proposed as a model of accelerated aging. Until now, no study has investigated the impact of this premature aging syndrome on learning and memory. Spatial memory and cognitive flexibility are particularly affected by the aging process in both men and rodents. Studies have shown that aged mice exhibited similar performance than young adult mice on non-hippocampus dependent memory whereas their performances were decreased in hippocampus-dependent tasks. In this study, we have submitted 3, 5 and 8 month-old WS mice to several behavioral paradigms to evaluate hippocampus-dependent (spatial object location, Morris water maze and fear conditioning) and non hippocampus-dependent (object recognition) memories. No effect on the locomotion activity and anxiety level has been observed in adult WS mice. Interestingly, the 8 month-old WS mice exhibit long-term memory impairment similar to aged mice, suggesting that adult WS mice do develop some aspects of cognitive aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaoula Rekik
- Université de Toulouse, France; Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, Cedex 9, France
| | - Bernard Francés
- Université de Toulouse, France; Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, Cedex 9, France
| | - Philippe Valet
- Université de Toulouse, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1048, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Cédric Dray
- Université de Toulouse, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1048, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Cédrick Florian
- Université de Toulouse, France; Centre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS, UPS,118 route de Narbonne, F-31062 Toulouse, Cedex 9, France.
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Tokita M, Kennedy SR, Risques RA, Chun SG, Pritchard C, Oshima J, Liu Y, Bryant-Greenwood PK, Welcsh P, Monnat RJ. Werner syndrome through the lens of tissue and tumour genomics. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32038. [PMID: 27559010 PMCID: PMC4997333 DOI: 10.1038/srep32038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Werner syndrome (WS) is the canonical adult human progeroid ('premature aging') syndrome. Patients with this autosomal recessive Mendelian disorder display constitutional genomic instability and an elevated risk of important age-associated diseases including cancer. Remarkably few analyses of WS patient tissue and tumors have been performed to provide insight into WS disease pathogenesis or the high risk of neoplasia. We used autopsy tissue from four mutation-typed WS patients to characterize pathologic and genomic features of WS, and to determine genomic features of three neoplasms arising in two of these patients. The results of these analyses provide new information on WS pathology and genomics; provide a first genomic characterization of neoplasms arising in WS; and provide new histopathologic and genomic data to test several popular models of WS disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Tokita
- Department of Medicine Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Scott R. Kennedy
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Rosa Ana Risques
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Stephen G. Chun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX USA
| | - Colin Pritchard
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Junko Oshima
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
- Department of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Peter K. Bryant-Greenwood
- Department of Pathology, John Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI USA
| | - Piri Welcsh
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Raymond J. Monnat
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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Cheung HH, Liu X, Canterel-Thouennon L, Li L, Edmonson C, Rennert OM. Telomerase protects werner syndrome lineage-specific stem cells from premature aging. Stem Cell Reports 2014; 2:534-46. [PMID: 24749076 PMCID: PMC3986587 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Revised: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Werner syndrome (WS) patients exhibit premature aging predominantly in mesenchyme-derived tissues, but not in neural lineages, a consequence of telomere dysfunction and accelerated senescence. The cause of this lineage-specific aging remains unknown. Here, we document that reprogramming of WS fibroblasts to pluripotency elongated telomere length and prevented telomere dysfunction. To obtain mechanistic insight into the origin of tissue-specific aging, we differentiated iPSCs to mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs). We observed recurrence of premature senescence associated with accelerated telomere attrition and defective synthesis of the lagging strand telomeres in MSCs, but not in NPCs. We postulate this “aging” discrepancy is regulated by telomerase. Expression of hTERT or p53 knockdown ameliorated the accelerated aging phenotypein MSC, whereas inhibition of telomerase sensitized NPCs to DNA damage. Our findings unveil a role for telomerase in the protection of accelerated aging in a specific lineage of stem cells. Prevention of premature senescence with corrected telomeres in reprogrammed WS iPSCs Recurrence of premature senescence and telomere dysfunction in WS iPSC-derived MSCs Rescue of premature senescence in WS MSCs by hTERT overexpression or p53 depletion Telomerase protects and prevents NPCs from DNA damage
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi-Hung Cheung
- Laboratory of Clinical and Developmental Genomics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA ; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., 852 Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Xiaozhuo Liu
- Laboratory of Clinical and Developmental Genomics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA ; School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., 852 Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Lucile Canterel-Thouennon
- Laboratory of Clinical and Developmental Genomics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Lu Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., 852 Hong Kong S.A.R
| | - Catherine Edmonson
- Laboratory of Clinical and Developmental Genomics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Owen M Rennert
- Laboratory of Clinical and Developmental Genomics, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Abstract
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome and Werner syndrome are two of the best characterized human progeroid diseases with clinical features mimicking physiological aging at an early age. Both disorders have been the focus of intense research in recent years since they might provide insights into the pathology of normal human aging. The chapter contains a detailed description of the clinical features of both disorders and then it focuses on the genetics, the resulting biochemical alterations at the protein level and the most recent findings and hypotheses concerning the molecular basis of the premature aging phenotypes. A description of available diagnostic and therapeutic approaches is included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Section of Medical Genetics, University of Pisa, Italy.
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Hayashi M, Miwa-Saito N, Tanuma N, Kubota M. Brain vascular changes in Cockayne syndrome. Neuropathology 2011; 32:113-7. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2011.01241.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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The clinical characteristics of Werner syndrome: molecular and biochemical diagnosis. Hum Genet 2008; 124:369-77. [PMID: 18810497 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-008-0562-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2008] [Accepted: 09/12/2008] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Werner syndrome (WS) is an adult onset segmental progeroid syndrome caused by mutations in the WRN gene. The WRN gene encodes a 180 kDa nuclear protein that possesses helicase and exonuclease activities. The absence of WRN protein leads to abnormalities in various DNA metabolic pathways such as DNA repair, replication and telomere maintenance. Individuals with WS generally develop normally until the third decade of life, when premature aging phenotypes and a series of age-related disorders begin to manifest. In Japan, where a founder effect has been described, the frequency of Werner heterozygotes appears to be as high as 1/180 in the general population. Due to the relatively non-specific nature of the symptoms and the lack of awareness of the condition, this disease may be under-diagnosed in other parts of the world. Genetic counseling of WS patients follows the path of other autosomal recessive disorders, with special attention needed for cancer surveillance in relatives. Molecular diagnosis of WS is made by nucleotide sequencing and, in some cases, protein analysis. It is also of potential interest to measure WRN activities in WS patients. More than 50 different disease-causing mutations in the WRN gene have been identified in WS patients from all over the world. All but one of these cases has mutations that result in the premature termination of the protein. Here we describe the clinical, molecular and biochemical characteristics of WS for use by medical professionals in a health care setting. Additional information is available through the International Registry of WS (http://www.wernersyndrome.org).
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