Positional cloning of the Werner's syndrome gene

Surgical treatment of lung cancer associated with Werner's syndrome: A case report and review of the literature

Werner's syndrome is a rare progressive disorder that is characterized by a variety of clinical manifestations which mimic features of advanced ageing. Malignancy is one of the most problematic complications of Werner's syndrome. Lung cancer associated with Werner's syndrome is rare. A 54-year-old woman with Werner's syndrome was referred to our department because an abnormal shadow had been detected on routine chest radiography. Chest computed tomography revealed an abnormal nodule in the left upper lobe. Bronchoscopic examination revealed the presence of squamous cell carcinoma. Other imaging studies showed no metastatic lesions; therefore, the patient was diagnosed with stage IA3 squamous cell carcinoma. She underwent left upper lobectomy and lymph node dissection without major complications, and no recurrence was found for 2 years postoperatively.

Response to Replication Stress and Maintenance of Genome Stability by WRN, the Werner Syndrome Protein

Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by loss of function of WRN. WS is a segmental progeroid disease and shows early onset or increased frequency of many characteristics of normal aging. WRN possesses helicase, annealing, strand exchange, and exonuclease activities and acts on a variety of DNA substrates, even complex replication and recombination intermediates. Here, we review the genetics, biochemistry, and probably physiological functions of the WRN protein. Although its precise role is unclear, evidence suggests WRN plays a role in pathways that respond to replication stress and maintain genome stability particularly in telomeric regions.

Expression of human RECQL5 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae causes transcription defects and transcription-associated genome instability

RECQL5 is a member of the conserved RecQ family of DNA helicases involved in the maintenance of genome stability that is specifically found in higher eukaryotes and associates with the elongating RNA polymerase II. To expand our understanding of its function we expressed human RECQL5 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which does not have a RECQL5 ortholog. We found that RECQL5 expression leads to cell growth inhibition, increased genotoxic sensitivity and transcription-associated hyperrecombination. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and transcriptomic analysis of yeast cells expressing human RECQL5 shows that this is recruited to transcribed genes and although it causes only a weak impact on gene expression, in particular at G + C-rich genes, it leads to a transcription termination defect detected as readthrough transcription. The data indicate that the interaction between RNAPII and RECQL5 is conserved from yeast to humans. Unexpectedly, however, the RECQL5-ID mutant, previously shown to have reduced the association with RNAPII in vitro, associates with the transcribing polymerase in cells. As a result, expression of RECQL5-ID leads to similar although weaker phenotypes than wild-type RECQL5 that could be transcription-mediated. Altogether, the data suggests that RECQL5 has the intrinsic ability to function in transcription-dependent and independent genome dynamics in S. cerevisiae.

Replication stress as a driver of cellular senescence and aging

Replication stress refers to slowing or stalling of replication fork progression during DNA synthesis that disrupts faithful copying of the genome. While long considered a nexus for DNA damage, the role of replication stress in aging is under-appreciated. The consequential role of replication stress in promotion of organismal aging phenotypes is evidenced by an extensive list of hereditary accelerated aging disorders marked by molecular defects in factors that promote replication fork progression and operate uniquely in the replication stress response. Additionally, recent studies have revealed cellular pathways and phenotypes elicited by replication stress that align with designated hallmarks of aging. Here we review recent advances demonstrating the role of replication stress as an ultimate driver of cellular senescence and aging. We discuss clinical implications of the intriguing links between cellular senescence and aging including application of senotherapeutic approaches in the context of replication stress.

Loss-of-function variants affecting the STAGA complex component SUPT7L cause a developmental disorder with generalized lipodystrophy

Generalized lipodystrophy is a feature of various hereditary disorders, often leading to a progeroid appearance. In the present study we identified a missense and a frameshift variant in a compound heterozygous state in SUPT7L in a boy with intrauterine growth retardation, generalized lipodystrophy, and additional progeroid features. SUPT7L encodes a component of the transcriptional coactivator complex STAGA. By transcriptome sequencing, we showed the predicted missense variant to cause aberrant splicing, leading to exon truncation and thereby to a complete absence of SUPT7L in dermal fibroblasts. In addition, we found altered expression of genes encoding DNA repair pathway components. This pathway was further investigated and an increased rate of DNA damage was detected in proband-derived fibroblasts and genome-edited HeLa cells. Finally, we performed transient overexpression of wildtype SUPT7L in both cellular systems, which normalizes the number of DNA damage events. Our findings suggest SUPT7L as a novel disease gene and underline the link between genome instability and progeroid phenotypes.

National Institute on Aging's 50th anniversary: Advancing aging research and the health and well-being of older adults

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was founded in 1974 to support and conduct research on aging and the health and well-being of older adults. Fifty years ago, the concept of studying aging generated much skepticism. Early NIA-funded research findings helped establish the great value of aging research and provided the foundation for significant science advances that have improved our understanding of the aging process, diseases and conditions associated with aging, and the effects of health inequities, as well as the need to promote healthy aging lifestyles. Today, we celebrate the many important contributions to aging research made possible by NIA, as well as opportunities to continue to make meaningful progress. NIA emphasizes that the broad aging research community must continue to increase and expand our collective efforts to recruit and train a diverse next generation of aging researchers.

Caspase 5 depletion is linked to hyper-inflammatory response and progeroid syndrome

A progeroid family was found to harbor a pathogenic variant in the CASP5 gene that encodes inflammatory caspase 5. Caspase 5-depleted fibroblasts exhibited hyper-activation of inflammatory cytokines in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli. Long-term intermittent hyper-inflammatory response is likely the cause of the accelerated aging phenotype comprised of earlier onset of common aging diseases, supporting inflammaging as a potential common disease mechanism of progeroid syndromes and possibly normative aging.

The identification of a novel mutation (p.I223fs) in WRN associated with Werner syndrome

PURPOSE

Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disease caused by mutations in the WRN gene, and it is characterized by multiple manifestations corresponding to early-onset aging. This study reports the case of a WS patient with a novel WRN mutation.

PATIENT AND METHODS

A 36-year-old male patient with WS was evaluated after approval from the local ethics committee. The clinical and biochemical findings of the patient were described. Peripheral blood sample was collected to extract genomic DNA for WRN gene exome sequencing. The three-dimensional (3D) protein structural prediction analysis was performed via the AlphaFold 2.2 program and PyMol software.

RESULTS

We report the case of a clinically diagnosed WS patient with consanguineous parents who presented with complex manifestations including early-onset diabetes mellitus, binocular cataracts, cerebral infarction, cerebral atherosclerosis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hypothyroidism, and suspected meningioma, accompanied by short stature, gray hair, rough skin with subcutaneous fat atrophy, a high-pitched voice, palmoplantar keratoderma, bilateral flat feet, and an indolent deep ulceration on the foot. Exome sequencing identified a novel homozygous frameshift mutation in the WRN gene, c.666-669 del TATT, p.I223fs. The 3D structure prediction showed that premature termination and significant structural changes could occur in the mutant WRN protein.

CONCLUSION

We identified a novel homozygous frameshift mutation, p.I223fs, in WRN in a Chinese patient with WS, expanding the spectrum of mutations in WS.

G-quadruplex-mediated genomic instability drives SNVs in cancer

G-quadruplex (G4s) DNA structures have been implicated in inducing genomic instability and contributing to cancer development. However, the relationship between G4s and cancer-related single nucleotide variants (cSNVs) in clinical settings remains unclear. In this large-scale study, we integrated experimentally validated G4s with genomic cSNVs from 13480 cancer patients to investigate the spatial association of G4s with the cellular cSNV landscape. Our findings demonstrate an increase in local genomic instability with increasing local G4 content in cancer patients, suggesting a potential role for G4s in driving cSNVs. Notably, we observed distinct spatial patterns of cSNVs and common single nucleotide variants (dbSNVs) in relation to G4s, implying different mechanisms for their generation and accumulation. We further demonstrate large, cancer-specific differences in the relationship of G4s and cSNVs, which could have important implications for a new class of G4-stabilizing cancer therapeutics. Moreover, we show that high G4-content can serve as a prognostic marker for local cSNV density and patient survival rates. Our findings underscore the importance of considering G4s in cancer research and highlight the need for further investigation into the underlying molecular mechanisms of G4-mediated genomic instability, especially in the context of cancer.

Navigating the brain and aging: exploring the impact of transposable elements from health to disease

Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that constitute on average 45% of mammalian genomes. Their presence and activity in genomes represent a major source of genetic variability. While this is an important driver of genome evolution, TEs can also have deleterious effects on their hosts. A growing number of studies have focused on the role of TEs in the brain, both in physiological and pathological contexts. In the brain, their activity is believed to be important for neuronal plasticity. In neurological and age-related disorders, aberrant activity of TEs may contribute to disease etiology, although this remains unclear. After providing a comprehensive overview of transposable elements and their interactions with the host, this review summarizes the current understanding of TE activity within the brain, during the aging process, and in the context of neurological and age-related conditions.

Early-onset diabetes mellitus as a presenting feature of Werner's syndrome in an Indian family

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus (DM) in children and adolescents is typically caused by type 1 DM, followed by type 2 DM and maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). We report an unusual Asian Indian family in which three members presented with DM at ages 15, 20, and 30, but not fitting the typical clinical picture of type 1 DM, type 2 DM, or MODY. The primary objective was to elucidate the molecular genetic basis of DM in this family.

METHODS

The proband, a 22-year-old man, had short stature, gray hair, osteoporosis, and markedly reduced subcutaneous fat on the body, especially on the extremities along with acanthosis nigricans, and developed myxoid malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Detailed family history revealed multiple loops of consanguinity. The proband underwent whole-genome sequencing, and seven relatives underwent whole-exome sequencing.

RESULTS

The proband and three additional family members were found to have the homozygous c.561A>G nucleotide variant of WRN RecQ-like helicase (WRN) gene consistent with the diagnosis of Werner's syndrome. The c.561A>G variant induces a new splicing site on exon 6 resulting in a truncated WRN protein, p.Lys187Trpfs*13.

CONCLUSION

Our report brings to attention the onset of DM during childhood or early adulthood in patients with Werner's syndrome who typically develop type 2 DM around the age of 30-40 years. Presence of consanguinity among parents, dysmorphic features, and malignancy should prompt consideration of diagnosis of Werner's syndrome.

Werner syndrome associated with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma and systemic sclerosis-like skin manifestations: A case report

Werner syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by premature ageing. WS patients often experience scleroderma-like manifestation including skin sclerosis and skin ulcer, making it difficult to differentiate WS from systemic sclerosis (SSc). Moreover, there is a high incidence of malignancy and arteriosclerosis-related disease in WS patients. We herein describe a 36-year-old woman with WS who had poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, one of the rare phenotypes of thyroid tumour. This case suggested the importance to distinguish WS from SSc and early diagnosis of malignancy.

Hydrophobic Interaction-Induced Topology-Independent Destabilization of G-Quadruplex

Since the inception of the G-quadruplex (G4), enormous attention has been devoted to designing small molecules which can stabilize the G-quadruplex. In contrast, the knowledge about the molecules and mechanisms involved in the destabilization of G4 is sparse, although it is well recognized that destabilization of G4 is important in neurobiology and age-related genetic issues. In this study, it has been shown that amphiphilic molecules having a long hydrocarbon chain can destabilize G4, regardless of its topology, using various biophysical and molecular dynamics simulation methods. It has been observed that the hydrophobic interaction induced by the long hydrocarbon chain of amphiphilic molecules is the main contributor in triggering the destabilization of G4, although hydrogen bonding by the polar part of the molecules also cooperates in the destabilization process. The experiment and simulation studies suggest that a long hydrocarbon chain containing amphiphilic molecules gets aggregated, and their hydrocarbon chain as well as the polar group intrude in the quartet region from the 5' side and interact with guanine bases as well as nearby loops through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions, which trigger the destabilization of G4.

Replication-induced DNA secondary structures drive fork uncoupling and breakage

Sequences that form DNA secondary structures, such as G-quadruplexes (G4s) and intercalated-Motifs (iMs), are abundant in the human genome and play various physiological roles. However, they can also interfere with replication and threaten genome stability. Multiple lines of evidence suggest G4s inhibit replication, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Moreover, evidence of how iMs affect the replisome is lacking. Here, we reconstitute replication of physiologically derived structure-forming sequences to find that a single G4 or iM arrest DNA replication. Direct single-molecule structure detection within solid-state nanopores reveals structures form as a consequence of replication. Combined genetic and biophysical characterisation establishes that structure stability and probability of structure formation are key determinants of replisome arrest. Mechanistically, replication arrest is caused by impaired synthesis, resulting in helicase-polymerase uncoupling. Significantly, iMs also induce breakage of nascent DNA. Finally, stalled forks are only rescued by a specialised helicase, Pif1, but not Rrm3, Sgs1, Chl1 or Hrq1. Altogether, we provide a mechanism for quadruplex structure formation and resolution during replication and highlight G4s and iMs as endogenous sources of replication stress.

Progress in Thyroid Cancer Genomics: A 40-Year Journey

Background: Very little was known about the molecular pathogenesis of thyroid cancer until the late 1980s. As part of the Centennial celebration of the American Thyroid Association, we review the historical discoveries that contributed to our current understanding of the genetic underpinnings of thyroid cancer. Summary: The pace of discovery was heavily dependent on scientific breakthroughs in nucleic acid sequencing technology, cancer biology, thyroid development, thyroid cell signaling, and growth regulation. Accordingly, we attempt to link the primary observations on thyroid cancer molecular genetics with the methodological and scientific advances that made them possible. Conclusions: The major genetic drivers of the common forms of thyroid cancer are now quite well established and contribute to a significant extent to how we diagnose and treat the disease. However, many challenges remain. Future work will need to unravel the complexity of thyroid cancer ecosystems, which is likely to be a major determinant of their biological behavior and on how they respond to therapy.

Bloom syndrome patients and mice display accelerated epigenetic aging

Bloom syndrome (BSyn) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by variants in the BLM gene, which is involved in genome stability. Patients with BSyn present with poor growth, sun sensitivity, mild immunodeficiency, diabetes, and increased risk of cancer, most commonly leukemias. Interestingly, patients with BSyn do not have other signs of premature aging such as early, progressive hair loss and cataracts. We set out to determine epigenetic age in BSyn, which can be a better predictor of health and disease over chronological age. Our results show for the first time that patients with BSyn have evidence of accelerated epigenetic aging across several measures in blood lymphocytes, as compared to carriers. Additionally, homozygous Blm mice exhibit accelerated methylation age in multiple tissues, including brain, blood, kidney, heart, and skin, according to the brain methylation clock. Overall, we find that Bloom syndrome is associated with accelerated epigenetic aging effects in multiple tissues and more generally a strong effect on CpG methylation levels.

Systematic identification of inter-chromosomal interaction networks supports the existence of RNA factories

Most studies of genome organization have focused on intra-chromosomal (cis) contacts because they harbor key features such as DNA loops and topologically associating domains. Inter-chromosomal (trans) contacts have received much less attention, and tools for interrogating potential biologically relevant trans structures are lacking. Here, we develop a computational framework to identify sets of loci that jointly interact in trans from Hi-C data. This method, trans-C, initiates probabilistic random walks with restarts from a set of seed loci to traverse an input Hi-C contact network, thereby identifying sets of trans-contacting loci. We validate trans-C in three increasingly complex models of established trans contacts: the Plasmodium falciparum var genes, the mouse olfactory receptor "Greek islands", and the human RBM20 cardiac splicing factory. We then apply trans-C to systematically test the hypothesis that genes co-regulated by the same trans-acting element (i.e., a transcription or splicing factor) co-localize in three dimensions to form "RNA factories" that maximize the efficiency and accuracy of RNA biogenesis. We find that many loci with multiple binding sites of the same transcription factor interact with one another in trans, especially those bound by transcription factors with intrinsically disordered domains. Similarly, clustered binding of a subset of RNA binding proteins correlates with trans interaction of the encoding loci. These findings support the existence of trans interacting chromatin domains (TIDs) driven by RNA biogenesis. Trans-C provides an efficient computational framework for studying these and other types of trans interactions, empowering studies of a poorly understood aspect of genome architecture.

Understanding the Human RECQ5 Helicase-Connecting the Dots from DNA to Clinics

RECQ5, a member of the conserved RECQ helicase family, is the sole human RECQ homolog that has not been linked to a hereditary developmental syndrome. Nonetheless, dysregulation of RECQ5 has emerged as a significant clinical concern, being linked to cancer predisposition, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation. In cells, RECQ5 assumes a crucial role in the regulation of DNA repair pathways, particularly in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks and inter-strand DNA crosslinks. Moreover, RECQ5 exhibits a capacity to modulate gene expression by interacting with transcription machineries and their co-regulatory proteins, thus safeguarding against transcription-induced DNA damage. This review aims to provide an overview of the multifaceted functions of RECQ5 and its implications in maintaining genomic stability. We will discuss the potential effects of clinical variants of RECQ5 on its cellular functions and their underlying mechanisms in the pathogenesis of cancer and cardiovascular disease. We will review the impact of RECQ5 variants in the field of pharmacogenomics, specifically their influence on drug responses, which may pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions targeting RECQ5 in human diseases.

Discovery of a new hereditary RECQ helicase disorder RECON syndrome positions the replication stress response and genome homeostasis as centrally important processes in aging and age-related disease

Characterizing the molecular deficiencies underlying human aging has been a formidable challenge as it is clear that a complex myriad of factors including genetic mutations, environmental influences, and lifestyle choices influence the deterioration responsible for human pathologies. In addition, the common denominators of human aging, exemplified by the newly updated hallmarks of aging (López-Otín et al., 2023), suggest multiple avenues and layers of crosstalk between pathways important for genome and cellular homeostasis, both of which are major determinants of both good health and lifespan. In this regard, we postulate that hereditary disorders characterized by chromosomal instability offer a unique window of insight into aging and age-related disease processes. Recently, we discovered a new RECQ helicase disorder, designated RECON syndrome attributed to bi-allelic mutations in the RECQL1 gene (Abu-Libdeh et al., 2022). Cells deficient in RECQL1 exhibit genomic instability and a compromised response to replication stress, providing further evidence for the significance of genome homeostasis to suppress disease phenotypes. Here we provide a perspective on the pathology of RECON syndrome to inform the reader as to how molecular defects in the RECQL1 gene contribute to underlying deficiencies in nucleic acid metabolism often seen in certain aging or age-related diseases.

Widespread genomic/molecular alterations of DNA helicases and their clinical/therapeutic implications across human cancer

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.

Targeting G-quadruplex for rescuing impaired chondrogenesis in WRN-deficient stem cells

BACKGROUND

Pathogenic mutations in WRN are a cause of premature aging disease Werner syndrome (WS). Besides accelerated aging phenotypes and cancer predisposition, patients with WS also display underdevelopment in the skeletal system, characterized by short stature, light body weight and unusually thin extremities. The reasons for these developmental defects are not completely understood and the underlying molecular mechanism remains to be elucidated.

RESULTS

In this study, WRN was found to modulate transcription of short stature homeobox gene SHOX. Loss of WRN resulted in insufficient expression of SHOX, the gene dose of which is critical for driving chondrocyte differentiation. WRN could bind the G-quadruplex (G4) structures in the SHOX promoter and stimulate transcription. Aberrant formation of G4 structures in WRN-deficient cells impeded normal transcription of SHOX, thus resulting in impaired chondrogenesis. Chondrogenesis could be rescued by overexpression of WRN helicase or SHOX, suggesting that SHOX is a downstream target of WRN. Gene editing of the G4 structures in the SHOX promoter could increase SHOX expression, therefore rescuing the impaired chondrogenesis in WRN-deficient cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggest that dysgenesis of the developing bone in WS might be caused by SHOX insufficiency. Aberrant formation of G4 structures in SHOX promoter suppresses SHOX expression and impairs chondrogenesis. Targeted mutagenesis in the G4 structures enhances SHOX expression and thus providing an opportunity to rescue the chondrogenic defect.

Werner syndrome protein works as a dimer for unwinding and replication fork regression

The determination of the oligomeric state of functional enzymes is essential for the mechanistic understanding of their catalytic activities. RecQ helicases have diverse biochemical activities, but it is still unclear how their activities are related to their oligomeric states. We use single-molecule multi-color fluorescence imaging to determine the oligomeric states of Werner syndrome protein (WRN) during its unwinding and replication fork regression activities. We reveal that WRN binds to a forked DNA as a dimer, and unwinds it without any change of its oligomeric state. In contrast, WRN binds to a replication fork as a tetramer, and is dimerized during activation of replication fork regression. By selectively inhibiting the helicase activity of WRN on specific strands, we reveal how the active dimers of WRN distinctly use the energy of ATP hydrolysis for repetitive unwinding and replication fork regression.

The missing link between genetic association and regulatory function

The genetic basis of most traits is highly polygenic and dominated by non-coding alleles. It is widely assumed that such alleles exert small regulatory effects on the expression of cis-linked genes. However, despite the availability of gene expression and epigenomic datasets, few variant-to-gene links have emerged. It is unclear whether these sparse results are due to limitations in available data and methods, or to deficiencies in the underlying assumed model. To better distinguish between these possibilities, we identified 220 gene-trait pairs in which protein-coding variants influence a complex trait or its Mendelian cognate. Despite the presence of expression quantitative trait loci near most GWAS associations, by applying a gene-based approach we found limited evidence that the baseline expression of trait-related genes explains GWAS associations, whether using colocalization methods (8% of genes implicated), transcription-wide association (2% of genes implicated), or a combination of regulatory annotations and distance (4% of genes implicated). These results contradict the hypothesis that most complex trait-associated variants coincide with homeostatic expression QTLs, suggesting that better models are needed. The field must confront this deficit and pursue this 'missing regulation.'

Optical coherence tomography findings in three patients with Werner syndrome

Background

Werner syndrome is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterised by premature aging. It is a typical hereditary progeroid syndrome that can be difficult to diagnose owing to its rarity and the similarity of some of its symptoms, such as juvenile cataracts, to other common ophthalmologic conditions. Early onset of bilateral cataracts is currently used as the ophthalmological feature for Werner syndrome; however, ophthalmologists often find performing a detailed examination of the medical history and genetic testing for Werner syndrome at the time of an ophthalmologic consultation challenging. If a unique ocular finding was observed on ocular examinations in cases of juvenile bilateral cataracts, we could consider Werner syndrome as a differential diagnosis. 

Case presentation

We documented the cases of three patients with Werner syndrome in whom thinning of the retina in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) were observed using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Visual field tests revealed the loss of visual field mainly owing to glaucoma.

The thinnig of the choroidal thickness (CT) in three patients was also observed using enhanced depth imaging (EDI)-OCT.

Conclusions

Three patients have thinning of the RNFL, GCC, and choroidal thickness and the loss of visual field. These findings suggest the need for including Werner syndrome in the differential diagnosis when patients presenting with juvenile cataracts of unknown cause also show abnormal retinal and choroidal thinning in the OCT images.

Resistance to DNA repair inhibitors in cancer

The DNA damage response (DDR) represents a complex network of proteins which detect and repair DNA damage, thereby maintaining the integrity of the genome and preventing the transmission of mutations and rearranged chromosomes to daughter cells. Faults in the DDR are a known driver and hallmark of cancer. Furthermore, inhibition of DDR enzymes can be used to treat the disease. This is exemplified by PARP inhibitors (PARPi) used to treat cancers with defects in the homologous recombination DDR pathway. A series of novel DDR targets are now also under pre-clinical or clinical investigation, including inhibitors of ATR kinase, WRN helicase or the DNA polymerase/helicase Polθ (Pol-Theta). Drug resistance is a common phenomenon that impairs the overall effectiveness of cancer treatments and there is already some understanding of how resistance to PARPi occurs. Here, we discuss how an understanding of PARPi resistance could inform how resistance to new drugs targeting the DDR emerges. We also discuss potential strategies that could limit the impact of these therapy resistance mechanisms in cancer.

Research on Werner Syndrome: Trends from Past to Present and Future Prospects

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.

WRN promotes bone development and growth by unwinding SHOX-G-quadruplexes via its helicase activity in Werner Syndrome

Werner Syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by premature aging due to mutations of the WRN gene. A classical sign in WS patients is short stature, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we report that WRN is indispensable for chondrogenesis, which is the engine driving the elongation of bones and determines height. Zebrafish lacking wrn exhibit impairment of bone growth and have shorter body stature. We pinpoint the function of WRN to its helicase domain. We identify short-stature homeobox (SHOX) as a crucial and direct target of WRN and find that the WRN helicase core regulates the transcriptional expression of SHOX via unwinding G-quadruplexes. Consistent with this, shox−/− zebrafish exhibit impaired bone growth, while genetic overexpression of SHOX or shox expression rescues the bone developmental deficiency induced in WRN/wrn-null mutants both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, we have identified a previously unknown function of WRN in regulating bone development and growth through the transcriptional regulation of SHOX via the WRN helicase domain, thus illuminating a possible approach for new therapeutic strategies.

WRN rescues replication forks compromised by a BRCA2 deficiency: Predictions for how inhibition of a helicase that suppresses premature aging tilts the balance to fork demise and chromosomal instability in cancer

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancers are frequently attributed to germline mutations in the tumor suppressor genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. BRCA1/2 act to repair double-strand breaks (DSBs) and suppress the demise of unstable replication forks. Our work elucidated a dynamic interplay between BRCA2 and the WRN DNA helicase/exonuclease defective in the premature aging disorder Werner syndrome. WRN and BRCA2 participate in complementary pathways to stabilize replication forks in cancer cells, allowing them to proliferate. Whether the functional overlap of WRN and BRCA2 is relevant to replication at gaps between newly synthesized DNA fragments, protection of telomeres, and/or metabolism of secondary DNA structures remain to be determined. Advances in understanding the mechanisms elicited during replication stress have prompted the community to reconsider avenues for cancer therapy. Insights from studies of PARP or topoisomerase inhibitors provide working models for the investigation of WRN's mechanism of action. We discuss these topics, focusing on the implications of the WRN-BRCA2 genetic interaction under conditions of replication stress.

RecQ Helicase Somatic Alterations in Cancer

Named the “caretakers” of the genome, RecQ helicases function in several pathways to maintain genomic stability and repair DNA. This highly conserved family of enzymes consist of five different proteins in humans: RECQL1, BLM, WRN, RECQL4, and RECQL5. Biallelic germline mutations in BLM, WRN, and RECQL4 have been linked to rare cancer-predisposing syndromes. Emerging research has also implicated somatic alterations in RecQ helicases in a variety of cancers, including hematological malignancies, breast cancer, osteosarcoma, amongst others. These alterations in RecQ helicases, particularly overexpression, may lead to increased resistance of cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy. Downregulation of these proteins may allow for increased sensitivity to chemotherapy, and, therefore, may be important therapeutic targets. Here we provide a comprehensive review of our current understanding of the role of RecQ DNA helicases in cancer and discuss the potential therapeutic opportunities in targeting these helicases.

Alternative splicing of BUD13 determines the severity of a developmental disorder with lipodystrophy and progeroid features

PURPOSE

In this study we aimed to identify the molecular genetic cause of a progressive multisystem disease with prominent lipodystrophy.

METHODS

In total, 5 affected individuals were investigated using exome sequencing. Dermal fibroblasts were characterized using RNA sequencing, proteomics, immunoblotting, immunostaining, and electron microscopy. Subcellular localization and rescue studies were performed.

RESULTS

We identified a lipodystrophy phenotype with a typical facial appearance, corneal clouding, achalasia, progressive hearing loss, and variable severity. Although 3 individuals showed stunted growth, intellectual disability, and died within the first decade of life (A1, A2, and A3), 2 are adults with normal intellectual development (A4 and A5). All individuals harbored an identical homozygous nonsense variant affecting the retention and splicing complex component BUD13. The nucleotide substitution caused alternative splicing of BUD13 leading to a stable truncated protein whose expression positively correlated with disease expression and life expectancy. In dermal fibroblasts, we found elevated intron retention, a global reduction of spliceosomal proteins, and nuclei with multiple invaginations, which were more pronounced in A1, A2, and A3. Overexpression of both BUD13 isoforms normalized the nuclear morphology.

CONCLUSION

Our results define a hitherto unknown syndrome and show that the alternative splice product converts a loss-of-function into a hypomorphic allele, thereby probably determining the severity of the disease and the survival of affected individuals.

DEAD/H-Box Helicases in Immunity, Inflammation, Cell Differentiation, and Cell Death and Disease

DEAD/H-box proteins are the largest family of RNA helicases in mammalian genomes, and they are present in all kingdoms of life. Since their discovery in the late 1980s, DEAD/H-box family proteins have been a major focus of study. They have been found to play central roles in RNA metabolism, gene expression, signal transduction, programmed cell death, and the immune response to bacterial and viral infections. Aberrant functions of DEAD/H-box proteins have been implicated in a wide range of human diseases that include cancer, neurodegeneration, and inherited genetic disorders. In this review, we provide a historical context and discuss the molecular functions of DEAD/H-box proteins, highlighting the recent discoveries linking their dysregulation to human diseases. We will also discuss the state of knowledge regarding two specific DEAD/H-box proteins that have critical roles in immune responses and programmed cell death, DDX3X and DDX58, also known as RIG-I. Given their importance in homeostasis and disease, an improved understanding of DEAD/H-box protein biology and protein-protein interactions will be critical for informing strategies to counteract the pathogenesis associated with several human diseases.

SHP2's gain-of-function in Werner syndrome causes childhood disease onset likely resulting from negative genetic interaction

Prompt diagnosis of complex phenotypes is a challenging task in clinical genetics. Whole exome sequencing has proved to be effective in solving such conditions. Here, we report on an unpredictable presentation of Werner Syndrome (WRNS) in a 12 year-old girl carrying a homozygous truncating variant in RECQL2, the gene mutated in WRNS, and a de novo activating missense change in PTPN11, the major Noonan syndrome gene, encoding SHP2, a protein tyrosine phosphatase positively controlling RAS function and MAPK signaling, which have tightly been associated with senescence in primary cells. All the major WRNS clinical criteria were present with an extreme precocious onset and were associated with mild intellectual disability, severe growth retardation and facial dysmorphism. Compared to primary fibroblasts from adult subjects with WRNS, proband's fibroblasts showed a dramatically reduced proliferation rate and competence, and a more accelerated senescence, in line with the anticipated WRNS features occurring in the child. In vitro functional characterization of the SHP2 mutant documented its hyperactive behavior and a significantly enhanced activation of the MAPK pathway. Based on the functional interaction of WRN and MAPK signaling in processes relevant to replicative senescence, these findings disclose a unique phenotype likely resulting from negative genetic interaction. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Targeting of RecQ Helicases as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Ovarian Cancer

RecQ helicases are essential for DNA replication, recombination, DNA damage repair, and other nucleic acid metabolic pathways required for normal cell growth, survival, and genome stability. More recently, RecQ helicases have been shown to be important for replication fork stabilization, one of the major mechanisms of PARP inhibitor resistance. Cancer cells often have upregulated helicases and depend on these enzymes to repair rapid growth-promoted DNA lesions. Several studies are now evaluating the use of RecQ helicases as potential biomarkers of breast and gynecologic cancers. Furthermore, RecQ helicases have attracted interest as possible targets for cancer treatment. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of RecQ helicases and their interacting partners that may be utilized for effective treatment strategies (as cancers depend on helicases for survival). We also discuss how targeting helicase in combination with DNA repair inhibitors (i.e., PARP and ATR inhibitors) can be used as novel approaches for cancer treatment to increase sensitivity to current treatment to prevent rise of treatment resistance.

Functional Domain Mapping of Werner Interacting Protein 1 (WRNIP1)

Werner helicase-interacting protein 1 (WRNIP1) belongs to the AAA+ ATPase family and is conserved from Escherichia coli to human. In addition to an ATPase domain in the middle region of WRNIP1, WRNIP1 contains a ubiquitin-binding zinc-finger (UBZ) domain and two leucine zipper motifs in the N-terminal and C-terminal regions, respectively. Here, we report that the UBZ domain of WRNIP1 is responsible for the reduced levels of UV-induced proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) monoubiquitylation in POLH-disrupted (polymerase η (Polη)-deficient) cells, and that the ATPase domain of WRNIP1 is involved in regulating the level of the PrimPol protein. The suppression of UV sensitivity of Polη-deficient cells by deletion of WRNIP1 was abolished by expression of the mutant WRNIP1 lacking the UBZ domain or ATPase domain, but not by the mutant lacking the leucine zipper domain in WRNIP1/POLH double-disrupted cells. The leucine zipper domain of WRNIP1 was required for its interaction with RAD18, a key factor in TLS (DNA translesion synthesis), and DNA polymerase δ catalytic subunit, POLD1. On the basis of these findings, we discuss the possible role of WRNIP1 in TLS.

Calcification in Werner syndrome associated with lymphatic vessels aging

In addition to the symptoms of aging, the main symptoms in Werner syndrome (WS), a hereditary premature aging disease, include calcification of subcutaneous tissue with solid pain and refractory skin ulcers. However, the mechanism of calcification in WS remains unclear. In this study, the histological analysis of the skin around the ulcer with calcification revealed an accumulation of calcium phosphate in the lymphatic vessels. Moreover, the morphological comparison with the lymphatic vessels in PAD patients with chronic skin ulcers demonstrated the ongoing lymphatic remodeling in WS patients because of the narrow luminal cross-sectional area (LA) of the lymphatic vessels but the increment of lymphatic microvessels density (MLVD). Additionally, fluorescence immunohistochemical analysis presented the cytoplasmic distribution and the accumulation of WRN proteins in endothelial cells on remodeling lymphatic vessels. In summary, these results point out a relationship between calcification in lymphatic vessels and the remodeling of lymphatic vessels and suggest the significance of the accumulation of WRN mutant proteins as an age-related change in WS patients. Thus, cytoplasmic accumulation of WRN protein can be an indicator of the decreasing drainage function of the lymphatic vessels and the increased risk of skin ulcers and calcification in the lymphatic vessels.

Variant identification in BARD1, PRDM9, RCC1, and RECQL in patients with ovarian cancer by targeted next-generation sequencing of DNA pools

Several ovarian cancer susceptibility genes have been discovered, but more are likely to exist. In this study, we aimed to analyze knowledge-based selected genes, i.e., BARD1, PRDM9, RCC1, and RECQL, in which pathogenic germline variants have been reported in patients with breast and/or ovarian cancer. As deep sequencing of DNA samples remains costly, targeted next-generation sequencing of DNA pools was utilized to screen the exons of BARD1, PRDM9, RCC1, and RECQL in ~400 Polish ovarian cancer cases. 25 pools of 16 samples (including several duplicated samples with known variants) were sequenced on the NovaSeq6000 and analyzed with SureCall (Agilent) application. The set of variants was filtrated to exclude spurious variants, and, subsequently, the identified rare genetic variants were validated using Sanger sequencing. No pathogenic mutation was found within the analyzed cohort of ovarian cancer patients. Validation genotyping of filtered rare silent and missense variants revealed that the majority of them were true alterations, especially those with a higher mutation quality value. The high concordance (R2=0.95) of population allele frequency for 44 common SNPs in the European control population (gnomAD) and our experiment confirmed the reliability of pooled sequencing. Mutations in BARD1, PRDM9, RCC1, and RECQL do not contribute substantially to the risk of ovarian cancer. Pooled DNA sequencing is a cost-effective and reliable method for the initial screening of candidate genes; however, it still requires validation of identified rare variants.

MUT-7 Provides Molecular Insight into the Werner Syndrome Exonuclease

Werner syndrome (WS) is a rare recessive genetic disease characterized by premature aging. Individuals with this disorder develop normally during childhood, but their physiological conditions exacerbate the aging process in late adolescence. WS is caused by mutation of the human WS gene (WRN), which encodes two main domains, a 3′-5′ exonuclease and a 3′-5′ helicase. Caenorhabditis elegans expresses human WRN orthologs as two different proteins: MUT-7, which has a 3′-5′ exonuclease domain, and C. elegans WRN-1 (CeWRN-1), which has only helicase domains. These unique proteins dynamically regulate olfactory memory in C. elegans, providing insight into the molecular roles of WRN domains in humans. In this review, we specifically focus on characterizing the function of MUT-7 in small interfering RNA (siRNA) synthesis in the cytoplasm and the roles of siRNA in directing nuclear CeWRN-1 loading onto a heterochromatin complex to induce negative feedback regulation. Further studies on the different contributions of the 3′-5′ exonuclease and helicase domains in the molecular mechanism will provide clues to the accelerated aging processes in WS.

Molecular Mechanisms of the RECQ4 Pathogenic Mutations

The human RECQ4 gene encodes an ATP-dependent DNA helicase that contains a conserved superfamily II helicase domain located at the center of the polypeptide. RECQ4 is one of the five RECQ homologs in human cells, and its helicase domain is flanked by the unique amino and carboxyl termini with sequences distinct from other members of the RECQ helicases. Since the identification of the RECQ4 gene in 1998, multiple RECQ4 mutations have been linked to the pathogenesis of three clinical diseases, which are Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, Baller-Gerold syndrome, and RAPADILINO. Patients with these diseases show various developmental abnormalities. In addition, a subset of RECQ4 mutations are associated with high cancer risks, especially for osteosarcoma and/or lymphoma at early ages. The discovery of clinically relevant RECQ4 mutations leads to intriguing questions: how is the RECQ4 helicase responsible for preventing multiple clinical syndromes? What are the mechanisms by which the RECQ4 disease mutations cause tissue abnormalities and drive cancer formation? Furthermore, RECQ4 is highly overexpressed in many cancer types, raising the question whether RECQ4 acts not only as a tumor suppressor but also an oncogene that can be a potential new therapeutic target. Defining the molecular dysfunctions of different RECQ4 disease mutations is imperative to improving our understanding of the complexity of RECQ4 clinical phenotypes and the dynamic roles of RECQ4 in cancer development and prevention. We will review recent progress in examining the molecular and biochemical properties of the different domains of the RECQ4 protein. We will shed light on how the dynamic roles of RECQ4 in human cells may contribute to the complexity of RECQ4 clinical phenotypes.

Mechanisms of hexameric helicases

Ring-shaped hexameric helicases are essential motor proteins that separate duplex nucleic acid strands for DNA replication, recombination, and transcriptional regulation. Two evolutionarily distinct lineages of these enzymes, predicated on RecA and AAA+ ATPase folds, have been identified and characterized to date. Hexameric helicases couple NTP hydrolysis with conformational changes that move nucleic acid substrates through a central pore in the enzyme. How hexameric helicases productively engage client DNA or RNA segments and use successive rounds of NTPase activity to power translocation and unwinding have been longstanding questions in the field. Recent structural and biophysical findings are beginning to reveal commonalities in NTP hydrolysis and substrate translocation by diverse hexameric helicase families. Here, we review these molecular mechanisms and highlight aspects of their function that are yet to be understood.

From APC to the genetics of hereditary and familial colon cancer syndromes

Hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) syndromes attributable to high penetrance mutations represent 9-26% of young-onset CRC cases. The clinical significance of many of these mutations is understood well enough to be used in diagnostics and as an aid in patient care. However, despite the advances made in the field, a significant proportion of familial and early-onset cases remains molecularly uncharacterized and extensive work is still needed to fully understand the genetic nature of CRC susceptibility. With the emergence of next-generation sequencing and associated methods, several predisposition loci have been unraveled, but validation is incomplete. Individuals with cancer-predisposing mutations are currently enrolled in life-long surveillance, but with the development of new treatments, such as cancer vaccinations, this might change in the not so distant future for at least some individuals. For individuals without a known cause for their disease susceptibility, prevention and therapy options are less precise. Herein, we review the progress achieved in the last three decades with a focus on how CRC predisposition genes were discovered. Furthermore, we discuss the clinical implications of these discoveries and anticipate what to expect in the next decade.

SGS1-SuOff rescues the mild methylmethane sulfonate sensitivity of srs2Δ cells in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Sgs1p in Saccharomyces cerevisiae belongs to the RecQ helicase family. Sgs1p is involved in recombination during DNA damage repair and sumoylation of Sgs1p is one mechanism by which the protein is regulated. To further understand the significance of Sgs1p sumoylation in DNA damage repair, we examined the genetic interaction between SGS1 SUMO mutants and a mutant of SRS2, the protein product of which also prevents aberrant recombination structures. We observed that SGS1-SuOff, a mutant in which Sgs1p cannot be sumoylated, attenuates the mild sensitivity of srs2Δcells to methyl methane sulfonate.

Comparison of the transcriptome in circulating leukocytes in early lactation between primiparous and multiparous cows provides evidence for age-related changes

Background

Previous studies have identified many immune pathways which are consistently altered in humans and model organisms as they age. Dairy cows are often culled at quite young ages due to an inability to cope adequately with metabolic and infectious diseases, resulting in reduced milk production and infertility. Improved longevity is therefore a desirable trait which would benefit both farmers and their cows. This study analysed the transcriptome derived from RNA-seq data of leukocytes obtained from Holstein cows in early lactation with respect to lactation number.

Results

Samples were divided into three lactation groups for analysis: i) primiparous (PP, n = 53), ii) multiparous in lactations 2–3 (MP 2–3, n = 121), and iii) MP in lactations 4–7 (MP > 3, n = 55). Leukocyte expression was compared between PP vs MP > 3 cows with MP 2–3 as background using DESeq2 followed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Seven modules were significantly correlated (r ≥ 0.25) to the trait lactation number. Genes from the modules which were more highly expressed in either the PP or MP > 3 cows were pooled, and the gene lists subjected to David functional annotation cluster analysis. The top three clusters from modules more highly expressed in the PP cows all involved regulation of gene transcription, particularly zinc fingers. Another cluster included genes encoding enzymes in the mitochondrial beta-oxidation pathway. Top clusters up-regulated in MP > 3 cows included the terms Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis, C-type lectin, and Immunity. Differentially expressed candidate genes for ageing previously identified in the human blood transcriptome up-regulated in PP cows were mainly associated with T-cell function (CCR7, CD27, IL7R, CAMK4, CD28), mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPS27, MRPS9, MRPS31), and DNA replication and repair (WRN). Those up-regulated in MP > 3 cows encoded immune defence proteins (LYZ, CTSZ, SREBF1, GRN, ANXA5, ADARB1).

Conclusions

Genes and pathways associated with lactation number in cows were identified for the first time to date, and we found that many were comparable to those known to be associated with ageing in humans and model organisms. We also detected changes in energy utilization and immune responses in leukocytes from older cows.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07977-5.

Generalized lipoatrophy syndromes

Generalized lipodystrophy (GL) syndromes are a group of rare heterogenous disorders, characterized by total subcutaneous fat loss. The frequency of GL is currently assessed as approximately 0,23 cases per million of the population, in Europe - as 0,96 cases per million of the population. They can be congenital (CGL) or acquired (AGL) depending on the etiology and the time of the onset of fat loss. Both CGL and AGL are often associated with different metabolic complications, such as hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance and lipoatrophic diabetes mellitus, metabolically associated FLD, arterial hypertension, proteinuria, reproductive system disorders. In this review we aimed to summarize the information on all forms of generalized lipodystrophy, especially the ones of genetic etiology, their clinical manifestations and complications, the perspectives for diagnostics, treatment and further research.

Human RecQL4 as a Novel Molecular Target for Cancer Therapy

Human RecQ helicases play diverse roles in the maintenance of genomic stability. Inactivating mutations in 3 of the 5 human RecQ helicases are responsible for the pathogenesis of Werner syndrome (WS), Bloom syndrome (BS), Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS), RAPADILINO, and Baller-Gerold syndrome (BGS). WS, BS, and RTS patients are at increased risk for developing many age-associated diseases including cancer. Mutations in RecQL1 and RecQL5 have not yet been associated with any human diseases so far. In terms of disease outcome, RecQL4 deserves special attention because mutations in RecQL4 result in 3 autosomal recessive syndromes (RTS type II, RAPADILINO, and BGS). RecQL4, like other human RecQ helicases, has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in the maintenance of genomic stability through participation in diverse DNA metabolic activities. Increased incidence of osteosarcoma in RecQL4-mutated RTS patients and elevated expression of RecQL4 in sporadic cancers including osteosarcoma suggest that loss or gain of RecQL4 expression is linked with cancer susceptibility. In this review, current and future perspectives are discussed on the potential use of RecQL4 as a novel cancer therapeutic target.