Progerin elicits disease phenotypes of progeria in mice whether or not it is farnesylated

J Clin Invest. 2008 Oct;118(10):3291-300. doi: 10.1172/JCI35876.

Abstract

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare disease that results in what appears to be premature aging, is caused by the production of a mutant form of prelamin A known as progerin. Progerin retains a farnesyl lipid anchor at its carboxyl terminus, a modification that is thought to be important in disease pathogenesis. Inhibition of protein farnesylation improves the hallmark nuclear shape abnormalities in HGPS cells and ameliorates disease phenotypes in mice harboring a knockin HGPS mutation (LmnaHG/+). The amelioration of disease, however, is incomplete, leading us to hypothesize that nonfarnesylated progerin also might be capable of eliciting disease. To test this hypothesis, we created knockin mice expressing nonfarnesylated progerin (LmnanHG/+). LmnanHG/+ mice developed the same disease phenotypes observed in LmnaHG/+ mice, although the phenotypes were milder, and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from these mice contained fewer misshapen nuclei. The steady-state levels of progerin in LmnanHG/+ MEFs and tissues were lower, suggesting a possible explanation for the milder phenotypes. These data support the concept that inhibition of protein farnesylation in progeria could be therapeutically useful but also suggest that this approach may be limited, as progerin elicits disease phenotypes whether or not it is farnesylated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Body Weight
  • Bone and Bones / abnormalities
  • Cell Nucleus Shape
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / cytology
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Lamin Type A
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Phenotype
  • Point Mutation
  • Prenylation*
  • Progeria / mortality
  • Progeria / physiopathology*
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Protein Precursors / metabolism*
  • Survival Analysis

Substances

  • Lamin Type A
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Protein Precursors
  • prelamin A