MG132 Induces Progerin Clearance and Improves Disease Phenotypes in HGPS-like Patients’ Cells

The anti-senescence effect of D-β-hydroxybutyrate in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome involves progerin clearance by the activation of the AMPK-mTOR-autophagy pathway

D-β-hydroxybutyrate, BHB, has been previously proposed as an anti-senescent agent in vitro and in vivo in several tissues including vascular smooth muscle. Moreover, BHB derivatives as ketone esters alleviate heart failure. Here, we provide evidence of the potential therapeutic effect of BHB on Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare condition characterized by premature aging and heart failure, caused by the presence of progerin, the aberrant protein derived from LMNA/C gene c.1824C > T mutation. We have assessed several hallmarks of HGPS-senescent phenotype in vitro, such as progerin levels, nuclear morphometric aberrations, nucleolar expansion, cellular senescent morphology, SA-βGal-positive cells, H3K9me3 heterochromatin, γH2AX foci, Lamin B1, p21Waf1/Cip1 and p16CDKN2A abundance, and autophagy. Strikingly, BHB improved nuclear and nucleolar morphometrics, diminished the senescence-phenotype, and unstuck autophagy in HGPS as observed by an enhanced degradation of the cargo protein receptor SQSTM1/p62, suggesting the stimulation of the autophagic flux. Additionally, we observed a decrease in progerin abundance, the cause of senescence in HGPS. Furthermore, compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK, and SBI-0206965, an inhibitor of ULK1/2 and AMPK, which prevent autophagy activation, reversed BHB-induced progerin decline as well as its anti-senescent effect in an AMPK-mTORC1 dependent manner. Altogether, these results suggest that the anti-senescence effect of BHB involves progerin clearance by autophagy activation supporting the potential of BHB for HGPS therapeutics and further preclinical trials.

Progerin, an Aberrant Spliced Form of Lamin A, Is a Potential Therapeutic Target for HGPS

Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) is an extremely rare genetic disorder caused by the mutant protein progerin, which is expressed by the abnormal splicing of the LMNA gene. HGPS affects systemic levels, with the exception of cognition or brain development, in children, showing that cellular aging can occur in the short term. Studying progeria could be useful in unraveling the causes of human aging (as well as fatal age-related disorders). Elucidating the clear cause of HGPS or the development of a therapeutic medicine could improve the quality of life and extend the survival of patients. This review aimed to (i) briefly describe how progerin was discovered as the causative agent of HGPS, (ii) elucidate the puzzling observation of the absence of primary neurological disease in HGPS, (iii) present several studies showing the deleterious effects of progerin and the beneficial effects of its inhibition, and (iv) summarize research to develop a therapy for HGPS and introduce clinical trials for its treatment.

Progerinin, an Inhibitor of Progerin, Alleviates Cardiac Abnormalities in a Model Mouse of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an ultra-rare human premature aging disorder that precipitates death because of cardiac disease. Almost all cases of HGPS are caused by aberrant splicing of the LMNA gene that results in the production of a mutant Lamin A protein termed progerin. In our previous study, treatment with Progerinin has been shown to reduce progerin expression and improve aging phenotypes in vitro and in vivo HGPS models. In this record, cardiac parameters (stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), etc.) were acquired in Lmna^WT/WT and Lmna^G609G/WT mice fed with either a vehicle diet or a Progerinin diet by echocardiography (from 38 weeks to 50 weeks at various ages), and then the cardiac function was analyzed. We also acquired the tissue samples and blood serum of Lmna^WT/WT and Lmna^G609G/WT mice for pathological analysis at the end of echocardiography. From these data, we suggest that the administration of Progerinin in the HGPS model mouse can restore cardiac function and correct arterial abnormalities. These observations provide encouraging evidence for the efficacy of Progerinin for cardiac dysfunction in HGPS.

Autophagy Meets Aging: An Overview

Aging is characterized by biological disarrangements that increase vulnerability to stressors, the development of chronic diseases (e [...].