Antisense-Based Progerin Downregulation in HGPS-Like Patients’ Cells

• Main Authors: Karim Harhouri, Claire Navarro, Camille Baquerre, Nathalie Da Silva, Catherine Bartoli, Frank Casey, Guedenon Koffi Mawuse, Yassamine Doubaj, Nicolas Lévy, Annachiara De Sandre-Giovannoli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016-07-01
• Series: Cells
• Subjects: HGPS-like; MAD-B; antisense oligonucleotides; Progerin; Prelamin A Δ90; Prelamin A Δ35
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/5/3/31

Progeroid laminopathies, including Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS, OMIM #176670), are premature and accelerated aging diseases caused by defects in nuclear A-type Lamins. Most HGPS patients carry a de novo point mutation within exon 11 of the LMNA gene encoding A-type Lamins. This mutation activates a cryptic splice site leading to the deletion of 50 amino acids at its carboxy-terminal domain, resulting in a truncated and permanently farnesylated Prelamin A called Prelamin A Δ50 or Progerin. Some patients carry other LMNA mutations affecting exon 11 splicing and are named “HGPS-like” patients. They also produce Progerin and/or other truncated Prelamin A isoforms (Δ35 and Δ90) at the transcriptional and/or protein level. The results we present show that morpholino antisense oligonucleotides (AON) prevent pathogenic LMNA splicing, markedly reducing the accumulation of Progerin and/or other truncated Prelamin A isoforms (Prelamin A Δ35, Prelamin A Δ90) in HGPS-like patients’ cells. Finally, a patient affected with Mandibuloacral Dysplasia type B (MAD-B, carrying a homozygous mutation in ZMPSTE24, encoding an enzyme involved in Prelamin A maturation, leading to accumulation of wild type farnesylated Prelamin A), was also included in this study. These results provide preclinical proof of principle for the use of a personalized antisense approach in HGPS-like and MAD-B patients, who may therefore be eligible for inclusion in a therapeutic trial based on this approach, together with classical HGPS patients.