title: Werner helicase expression in human fetal and adult aortas.
abstract: Werner syndrome is a human progeroid syndrome caused by mutations at the Werner helicase locus (WRN). Progeroid features and diseases associated with aging (including arteriosclerosis) do not become apparent until after puberty. We entertained two alternative hypotheses to explain the post-pubertal onset: 1) WRN expression is induced at the time of puberty, its earlier functions being satisfied by another member of that family of helicases; and 2) it is expressed at all ages, but the phenotype of deficiency becomes apparent only after puberty. We report initial experiments consistent with the second hypothesis. Steady-state levels of WRN mRNA in aortic tissues were determined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. WRN mRNA was detectable as early as 49 days of gestation (the earliest available material). There was no statistically significant change in these levels between fetal and adult tissues. The presence of the WRN protein in fetal aorta was confirmed by Western analysis. This rules out the possibility that Werner syndrome phenotypes manifest after the puberty because of peripubertal induction of WRN expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ogburn
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Youssoufian
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oshima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D001011:Aorta / Q000201:enzymology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004265:DNA Helicases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014898:Werner Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004265:DNA Helicases