Lessons from a rare disease

Progeria is a genetic aging disease of childhood affecting an estimated one in four to eight million births. Children with progeria experience a range of developmental disorders and aging-like symptoms, including wrinkled and discolored skin, stunted growth, visible veins, fat loss, hair loss, bone loss, joint contractures, and heart disease. Their average life expectancy is thirteen. There is currently no treatment or cure. The disease arises from a single nucleotide mutation in the LMNA gene, which makes proteins called lamins that comprise the inner lining of the nuclear wall. The mutation leads to the production of a misshapen lamin called progerin that builds up with time, disrupting nuclear shape and function. It is not yet clear how these changes lead to the disease's symptoms. Doctors probe potential treatments while researchers explore progeria's potential links to far more widespread health problems such as aging, heart disease, and laminopathies. Experts debate the extent to which progeria represents normal human aging on overdrive. It is seen as a segmental aging disorder, sharing only some symptoms with aging. Progeria may reveal insights into basic biological phenomena such as gene expression, DNA regulation, RNA splicing, protein processing, cellular aging, and stem cell differentiation. Instrumental to the discovery of the progeria gene and the growth of scientific interest since 2002 has been The Progeria Research Foundation.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Graduate Program in Science Writing

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2009

Author dc:creator

• Dutchen, Stephanie Lynn

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Marcia Bartusiak.

• Graduate Program in Science Writing.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/54561

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/54561