Hutchinson–Gilford
progeria syndrome (HGPS, progeria) is
a rare genetic disease characterized by premature aging and death
in childhood for which there were no approved drugs for its treatment
until last November, when lonafarnib obtained long-sought FDA approval.
However, the benefits of lonafarnib in patients are limited, highlighting
the need for new therapeutic strategies. Here, we validate the enzyme
isoprenylcysteine carboxylmethyltransferase (ICMT) as
a new therapeutic target for progeria with the development of a new
series of potent inhibitors of this enzyme that exhibit an excellent
antiprogeroid profile. Among them, compound UCM-13207 significantly
improved the main hallmarks of progeria. Specifically, treatment of
fibroblasts from progeroid mice with UCM-13207 delocalized progerin
from the nuclear membrane, diminished its total protein levels, resulting
in decreased DNA damage, and increased cellular viability. Importantly,
these effects were also observed in patient-derived cells. Using the
Lmna
G609G/G609G
progeroid mouse
model, UCM-13207 showed an excellent in vivo efficacy by increasing
body weight, enhancing grip strength, extending lifespan by 20%, and
decreasing tissue senescence in multiple organs. Furthermore, UCM-13207
treatment led to an improvement of key cardiovascular hallmarks such
as reduced progerin levels in aortic and endocardial tissue and increased
number of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The beneficial effects
go well beyond the effects induced by other therapeutic strategies
previously reported in the field, thus supporting the use of UCM-13207
as a new treatment for progeria.