Prelamin A's link to early-onset and normal aging
Role for prelamin A in premature and physiological aging
Researchers are looking to see if buildup of a protein called prelamin A drives bone loss and heart vessel disease in people with premature aging syndromes and in normal aging.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11370570 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be hearing about work that uses a new mouse model that only makes prelamin A to learn how its buildup harms bones and blood vessels. Scientists will measure bone loss, artery changes, and lifespan while studying the molecular process that normally removes prelamin A. The team will use imaging, tissue analyses, and laboratory tests to connect what they learn in mice to human premature aging disorders like Hutchinson-Gilford progeria and MAD-B. Their goal is to find biological steps that could be targeted to prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems linked to aging.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with premature aging disorders such as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria or mandibuloacral dysplasia-B, as well as older adults with unexplained osteoporosis or atherosclerotic disease, would be most relevant to these findings.
Not a fit: People without bone or cardiovascular aging problems or those with unrelated health conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could point to new ways to prevent or treat age-related bone loss and cardiovascular disease by targeting prelamin A or its processing.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked progerin and farnesylated prelamin A to progeria and some drug approaches (like farnesyltransferase inhibitors) showed partial benefit, but this focused prelamin A mouse model and the specific questions here are relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Michaelis, Susan D. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Michaelis, Susan D.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.