BIOL. 2402 - ANATOMY  & PHYSIOLOGY RICHLAND COLLEGE SPRING 2001 Class Project Web project members: Ralph Black Franci Macias Melba Rodriguez Miho Hanaoka

Werner syndrome is genetic recessive disorder.  It is a type of progeria disease that occurs in adults ages twenty to thirty.  People who are affected start to age rapidly beginning in their twenties and thirties and look as though they are twenty or more years older that what they actually are.  Along with looking older patients develop other types of diseases and disorders that occur with normal aging.  "Werner's strikes about three in every 1 million people worldwide, although it is slightly more common in Japan" (MaughII).  To the left is a picture of a Japanese woman at age 14, and then pictured again at age 48.  It is obvious the disorder has made her look much older and frail than that of an average 48 year old woman.     Werner's patients physical characteristics are usually short with a stocky trunk.  They have hair that is thin and gray along with premature balding. Their faces are prematurely aged as if they were 40 years older than what they are and primarily has a beaked nose.  The picture to the left is of a man who has many of these characterizes.  The second picture is of his foot which has developed a another type of disorder related to aging called scaradoma. It is on of the many types of diseases and disorders that develop with Werner because of the premature ageing.  Below is a list of common disorders that may develop. Sclerodermais a autoimmune disease of connective tissue where there is an over production of collagen fibers, also classified as systemic sclerosis. There may be visible signs of the skin. It affects the face and distal extremities with subcutaneous calcification and ulceration. The invisible part of scleroderma affects the internal organs such as the esophagus, lungs, kidneys, heart, blood vessels, muscles and joints.  Arteriosclerosis is the hardening and thickening of the walls of the arteries which causes narrowing of the blood vessels resulting in decrease of blood flow in the arteries.  Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease where carbohydrates are not being broken down because of the lack of insulin secreted by the pancreas. This disease is a type of endocrine disorder. There are many other types of  Endocrine disorders that people with Werner may have. Endocrine glands secrete hormones into the blood stream and have an affect on the body's systems. A lack of an endocrine hormone causes an endocrine disorder. Unusual cancers such as  Thyroid carcinoma is an unuasal cancer that may develop in people who have Werner Syndrome. It is caused by the high production of calcitonin.  Cataract disorders are where the lens of the eye becomes partly or completely obscure.  Retinal disorders are muscular degeneration or retinal dystrophy.   INTRODUCTION TO PROGERIA GENETIC INHERITANCE OF THESE DISEASES CELLULAR MECHANISMS HUTCHINSON-GILFORD SYNDROME CAUSES OF DEATH THERAPY Works Cited Maugh II, Thomas H. "Science: Discovery could lead to new treatments for heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis, experts say. (Human Gene That Causes Aging Symptoms Identified) (Part A)." Info Trac Web: Custom Newspapers. <CJ57146224>. King, Warren. "Gene that affects aging is isolated in the patients with rare disease." Info Trac Web: Custom Newspapers. <CJ65393377>. References: OMIM Entry 277700. National Certer for Biotechnology Information/OMIM. Online Medelian Inheritance in Man. 2 February 2001. http://www3.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/htbin-post/Omim/dismim?277700 "Werner Syndrome (WS)." Clinical Molecular Genetics Society Website. 2 February 2001. http://www.ich.ucl.ac.uk/cmgs/werngene.htm Other links http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/SCIENCE96/gene?WRN http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~bepillon/werner.htm Credits Picture of a Japanese woman and the outcome of the disease at age 48. (Pennisi, 1996) and to William and Wilkens Publishing Co. From the What is Werner Syndrome web page. Picture of a patient with Werner Syndrome (Adoue, 1999).  From the What is Werner Syndrome web page.

BACK TO Jackie Reynold's HOMEPAGE

RICHLAND COLLEGE HOMEPAGE