PML2‐mediated thread‐like nuclear bodies mark late senescence in Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome

Progerin accumulation disrupts nuclear lamina integrity and causes nuclear structure abnormalities, leading to premature aging, that is, Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). The roles of nuclear subcompartments, such as PML nuclear bodies (PML NBs), in HGPS pathogenesis, are unclear. Here, we show that classical dot-like PML NBs are reorganized into thread-like structures in HGPS patient fibroblasts and their presence is associated with late stage of senescence. By co-immunoprecipitation analysis, we show that farnesylated Progerin interacts with human PML2, which accounts for the formation of thread-like PML NBs. Specifically, human PML2 but not PML1 overexpression in HGPS cells promotes PML thread development and accelerates senescence. Further immunofluorescence microscopy, immuno-TRAP, and deep sequencing data suggest that these irregular PML NBs might promote senescence by perturbing NB-associated DNA repair and gene expression in HGPS cells. These data identify irregular structures of PML NBs in senescent HGPS cells and support that the thread-like PML NBs might be a novel, morphological, and functional biomarker of late senescence.