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Ghosh S, Jana R, Jana S, Basu R, Chatterjee M, Ranawat N, Das Sarma J. Differential expression of cellular prion protein (PrP C) in mouse hepatitis virus induced neuroinflammation. J Neurovirol 2024:10.1007/s13365-024-01215-w. [PMID: 38922550 DOI: 10.1007/s13365-024-01215-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is an extracellular cell membrane protein. Due to its diversified roles, a definite role of PrPC has been difficult to establish. During viral infection, PrPC has been reported to play a pleiotropic role. Here, we have attempted to envision the function of PrPC in the neurotropic m-CoV-MHV-RSA59-induced model of neuroinflammation in C57BL/6 mice. A significant upregulation of PrPC at protein and mRNA levels was evident in infected mouse brains during the acute phase of neuroinflammation. Furthermore, investigation of the effect of MHV-RSA59 infection on PrPC expression in specific neuronal, microglial, and astrocytoma cell lines, revealed a differential expression of prion protein during neuroinflammation. Additionally, siRNA-mediated downregulation of prnp transcripts reduced the expression of viral antigen and viral infectivity in these cell lines. Cumulatively, our results suggest that PrPC expression significantly increases during acute MHV-RSA59 infection and that PrPC also assists in viral infectivity and viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satavisha Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Rishika Jana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Soumen Jana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
- Optical NeuroImaging Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Rahul Basu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Madhurima Chatterjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Nishtha Ranawat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
- Burke Neurological Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jayasri Das Sarma
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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2
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Burato A, Legname G. Comparing Prion Proteins Across Species: Is Zebrafish a Useful Model? Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04324-z. [PMID: 38918277 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04324-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Despite the considerable body of research dedicated to the field of neurodegeneration, the gap in knowledge on the prion protein and its intricate involvement in brain diseases remains substantial. However, in the past decades, many steps forward have been taken toward a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying both the physiological role of the prion protein and the misfolding event converting it into its pathological counterpart, the prion. This review aims to provide an overview of the main findings regarding this protein, highlighting the advantages of many different animal models that share a conserved amino acid sequence and/or structure with the human prion protein. A particular focus will be given to the species Danio rerio, a compelling research organism for the investigation of prion biology, thanks to its conserved orthologs, ease of genetic manipulation, and cost-effectiveness of high-throughput experimentation. We will explore its potential in filling some of the gaps on physiological and pathological aspects of the prion protein, with the aim of directing the future development of therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Burato
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
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3
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Gong Y, Haeri M, Zhang X, Li Y, Liu A, Wu D, Zhang Q, Jazwinski SM, Zhou X, Wang X, Jiang L, Chen YP, Yan X, Swerdlow RH, Shen H, Deng HW. Spatial Dissection of the Distinct Cellular Responses to Normal Aging and Alzheimer's Disease in Human Prefrontal Cortex at Single-Nucleus Resolution. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.05.21.24306783. [PMID: 38826275 PMCID: PMC11142279 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.21.24306783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Aging significantly elevates the risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), contributing to the accumulation of AD pathologies, such as amyloid-β (Aβ), inflammation, and oxidative stress. The human prefrontal cortex (PFC) is highly vulnerable to the impacts of both aging and AD. Unveiling and understanding the molecular alterations in PFC associated with normal aging (NA) and AD is essential for elucidating the mechanisms of AD progression and developing novel therapeutics for this devastating disease. In this study, for the first time, we employed a cutting-edge spatial transcriptome platform, STOmics® SpaTial Enhanced Resolution Omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq), to generate the first comprehensive, subcellular resolution spatial transcriptome atlas of the human PFC from six AD cases at various neuropathological stages and six age, sex, and ethnicity matched controls. Our analyses revealed distinct transcriptional alterations across six neocortex layers, highlighted the AD-associated disruptions in laminar architecture, and identified changes in layer-to-layer interactions as AD progresses. Further, throughout the progression from NA to various stages of AD, we discovered specific genes that were significantly upregulated in neurons experiencing high stress and in nearby non-neuronal cells, compared to cells distant from the source of stress. Notably, the cell-cell interactions between the neurons under the high stress and adjacent glial cells that promote Aβ clearance and neuroprotection were diminished in AD in response to stressors compared to NA. Through cell-type specific gene co-expression analysis, we identified three modules in excitatory and inhibitory neurons associated with neuronal protection, protein dephosphorylation, and negative regulation of Aβ plaque formation. These modules negatively correlated with AD progression, indicating a reduced capacity for toxic substance clearance in AD subject samples. Moreover, we have discovered a novel transcription factor, ZNF460, that regulates all three modules, establishing it as a potential new therapeutic target for AD. Overall, utilizing the latest spatial transcriptome platform, our study developed the first transcriptome-wide atlas with subcellular resolution for assessing the molecular alterations in the human PFC due to AD. This atlas sheds light on the potential mechanisms underlying the progression from NA to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Gong
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Mohammad Haeri
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, 66160, USA
| | - Xiao Zhang
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Yisu Li
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Science of Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Anqi Liu
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Di Wu
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Qilei Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - S. Michal Jazwinski
- Tulane Center for Aging, Deming Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicne, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Lindong Jiang
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Yi-Ping Chen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Science of Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Xiaoxin Yan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Russell H. Swerdlow
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, MO, 66160, USA
| | - Hui Shen
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Hong-Wen Deng
- Tulane Center for Biomedical Informatics and Genomics, Deming Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
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Groveman BR, Schwarz B, Bohrnsen E, Foliaki ST, Carroll JA, Wood AR, Bosio CM, Haigh CL. A PrP EGFR signaling axis controls neural stem cell senescence through modulating cellular energy pathways. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105319. [PMID: 37802314 PMCID: PMC10641666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mis-folding of the prion protein (PrP) is known to cause neurodegenerative disease; however, the native function of this protein remains poorly defined. PrP has been linked with many cellular functions, including cellular proliferation and senescence. It is also known to influence epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling, a pathway that is itself linked with both cell growth and senescence. Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) persist at low levels in the brain throughout life and retain the ability to proliferate and differentiate into new neural lineage cells. KO of PrP has previously been shown to reduce NSC proliferative capacity. We used PrP KO and WT NSCs from adult mouse brain to examine the influence of PrP on cellular senescence, EGFR signaling, and the downstream cellular processes. PrP KO NSCs showed decreased cell proliferation and increased senescence in in vitro cultures. Expression of EGFR was decreased in PrP KO NSCs compared with WT NSCs and additional supplementation of EGF was sufficient to reduce senescence. RNA-seq analysis confirmed that significant changes were occurring at the mRNA level within the EGFR signaling pathway and these were associated with reduced expression of mitochondrial components and correspondingly reduced mitochondrial function. Metabolomic analysis of cellular energy pathways showed that blockages were occurring at critical sites for production of energy and biomass, including catabolism of pyruvate. We conclude that, in the absence of PrP, NSC growth pathways are downregulated as a consequence of insufficient energy and growth intermediates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley R Groveman
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Benjamin Schwarz
- Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Eric Bohrnsen
- Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Simote T Foliaki
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - James A Carroll
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Aleksandar R Wood
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Catharine M Bosio
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Cathryn L Haigh
- Laboratory of Neurological Infections and Immunity, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana, USA.
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5
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Mohammadi B, Song F, Matamoros-Angles A, Shafiq M, Damme M, Puig B, Glatzel M, Altmeppen HC. Anchorless risk or released benefit? An updated view on the ADAM10-mediated shedding of the prion protein. Cell Tissue Res 2022; 392:215-234. [PMID: 35084572 PMCID: PMC10113312 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03582-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The prion protein (PrP) is a broadly expressed glycoprotein linked with a multitude of (suggested) biological and pathological implications. Some of these roles seem to be due to constitutively generated proteolytic fragments of the protein. Among them is a soluble PrP form, which is released from the surface of neurons and other cell types by action of the metalloprotease ADAM10 in a process termed 'shedding'. The latter aspect is the focus of this review, which aims to provide a comprehensive overview on (i) the relevance of proteolytic processing in regulating cellular PrP functions, (ii) currently described involvement of shed PrP in neurodegenerative diseases (including prion diseases and Alzheimer's disease), (iii) shed PrP's expected roles in intercellular communication in many more (patho)physiological conditions (such as stroke, cancer or immune responses), (iv) and the need for improved research tools in respective (future) studies. Deeper mechanistic insight into roles played by PrP shedding and its resulting fragment may pave the way for improved diagnostics and future therapeutic approaches in diseases of the brain and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Mohammadi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- Working Group for Interdisciplinary Neurobiology and Immunology (INI Research), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Feizhi Song
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreu Matamoros-Angles
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mohsin Shafiq
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Damme
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Berta Puig
- Department of Neurology, Experimental Research in Stroke and Inflammation (ERSI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
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6
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Kovač V, Čurin Šerbec V. Prion Protein: The Molecule of Many Forms and Faces. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031232. [PMID: 35163156 PMCID: PMC8835406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein most abundantly found in the outer membrane of neurons. Due to structural characteristics (a flexible tail and structured core), PrPC interacts with a wide range of partners. Although PrPC has been proposed to be involved in many physiological functions, only peripheral nerve myelination homeostasis has been confirmed as a bona fide function thus far. PrPC misfolding causes prion diseases and PrPC has been shown to mediate β-rich oligomer-induced neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as neuroprotection in ischemia. Upon proteolytic cleavage, PrPC is transformed into released and attached forms of PrP that can, depending on the contained structural characteristics of PrPC, display protective or toxic properties. In this review, we will outline prion protein and prion protein fragment properties as well as overview their involvement with interacting partners and signal pathways in myelination, neuroprotection and neurodegenerative diseases.
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7
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Matamoros-Angles A, Hervera A, Soriano J, Martí E, Carulla P, Llorens F, Nuvolone M, Aguzzi A, Ferrer I, Gruart A, Delgado-García JM, Del Río JA. Analysis of co-isogenic prion protein deficient mice reveals behavioral deficits, learning impairment, and enhanced hippocampal excitability. BMC Biol 2022; 20:17. [PMID: 35027047 PMCID: PMC8759182 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01203-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a cell surface GPI-anchored protein, usually known for its role in the pathogenesis of human and animal prionopathies. However, increasing knowledge about the participation of PrPC in prion pathogenesis contrasts with puzzling data regarding its natural physiological role. PrPC is expressed in a number of tissues, including at high levels in the nervous system, especially in neurons and glial cells, and while previous studies have established a neuroprotective role, conflicting evidence for a synaptic function has revealed both reduced and enhanced long-term potentiation, and variable observations on memory, learning, and behavior. Such evidence has been confounded by the absence of an appropriate knock-out mouse model to dissect the biological relevance of PrPC, with some functions recently shown to be misattributed to PrPC due to the presence of genetic artifacts in mouse models. Here we elucidate the role of PrPC in the hippocampal circuitry and its related functions, such as learning and memory, using a recently available strictly co-isogenic Prnp0/0 mouse model (PrnpZH3/ZH3). Results We performed behavioral and operant conditioning tests to evaluate memory and learning capabilities, with results showing decreased motility, impaired operant conditioning learning, and anxiety-related behavior in PrnpZH3/ZH3 animals. We also carried in vivo electrophysiological recordings on CA3-CA1 synapses in living behaving mice and monitored spontaneous neuronal firing and network formation in primary neuronal cultures of PrnpZH3/ZH3 vs wildtype mice. PrPC absence enhanced susceptibility to high-intensity stimulations and kainate-induced seizures. However, long-term potentiation (LTP) was not enhanced in the PrnpZH3/ZH3 hippocampus. In addition, we observed a delay in neuronal maturation and network formation in PrnpZH3/ZH3 cultures. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that PrPC promotes neuronal network formation and connectivity. PrPC mediates synaptic function and protects the synapse from excitotoxic insults. Its deletion may underlie an epileptogenic-susceptible brain that fails to perform highly cognitive-demanding tasks such as associative learning and anxiety-like behaviors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01203-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Matamoros-Angles
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Hervera
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Soriano
- Departament de Física de la Materia Condensada, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Martí
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Bioinformatics and Genomics, Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - P Carulla
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Llorens
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Neurology, University Medical School, Göttingen, Germany.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Amyloidosis Center, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - I Ferrer
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Senior Consultant, Bellvitge University Hospital, IDIBELL (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Centre), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Gruart
- Division of Neurosciences, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - J M Delgado-García
- Division of Neurosciences, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013, Seville, Spain.
| | - J A Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain. .,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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8
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Panes JD, Saavedra P, Pineda B, Escobar K, Cuevas ME, Moraga-Cid G, Fuentealba J, Rivas CI, Rezaei H, Muñoz-Montesino C. PrP C as a Transducer of Physiological and Pathological Signals. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:762918. [PMID: 34880726 PMCID: PMC8648500 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.762918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
After the discovery of prion phenomenon, the physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) remained elusive. In the past decades, molecular and cellular analysis has shed some light regarding interactions and functions of PrP C in health and disease. PrP C , which is located mainly at the plasma membrane of neuronal cells attached by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, can act as a receptor or transducer from external signaling. Although the precise role of PrP C remains elusive, a variety of functions have been proposed for this protein, namely, neuronal excitability and viability. Although many issues must be solved to clearly define the role of PrP C , its connection to the central nervous system (CNS) and to several misfolding-associated diseases makes PrP C an interesting pharmacological target. In a physiological context, several reports have proposed that PrP C modulates synaptic transmission, interacting with various proteins, namely, ion pumps, channels, and metabotropic receptors. PrP C has also been implicated in the pathophysiological cell signaling induced by β-amyloid peptide that leads to synaptic dysfunction in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as a mediator of Aβ-induced cell toxicity. Additionally, it has been implicated in other proteinopathies as well. In this review, we aimed to analyze the role of PrP C as a transducer of physiological and pathological signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D Panes
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Paulina Saavedra
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Benjamin Pineda
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Kathleen Escobar
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Magdalena E Cuevas
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Gustavo Moraga-Cid
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Jorge Fuentealba
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Coralia I Rivas
- Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Human Rezaei
- Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires (VIM), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), Versailles, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Carola Muñoz-Montesino
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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9
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Pollock NM, Leighton P, Neil G, Allison WT. Transcriptomic analysis of zebrafish prion protein mutants supports conserved cross-species function of the cellular prion protein. Prion 2021; 15:70-81. [PMID: 34139950 PMCID: PMC8216189 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2021.1924557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular Prion Protein (PrPC) is a well-studied protein as the substrate for various progressive untreatable neurodegenerative diseases. Normal functions of PrPC are poorly understood, though recent proteomic and transcriptomic approaches have begun to reveal common themes. We use our compound prp1 and prp2 knockout mutant zebrafish at three days post fertilization to take a transcriptomic approach to investigating potentially conserved PrPC functions during development. Gene ontology analysis shows the biological processes with the largest changes in gene expression include redox processing, transport and cell adhesion. Within these categories several different gene families were prevalent including the solute carrier proteins, cytochrome p450 enzymes and protocadherins. Continuing from previous studies identifying cell adhesion as an important function of PrPC we found that in addition to the protocadherins there was a significant reduction in transcript abundance of both ncam1a and st8sia2. These two genes are involved in the early development of vertebrates. The alterations in cell adhesion transcripts were consistent with past findings in zebrafish and mouse prion protein mutants; however E-cadherin processing after prion protein knockdown failed to reveal any differences compared with wild type in either our double prp1/prp2 mutant fish or after prp1 morpholino knockdown. Our data supports a cross species conserved role for PrPC in the development and maintenance of the central nervous system, particularly by regulating various and important cell adhesion processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niall Mungo Pollock
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Patricia Leighton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Gavin Neil
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - W. Ted Allison
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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10
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Puig B, Yang D, Brenna S, Altmeppen HC, Magnus T. Show Me Your Friends and I Tell You Who You Are: The Many Facets of Prion Protein in Stroke. Cells 2020; 9:E1609. [PMID: 32630841 PMCID: PMC7407975 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemic stroke belongs to the leading causes of mortality and disability worldwide. Although treatments for the acute phase of stroke are available, not all patients are eligible. There is a need to search for therapeutic options to promote neurological recovery after stroke. The cellular prion protein (PrPC) has been consistently linked to a neuroprotective role after ischemic damage: it is upregulated in the penumbra area following stroke in humans, and animal models of stroke have shown that lack of PrPC aggravates the ischemic damage and lessens the functional outcome. Mechanistically, these effects can be linked to numerous functions attributed to PrPC: (1) as a signaling partner of the PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways, (2) as a regulator of glutamate receptors, and (3) promoting stem cell homing mechanisms, leading to angio- and neurogenesis. PrPC can be cleaved at different sites and the proteolytic fragments can account for the manifold functions. Moreover, PrPC is present on extracellular vesicles (EVs), released membrane particles originating from all types of cells that have drawn attention as potential therapeutic tools in stroke and many other diseases. Thus, identification of the many mechanisms underlying PrPC-induced neuroprotection will not only provide further understanding of the physiological functions of PrPC but also new ideas for possible treatment options after ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Puig
- Neurology Department, Experimental Research in Stroke and Inflammation (ERSI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (D.Y.); (S.B.); (T.M.)
| | - Denise Yang
- Neurology Department, Experimental Research in Stroke and Inflammation (ERSI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (D.Y.); (S.B.); (T.M.)
| | - Santra Brenna
- Neurology Department, Experimental Research in Stroke and Inflammation (ERSI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (D.Y.); (S.B.); (T.M.)
| | | | - Tim Magnus
- Neurology Department, Experimental Research in Stroke and Inflammation (ERSI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (D.Y.); (S.B.); (T.M.)
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11
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Epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Disease: Potential mechanisms for an association. Brain Res Bull 2020; 160:107-120. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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12
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Kanyo R, Leighton PLA, Neil GJ, Locskai LF, Allison WT. Amyloid-β precursor protein mutant zebrafish exhibit seizure susceptibility that depends on prion protein. Exp Neurol 2020; 328:113283. [PMID: 32165257 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
It has been proposed that Amyloid β Precursor Protein (APP) might act as a rheostat controlling neuronal excitability, but mechanisms have remained untested. APP and its catabolite Aβ are known to impact upon synapse function and dysfunction via their interaction with the prion protein (PrPC), suggesting a candidate pathway. Here we test if PrPC is required for this APP function in vivo, perhaps via modulating mGluR5 ion channels. We engineered zebrafish to lack homologs of PrPC and APP, allowing us to assess their purported genetic and physiological interactions in CNS development. We generated four appa null alleles as well as prp1-/-;appa-/- double mutants (engineering of prp1 mutant alleles is described elsewhere). Unexpectedly, appa-/- and compound prp1-/-;appa-/- mutants are viable and lacked overt phenotypes (except being slightly smaller than wildtype fish at some developmental stages). Zebrafish prp1-/- mutants were substantially more sensitive to appa knockdown than wildtype fish, and both zebrafish prp1 and mammalian Prnp mRNA were significantly able to partially rescue this effect. Further, appa-/- mutants exhibited increased seizures upon exposure to low doses of convulsant. The mechanism of this seizure susceptibility requires prp1 insomuch that seizures were significantly dampened to wildtype levels in prp1-/-;appa-/- mutants. Inhibiting mGluR5 channels, which may be downstream of PrPC, increased seizure intensity only in prp1-/- mutants, and this seizure mechanism required intact appa. Taken together, these results support an intriguing genetic interaction between prp1 and appa with their shared roles impacting upon neuron hyperexcitability, thus complementing and extending past works detailing their biochemical interaction(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Kanyo
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Patricia L A Leighton
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Gavin J Neil
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Laszlo F Locskai
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - W Ted Allison
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
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13
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Gavín R, Lidón L, Ferrer I, del Río JA. The Quest for Cellular Prion Protein Functions in the Aged and Neurodegenerating Brain. Cells 2020; 9:cells9030591. [PMID: 32131451 PMCID: PMC7140396 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular (also termed ‘natural’) prion protein has been extensively studied for many years for its pathogenic role in prionopathies after misfolding. However, neuroprotective properties of the protein have been demonstrated under various scenarios. In this line, the involvement of the cellular prion protein in neurodegenerative diseases other than prionopathies continues to be widely debated by the scientific community. In fact, studies on knock-out mice show a vast range of physiological functions for the protein that can be supported by its ability as a cell surface scaffold protein. In this review, we first summarize the most commonly described roles of cellular prion protein in neuroprotection, including antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities and modulation of glutamate receptors. Second, in light of recently described interaction between cellular prion protein and some amyloid misfolded proteins, we will also discuss the molecular mechanisms potentially involved in protection against neurodegeneration in pathologies such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-93-4031185
| | - Laia Lidón
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Senior Consultant, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Antonio del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Abstract
The cellular prion protein, PrPC, is a small, cell surface glycoprotein with a function that is currently somewhat ill defined. It is also the key molecule involved in the family of neurodegenerative disorders called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, which are also known as prion diseases. The misfolding of PrPC to a conformationally altered isoform, designated PrPTSE, is the main molecular process involved in pathogenesis and appears to precede many other pathologic and clinical manifestations of disease, including neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and cognitive loss. PrPTSE is also believed to be the major component of the infectious "prion," the agent responsible for disease transmission, and preparations of this protein can cause prion disease when inoculated into a naïve host. Thus, understanding the biochemical and biophysical properties of both PrPC and PrPTSE, and ultimately the mechanisms of their interconversion, is critical if we are to understand prion disease biology. Although entire books could be devoted to research pertaining to the protein, herein we briefly review the state of knowledge of prion biochemistry, including consideration of prion protein structure, function, misfolding, and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C Gill
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Banks Laboratories, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, United Kingdom; Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew R Castle
- Division of Neurobiology, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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15
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The Prion Protein Regulates Synaptic Transmission by Controlling the Expression of Proteins Key to Synaptic Vesicle Recycling and Exocytosis. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:3420-3436. [PMID: 30128651 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1293-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC), whose misfolded conformers are implicated in prion diseases, localizes to both the presynaptic membrane and postsynaptic density. To explore possible molecular contributions of PrPC to synaptic transmission, we utilized a mass spectrometry approach to quantify the release of glutamate from primary cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) expressing, or deprived of (PrP-KO), PrPC, following a depolarizing stimulus. Under the same conditions, we also tracked recycling of synaptic vesicles (SVs) in the two neuronal populations. We found that in PrP-KO CGN these processes decreased by 40 and 60%, respectively, compared to PrPC-expressing neurons. Unbiased quantitative mass spectrometry was then employed to compare the whole proteome of CGN with the two PrP genotypes. This approach allowed us to assess that, relative to the PrPC-expressing counterpart, the absence of PrPC modified the protein expression profile, including diminution of some components of SV recycling and fusion machinery. Subsequent quantitative RT-PCR closely reproduced proteomic data, indicating that PrPC is committed to ensuring optimal synaptic transmission by regulating genes involved in SV dynamics and neurotransmitter release. These novel molecular and cellular aspects of PrPC add insight into the underlying mechanisms for synaptic dysfunctions occurring in neurodegenerative disorders in which a compromised PrPC is likely to intervene.
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16
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Leighton PLA, Kanyo R, Neil GJ, Pollock NM, Allison WT. Prion gene paralogs are dispensable for early zebrafish development and have nonadditive roles in seizure susceptibility. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:12576-12592. [PMID: 29903907 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Normally folded prion protein (PrPC) and its functions in healthy brains remain underappreciated compared with the intense study of its misfolded forms ("prions," PrPSc) during the pathobiology of prion diseases. This impedes the development of therapeutic strategies in Alzheimer's and prion diseases. Disrupting the zebrafish homologs of PrPC has provided novel insights; however, mutagenesis of the zebrafish paralog prp2 did not recapitulate previous dramatic developmental phenotypes, suggesting redundancy with the prp1 paralog. Here, we generated zebrafish prp1 loss-of-function mutant alleles and dual prp1-/-;prp2-/- mutants. Zebrafish prp1-/- and dual prp1-/-;prp2-/- mutants resemble mammalian Prnp knockouts insofar as they lack overt phenotypes, which surprisingly contrasts with reports of severe developmental phenotypes when either prp1 or prp2 is knocked down acutely. Previous studies suggest that PrPC participates in neural cell development/adhesion, including in zebrafish where loss of prp2 affects adhesion and deposition patterns of lateral line neuromasts. In contrast with the expectation that prp1's functions would be redundant to prp2, they appear to have opposing functions in lateral line neurodevelopment. Similarly, loss of prp1 blunted the seizure susceptibility phenotypes observed in prp2 mutants, contrasting the expected exacerbation of phenotypes if these prion gene paralogs were serving redundant roles. In summary, prion mutant fish lack the overt phenotypes previously predicted, and instead they have subtle phenotypes similar to mammals. No evidence was found for functional redundancy in the zebrafish prion gene paralogs, and the phenotypes observed when each gene is disrupted individually are consistent with ancient functions of prion proteins in neurodevelopment and modulation of neural activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L A Leighton
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Richard Kanyo
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Gavin J Neil
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Niall M Pollock
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - W Ted Allison
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
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17
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Allison WT. The intrigue is infectious: Impacts of prion protein during neural development. Dev Biol 2018; 441:1-3. [PMID: 29803646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Normally folded prion protein is abundant in the CNS and remarkably conserved, suggesting that it has important functions, yet these functions have remained elusive. Now the work of Parrie et al. has codified a requirement for prion protein in adult neurogenesis. Their insightful use of prion protein knockout and over-expressing mice, combined with the well-characterized olfactory system site of neurogenesis, demonstrated that prion protein promotes proliferation and survival of adult neurons. The work provides a unique independent confirmation of prion protein playing a role in neuroprotection, especially extending the conclusion beyond models using acute injury. Parrie et al. (2018) further show that prion protein is required for CNS axon guidance. A growing list of phenotypes associated with prion protein loss are coincident with symptoms of neurodegenerative disease and dementia, though it remains contentious whether any such disruption of prion protein function contributes to disease aetiology. Perhaps most intriguingly, identifying the developmental functions for prion protein opens new avenues to understand the evolution of prion protein: what history led to a CNS protein that is conserved and abundant paradoxically being both dispensable for life and the template for devastating disease?
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Affiliation(s)
- W Ted Allison
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2M8; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2E9; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada T6G 2H7.
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18
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Abstract
Several studies have indicated that certain misfolded amyloids composed of tau, β-amyloid or α-synuclein can be transferred from cell to cell, suggesting the contribution of mechanisms reminiscent of those by which infective prions spread through the brain. This process of a 'prion-like' spreading between cells is also relevant as a novel putative therapeutic target that could block the spreading of proteinaceous aggregates throughout the brain which may underlie the progressive nature of neurodegenerative diseases. The relevance of β-amyloid oligomers and cellular prion protein (PrPC) binding has been a focus of interest in Alzheimer's disease (AD). At the molecular level, β-amyloid/PrPC interaction takes place in two differently charged clusters of PrPC. In addition to β-amyloid, participation of PrPC in α-synuclein binding and brain spreading also appears to be relevant in α-synucleopathies. This review summarizes current knowledge about PrPC as a putative receptor for amyloid proteins and the physiological consequences of these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Senior Consultant Neuropathology, Service of Pathology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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19
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The function of the cellular prion protein in health and disease. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 135:159-178. [PMID: 29151170 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1790-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The essential role of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in prion disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is well documented. Moreover, evidence is accumulating that PrPC may act as a receptor for protein aggregates and transduce neurotoxic signals in more common neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Although the pathological roles of PrPC have been thoroughly characterized, a general consensus on its physiological function within the brain has not yet been established. Knockout studies in various organisms, ranging from zebrafish to mice, have implicated PrPC in a diverse range of nervous system-related activities that include a key role in the maintenance of peripheral nerve myelination as well as a general ability to protect against neurotoxic stimuli. Thus, the function of PrPC may be multifaceted, with different cell types taking advantage of unique aspects of its biology. Deciphering the cellular function(s) of PrPC and the consequences of its absence is not simply an academic curiosity, since lowering PrPC levels in the brain is predicted to be a powerful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of prion disease. In this review, we outline the various approaches that have been employed in an effort to uncover the physiological and pathological functions of PrPC. While these studies have revealed important clues about the biology of the prion protein, the precise reason for PrPC's existence remains enigmatic.
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20
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Leighton PLA, Allison WT. Protein Misfolding in Prion and Prion-Like Diseases: Reconsidering a Required Role for Protein Loss-of-Function. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 54:3-29. [PMID: 27392869 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prion disease research has contributed much toward understanding other neurodegenerative diseases, including recent demonstrations that Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases are prion-like. Prion-like diseases involve the spread of degeneration between individuals and/or among cells or tissues via template directed misfolding, wherein misfolded protein conformers propagate disease by causing normal proteins to misfold. Here we use the premise that AD, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and other similar diseases are prion-like and ask: Can we apply knowledge gained from studies of these prion-like diseases to resolve debates about classical prion diseases? We focus on controversies about what role(s) protein loss-of-function might have in prion diseases because this has therapeutic implications, including for AD. We examine which loss-of-function events are recognizable in prion-like diseases by considering the normal functions of the proteins before their misfolding and aggregation. We then delineate scenarios wherein gain-of-function and/or loss-of-function would be necessary or sufficient for neurodegeneration. We consider roles of PrPC loss-of-function in prion diseases and in AD, and conclude that the conventional wisdom that prion diseases are 'toxic gain-of-function diseases' has limitations. While prion diseases certainly have required gain-of-function components, we propose that disease phenotypes are predominantly caused by deficits in the normal physiology of PrPC and its interaction partners as PrPC converts to PrPSc. In this model, gain-of-function serves mainly to spread disease, and loss-of-function directly mediates neuron dysfunction. We propose experiments and predictions to assess our conclusion. Further study on the normal physiological roles of these key proteins is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L A Leighton
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - W Ted Allison
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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21
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Bertoli A, Sorgato MC. Neuronal pathophysiology featuring PrP C and its control over Ca 2+ metabolism. Prion 2018; 12:28-33. [PMID: 29227178 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2017.1412912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) is an intracellular second messenger that ubiquitously masters remarkably diverse biological processes, including cell death. Growing evidence substantiates an involvement of the prion protein (PrPC) in regulating neuronal Ca2+ homeostasis, which could rationalize most of the wide range of functions ascribed to the protein. We have recently demonstrated that PrPC controls extracellular Ca2+ fluxes, and mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake, in neurons stimulated with glutamate (De Mario et al., J Cell Sci 2017; 130:2736-46), suggesting that PrPC protects neurons from threatening Ca2+ overloads and excitotoxicity. In light of these results and of recent reports in the literature, here we review the connection of PrPC with Ca2+ metabolism and also provide some speculative hints on the physiologic outcomes of this link. In addition, because PrPC is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, including prion disorders and Alzheimer's disease, we will also discuss possible ways by which disruption of PrPC-Ca2+ association could be mechanistically connected with these pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Bertoli
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.,b Padova Neuroscience Center , and University of Padova , Padova , Italy.,c CNR - Neuroscience Institute, University of Padova , Padova , Italy
| | - M Catia Sorgato
- a Department of Biomedical Sciences , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.,c CNR - Neuroscience Institute, University of Padova , Padova , Italy
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22
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Ferrer I. Sisyphus in Neverland. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 62:1023-1047. [PMID: 29154280 PMCID: PMC5870014 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The study of life and living organisms and the way in which these interact and organize to form social communities have been central to my career. I have been fascinated by biology, neurology, and neuropathology, but also by history, sociology, and art. Certain current historical, political, and social events, some occurring proximally but others affecting people in apparently distant places, have had an impact on me. Epicurus, Seneca, and Camus shared their philosophical positions which I learned from. Many scientists from various disciplines have been exciting sources of knowledge as well. I have created a world of hypothesis and experiments but I have also got carried away by serendipity following unexpected observations. It has not been an easy path; errors and wanderings are not uncommon, and opponents close to home much more abundant than one might imagine. Ambition, imagination, resilience, and endurance have been useful in moving ahead in response to setbacks. In the end, I have enjoyed my dedication to science and I am grateful to have glimpsed beauty in it. These are brief memories of a Spanish neuropathologist born and raised in Barcelona, EU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona; Service of Pathological Anatomy, Bellvitge University Hospital; CIBERNED; Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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23
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Allison WT, DuVal MG, Nguyen-Phuoc K, Leighton PLA. Reduced Abundance and Subverted Functions of Proteins in Prion-Like Diseases: Gained Functions Fascinate but Lost Functions Affect Aetiology. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E2223. [PMID: 29064456 PMCID: PMC5666902 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18102223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions have served as pathfinders that reveal many aspects of proteostasis in neurons. The recent realization that several prominent neurodegenerative diseases spread via a prion-like mechanism illuminates new possibilities for diagnostics and therapeutics. Thus, key proteins in Alzheimer Disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including amyloid-β precursor protein, Tau and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), spread to adjacent cells in their misfolded aggregated forms and exhibit template-directed misfolding to induce further misfolding, disruptions to proteostasis and toxicity. Here we invert this comparison to ask what these prion-like diseases can teach us about the broad prion disease class, especially regarding the loss of these key proteins' function(s) as they misfold and aggregate. We also consider whether functional amyloids might reveal a role for subverted protein function in neurodegenerative disease. Our synthesis identifies SOD1 as an exemplar of protein functions being lost during prion-like protein misfolding, because SOD1 is inherently unstable and loses function in its misfolded disease-associated form. This has under-appreciated parallels amongst the canonical prion diseases, wherein the normally folded prion protein, PrPC, is reduced in abundance in fatal familial insomnia patients and during the preclinical phase in animal models, apparently via proteostatic mechanisms. Thus while template-directed misfolding and infectious properties represent gain-of-function that fascinates proteostasis researchers and defines (is required for) the prion(-like) diseases, loss and subversion of the functions attributed to hallmark proteins in neurodegenerative disease needs to be integrated into design towards effective therapeutics. We propose experiments to uniquely test these ideas.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Ted Allison
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada.
| | - Michèle G DuVal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada.
| | - Kim Nguyen-Phuoc
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada.
| | - Patricia L A Leighton
- Centre for Prions & Protein Folding Disease, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada.
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Inhibition of IL-1β Signaling Normalizes NMDA-Dependent Neurotransmission and Reduces Seizure Susceptibility in a Mouse Model of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. J Neurosci 2017; 37:10278-10289. [PMID: 28924012 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1301-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by prion protein (PrP) misfolding, clinically recognized by cognitive and motor deficits, electroencephalographic abnormalities, and seizures. Its neurophysiological bases are not known. To assess the potential involvement of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) dysfunction, we analyzed NMDA-dependent synaptic plasticity in hippocampal slices from Tg(CJD) mice, which model a genetic form of CJD. Because PrP depletion may result in functional upregulation of NMDARs, we also analyzed PrP knock-out (KO) mice. Long-term potentiation (LTP) at the Schaffer collateral-commissural synapses in the CA1 area of ∼100-d-old Tg(CJD) mice was comparable to that of wild-type (WT) controls, but there was an inversion of metaplasticity, with increased GluN2B phosphorylation, which is indicative of enhanced NMDAR activation. Similar but less marked changes were seen in PrP KO mice. At ∼300 d of age, the magnitude of LTP increased in Tg(CJD) mice but decreased in PrP KO mice, indicating divergent changes in hippocampal synaptic responsiveness. Tg(CJD) but not PrP KO mice were intrinsically more susceptible than WT controls to focal hippocampal seizures induced by kainic acid. IL-1β-positive astrocytes increased in the Tg(CJD) hippocampus, and blocking IL-1 receptor signaling restored normal synaptic responses and reduced seizure susceptibility. These results indicate that alterations in NMDA-dependent glutamatergic transmission in Tg(CJD) mice do not depend solely on PrP functional loss. Moreover, astrocytic IL-1β plays a role in the enhanced synaptic responsiveness and seizure susceptibility, suggesting that targeting IL-1β signaling may offer a novel symptomatic treatment for CJD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dementia and myoclonic jerks develop in individuals with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), an incurable brain disorder caused by alterations in prion protein structure. These individuals are prone to seizures and have high brain levels of the inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Here we show that blocking IL-1β receptors with anakinra, the human recombinant form of the endogenous IL-1 receptor antagonist used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, normalizes hippocampal neurotransmission and reduces seizure susceptibility in a CJD mouse model. These results link neuroinflammation to defective neurotransmission and the enhanced susceptibility to seizures in CJD and raise the possibility that targeting IL-1β with clinically available drugs may be beneficial for symptomatic treatment of the disease.
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Hirsch TZ, Martin-Lannerée S, Mouillet-Richard S. Functions of the Prion Protein. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 150:1-34. [PMID: 28838656 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although initially disregarded compared to prion pathogenesis, the functions exerted by the cellular prion protein PrPC have gained much interest over the past two decades. Research aiming at unraveling PrPC functions started to intensify when it became appreciated that it would give clues as to how it is subverted in the context of prion infection and, more recently, in the context of Alzheimer's disease. It must now be admitted that PrPC is implicated in an incredible variety of biological processes, including neuronal homeostasis, stem cell fate, protection against stress, or cell adhesion. It appears that these diverse roles can all be fulfilled through the involvement of PrPC in cell signaling events. Our aim here is to provide an overview of our current understanding of PrPC functions from the animal to the molecular scale and to highlight some of the remaining gaps that should be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Z Hirsch
- INSERM UMR 1124, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, Paris, France
| | - Séverine Martin-Lannerée
- INSERM UMR 1124, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Mouillet-Richard
- INSERM UMR 1124, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, Paris, France.
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26
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Abstract
The misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) causes fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Yet PrPC is highly conserved in mammals, suggesting that it exerts beneficial functions preventing its evolutionary elimination. Ablation of PrPC in mice results in well-defined structural and functional alterations in the peripheral nervous system. Many additional phenotypes were ascribed to the lack of PrPC, but some of these were found to arise from genetic artifacts of the underlying mouse models. Here, we revisit the proposed physiological roles of PrPC in the central and peripheral nervous systems and highlight the need for their critical reassessment using new, rigorously controlled animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Angela Wulf
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Assunta Senatore
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zürich, Switzerland.
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27
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Ragagnin A, Ezpeleta J, Guillemain A, Boudet-Devaud F, Haeberlé AM, Demais V, Vidal C, Demuth S, Béringue V, Kellermann O, Schneider B, Grant NJ, Bailly Y. Cerebellar compartmentation of prion pathogenesis. Brain Pathol 2017; 28:240-263. [PMID: 28268246 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In prion diseases, the brain lesion profile is influenced by the prion "strain" properties, the invasion route to the brain, and still unknown host cell-specific parameters. To gain insight into those endogenous factors, we analyzed the histopathological alterations induced by distinct prion strains in the mouse cerebellum. We show that 22L and ME7 scrapie prion proteins (PrP22L , PrPME7 ), but not bovine spongiform encephalopathy PrP6PB1 , accumulate in a reproducible parasagittal banding pattern in the cerebellar cortex of infected mice. Such banding pattern of PrP22L aggregation did not depend on the neuroinvasion route, but coincided with the parasagittal compartmentation of the cerebellum mostly defined by the expression of zebrins, such as aldolase C and the excitatory amino acid transporter 4, in Purkinje cells. We provide evidence that Purkinje cells display a differential, subtype-specific vulnerability to 22L prions with zebrin-expressing Purkinje cells being more resistant to prion toxicity, while in stripes where PrP22L accumulated most zebrin-deficient Purkinje cells are lost and spongiosis accentuated. In addition, in PrP22L stripes, enhanced reactive astrocyte processes associated with microglia activation support interdependent events between the topographic pattern of Purkinje cell death, reactive gliosis and PrP22L accumulation. Finally, we find that in preclinically-ill mice prion infection promotes at the membrane of astrocytes enveloping Purkinje cell excitatory synapses, upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-α receptor type 1 (TNFR1), a key mediator of the neuroinflammation process. These overall data show that Purkinje cell sensitivity to prion insult is locally restricted by the parasagittal compartmentation of the cerebellum, and that perisynaptic astrocytes may contribute to prion pathogenesis through prion-induced TNFR1 upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Ragagnin
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Juliette Ezpeleta
- INSERM UMR-S1124, Cellules Souches, Signalisation et Prions, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Guillemain
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - François Boudet-Devaud
- INSERM UMR-S1124, Cellules Souches, Signalisation et Prions, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marie Haeberlé
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valérie Demais
- Plateforme Imagerie In Vitro, CNRS UPS-3156, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Stanislas Demuth
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Odile Kellermann
- INSERM UMR-S1124, Cellules Souches, Signalisation et Prions, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Schneider
- INSERM UMR-S1124, Cellules Souches, Signalisation et Prions, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Nancy J Grant
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yannick Bailly
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
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28
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Castle AR, Gill AC. Physiological Functions of the Cellular Prion Protein. Front Mol Biosci 2017; 4:19. [PMID: 28428956 PMCID: PMC5382174 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2017.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The prion protein, PrPC, is a small, cell-surface glycoprotein notable primarily for its critical role in pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disorders known as prion diseases. A hallmark of prion diseases is the conversion of PrPC into an abnormally folded isoform, which provides a template for further pathogenic conversion of PrPC, allowing disease to spread from cell to cell and, in some circumstances, to transfer to a new host. In addition to the putative neurotoxicity caused by the misfolded form(s), loss of normal PrPC function could be an integral part of the neurodegenerative processes and, consequently, significant research efforts have been directed toward determining the physiological functions of PrPC. In this review, we first summarise important aspects of the biochemistry of PrPC before moving on to address the current understanding of the various proposed functions of the protein, including details of the underlying molecular mechanisms potentially involved in these functions. Over years of study, PrPC has been associated with a wide array of different cellular processes and many interacting partners have been suggested. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the previously well-established links between PrPC and processes such as stress-protection, copper homeostasis and neuronal excitability. Instead, the functions best-supported by the current literature include regulation of myelin maintenance and of processes linked to cellular differentiation, including proliferation, adhesion, and control of cell morphology. Intriguing connections have also been made between PrPC and the modulation of circadian rhythm, glucose homeostasis, immune function and cellular iron uptake, all of which warrant further investigation.
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Urrea L, Segura-Feliu M, Masuda-Suzukake M, Hervera A, Pedraz L, García Aznar JM, Vila M, Samitier J, Torrents E, Ferrer I, Gavín R, Hagesawa M, Del Río JA. Involvement of Cellular Prion Protein in α-Synuclein Transport in Neurons. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:1847-1860. [PMID: 28229331 PMCID: PMC5840251 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0451-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein, encoded by the gene Prnp, has been reported to be a receptor of β-amyloid. Their interaction is mandatory for neurotoxic effects of β-amyloid oligomers. In this study, we aimed to explore whether the cellular prion protein participates in the spreading of α-synuclein. Results demonstrate that Prnp expression is not mandatory for α-synuclein spreading. However, although the pathological spreading of α-synuclein can take place in the absence of Prnp, α-synuclein expanded faster in PrPC-overexpressing mice. In addition, α-synuclein binds strongly on PrPC-expressing cells, suggesting a role in modulating the effect of α-synuclein fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Urrea
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miriam Segura-Feliu
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Masami Masuda-Suzukake
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - Arnau Hervera
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lucas Pedraz
- Bacterial infections: antimicrobial therapies. Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Manuel García Aznar
- Multiscale in Mechanical and Biological Engineering (M2BE), Aragon Institute of Engineering Research, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Miquel Vila
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Research Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute-Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Samitier
- Nanobioengineering Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Electronics, University of Barcelona, Martí i Franquès 1, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduard Torrents
- Bacterial infections: antimicrobial therapies. Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Neuropatologia, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Departamento de Patologia y Terapeutica Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Masato Hagesawa
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8506, Japan
| | - José Antonio Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, E-08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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30
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Abstract
Since its discovery the cellular prion protein (encoded by the Prnp gene) has been associated with a large number of functions. The proposed functions rank from basic cellular processes such as cell cycle and survival to neural functions such as behavior and neuroprotection, following a pattern similar to that of Moore's law for electronics. In addition, particular interest is increasing in the participation of Prnp in neurodegeneration. However, in recent years a redefinition of these functions has begun, since examples of previously attributed functions were increasingly re-associated with other proteins. Most of these functions are linked to so-called "Prnp-flanking genes" that are close to the genomic locus of Prnp and which are present in the genome of some Prnp mouse models. In addition, their role in neuroprotection against convulsive insults has been confirmed in recent studies. Lastly, in recent years a large number of models indicating the participation of different domains of the protein in apoptosis have been uncovered. However, after more than 10 years of molecular dissection our view is that the simplest mechanistic model in PrP(C)-mediated cell death should be considered, as Ockham's razor theory suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A del Río
- a Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) , Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona , Spain.,b Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Inmunology , Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.,c Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- a Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) , Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona , Spain.,b Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Inmunology , Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.,c Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Barcelona , Spain
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31
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Mata A, Urrea L, Vilches S, Llorens F, Thüne K, Espinosa JC, Andréoletti O, Sevillano AM, Torres JM, Requena JR, Zerr I, Ferrer I, Gavín R, Del Río JA. Reelin Expression in Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Experimental Models of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:6412-6425. [PMID: 27726110 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0177-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Reelin is an extracellular glycoprotein involved in key cellular processes in developing and adult nervous system, including regulation of neuronal migration, synapse formation, and plasticity. Most of these roles are mediated by the intracellular phosphorylation of disabled-1 (Dab1), an intracellular adaptor molecule, in turn mediated by binding Reelin to its receptors. Altered expression and glycosylation patterns of Reelin in cerebrospinal and cortical extracts have been reported in Alzheimer's disease. However, putative changes in Reelin are not described in natural prionopathies or experimental models of prion infection or toxicity. With this is mind, in the present study, we determined that Reelin protein and mRNA levels increased in CJD human samples and in mouse models of human prion disease in contrast to murine models of prion infection. However, changes in Reelin expression appeared only at late terminal stages of the disease, which prevent their use as an efficient diagnostic biomarker. In addition, increased Reelin in CJD and in in vitro models does not correlate with Dab1 phosphorylation, indicating failure in its intracellular signaling. Overall, these findings widen our understanding of the putative changes of Reelin in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Mata
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Urrea
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Vilches
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Franc Llorens
- Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases - DZNE, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katrin Thüne
- Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases - DZNE, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Bonn, Germany
| | - Juan-Carlos Espinosa
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Madrid, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Olivier Andréoletti
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 23 Chemin des Capelles, 31076, Toulouse, France
| | - Alejandro M Sevillano
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Juan María Torres
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Madrid, Valdeolmos, Spain
| | - Jesús Rodríguez Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases - DZNE, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Bonn, Germany
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Institut de Neuropatologia, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Antonio Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Nuvolone M, Hermann M, Sorce S, Russo G, Tiberi C, Schwarz P, Minikel E, Sanoudou D, Pelczar P, Aguzzi A. Strictly co-isogenic C57BL/6J-Prnp-/- mice: A rigorous resource for prion science. J Exp Med 2016; 213:313-27. [PMID: 26926995 PMCID: PMC4813672 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20151610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although its involvement in prion replication and neurotoxicity during transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is undisputed, the physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) remains enigmatic. A plethora of functions have been ascribed to PrP(C) based on phenotypes of Prnp(-/-) mice. However, all currently available Prnp(-/-) lines were generated in embryonic stem cells from the 129 strain of the laboratory mouse and mostly crossed to non-129 strains. Therefore, Prnp-linked loci polymorphic between 129 and the backcrossing strain resulted in systematic genetic confounders and led to erroneous conclusions. We used TALEN-mediated genome editing in fertilized mouse oocytes to create the Zurich-3 (ZH3) Prnp-ablated allele on a pure C57BL/6J genetic background. Genomic, transcriptional, and phenotypic characterization of Prnp(ZH3/ZH3) mice failed to identify phenotypes previously described in non-co-isogenic Prnp(-/-) mice. However, aged Prnp(ZH3/ZH3) mice developed a chronic demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, confirming the crucial involvement of PrP(C) in peripheral myelin maintenance. This new line represents a rigorous genetic resource for studying the role of PrP(C) in physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mario Hermann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Sorce
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giancarlo Russo
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich (FGCZ), 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cinzia Tiberi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Schwarz
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eric Minikel
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139 Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142 Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Despina Sanoudou
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Pawel Pelczar
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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