1
|
Song F, Kovac V, Mohammadi B, Littau JL, Scharfenberg F, Matamoros Angles A, Vanni I, Shafiq M, Orge L, Galliciotti G, Djakkani S, Linsenmeier L, Černilec M, Hartman K, Jung S, Tatzelt J, Neumann JE, Damme M, Tschirner SK, Lichtenthaler SF, Ricklefs FL, Sauvigny T, Schmitz M, Zerr I, Puig B, Tolosa E, Ferrer I, Magnus T, Rupnik MS, Sepulveda-Falla D, Matschke J, Šmid LM, Bresjanac M, Andreoletti O, Krasemann S, Foliaki ST, Nonno R, Becker-Pauly C, Monzo C, Crozet C, Haigh CL, Glatzel M, Curin Serbec V, Altmeppen HC. Cleavage site-directed antibodies reveal the prion protein in humans is shed by ADAM10 at Y226 and associates with misfolded protein deposits in neurodegenerative diseases. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:2. [PMID: 38980441 PMCID: PMC11233397 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02763-5] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Proteolytic cell surface release ('shedding') of the prion protein (PrP), a broadly expressed GPI-anchored glycoprotein, by the metalloprotease ADAM10 impacts on neurodegenerative and other diseases in animal and in vitro models. Recent studies employing the latter also suggest shed PrP (sPrP) to be a ligand in intercellular communication and critically involved in PrP-associated physiological tasks. Although expectedly an evolutionary conserved event, and while soluble forms of PrP are present in human tissues and body fluids, for the human body neither proteolytic PrP shedding and its cleavage site nor involvement of ADAM10 or the biological relevance of this process have been demonstrated thus far. In this study, cleavage site prediction and generation (plus detailed characterization) of sPrP-specific antibodies enabled us to identify PrP cleaved at tyrosin 226 as the physiological and apparently strictly ADAM10-dependent shed form in humans. Using cell lines, neural stem cells and brain organoids, we show that shedding of human PrP can be stimulated by PrP-binding ligands without targeting the protease, which may open novel therapeutic perspectives. Site-specific antibodies directed against human sPrP also detect the shed form in brains of cattle, sheep and deer, hence in all most relevant species naturally affected by fatal and transmissible prion diseases. In human and animal prion diseases, but also in patients with Alzheimer`s disease, sPrP relocalizes from a physiological diffuse tissue pattern to intimately associate with extracellular aggregated deposits of misfolded proteins characteristic for the respective pathological condition. Findings and research tools presented here will accelerate novel insight into the roles of PrP shedding (as a process) and sPrP (as a released factor) in neurodegeneration and beyond.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feizhi Song
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Valerija Kovac
- Centre for Immunology and Development, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia (BTCS), Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Behnam Mohammadi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jessica L Littau
- 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
| | - Ilaria Vanni
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Mohsin Shafiq
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Leonor Orge
- National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (INIAV), Oeiras, Portugal
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre (CECAV), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Giovanna Galliciotti
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Salma Djakkani
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Luise Linsenmeier
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maja Černilec
- Centre for Immunology and Development, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia (BTCS), Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katrina Hartman
- Centre for Immunology and Development, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia (BTCS), Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sebastian Jung
- Department of Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department of Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Julia E Neumann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg (ZMNH), UKE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Damme
- Institute of Biochemistry, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sarah K Tschirner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Neuroproteomics, School of Medicine and Health, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan F Lichtenthaler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Neuroproteomics, School of Medicine and Health, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Franz L Ricklefs
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Sauvigny
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Schmitz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Berta Puig
- Department of Neurology, Experimental Research in Stroke and Inflammation (ERSI), UKE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Eva Tolosa
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Tim Magnus
- Department of Neurology, Experimental Research in Stroke and Inflammation (ERSI), UKE, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marjan S Rupnik
- Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Diego Sepulveda-Falla
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Matschke
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lojze M Šmid
- LNPR, Institute of Pathophysiology and Prion Laboratory, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mara Bresjanac
- LNPR, Institute of Pathophysiology and Prion Laboratory, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Olivier Andreoletti
- UMR INRAE ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes-Agents Pathogènes, École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Susanne Krasemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simote T Foliaki
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Cecile Monzo
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapies (IRMB), Neural Stem Cell, MSC and Neurodegenerative Diseases, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Carole Crozet
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapies (IRMB), Neural Stem Cell, MSC and Neurodegenerative Diseases, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Cathryn L Haigh
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Division of Intramural Research, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vladka Curin Serbec
- Centre for Immunology and Development, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia (BTCS), Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Hermann C Altmeppen
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kopycka K, Maddison BC, Gough KC. Recombinant ovine prion protein can be mutated at position 136 to improve its efficacy as an inhibitor of prion propagation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3452. [PMID: 36859422 PMCID: PMC9978027 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30202-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are progressive neurodegenerative disorders with no effective therapeutics. The central event leading to the pathology in the diseases is the conversion of PrPC into PrPSc and its accumulation in the central nervous system. Previous studies demonstrated that recombinant PrP (rPrP) and PrP peptides can inhibit the formation of PrPSc. Here, the effectiveness of ovine rPrP mutants at codon 136 and peptides derived from this region were assessed for their ability to inhibit PrPSc replication, using protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). Based on a rPrP VRQ (rVRQ) genotype background (positions 136, 154 and 171) and mutations at position 136, the most effective inhibitors were V136R, V136K and V136P mutants, with IC50 values of 1 to 2 nM; activities much more potent than rVRQ (114 nM). rRRQ and rKRQ were also shown to effectively inhibit multiple ruminant prion amplification reactions that used distinct prion strain seeds and substrate PRNP genotypes. rRRQ, rKRQ and rPRQ were also shown to effectively protect Rov9 cells from scrapie infection when applied at 250 nM. The study demonstrates for the first time that the rPrP sequence can be mutated at sites known to be involved in prion disease susceptibility, to produce inhibitors with improved efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kopycka
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, College Rd., Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD Leicestershire UK
| | - Ben C. Maddison
- ADAS Biotechnology, Unit 27, Beeston Business Park, Technology Drive, Beeston, NG9 1LA Nottinghamshire UK
| | - Kevin C. Gough
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, College Rd., Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD Leicestershire UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen EHL, Kao HW, Lee CH, Huang JYC, Wu KP, Chen RPY. 2.2 Å Cryo-EM Tetra-Protofilament Structure of the Hamster Prion 108-144 Fibril Reveals an Ordered Water Channel in the Center. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:13888-13894. [PMID: 35857020 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c05479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Fibrils of the hamster prion peptide (sHaPrP, sequence 108-144) were prepared in an acidic solution, and their structure was solved by cryogenic electron microscopy with a resolution of 2.23 Å based on the gold-standard Fourier shell correlation (FSC) curve. The fibril has a novel architecture that has never been found in other amyloid fibrils. Each fibril is assembled by four protofilaments (PFs) and has an ordered water channel in the center. Each protofilament contains three β-strands (125-130, 133-135, and 138-141) arranged in an "R"-shaped construct. The structural data indicate that these three β-strand segments are the most amyloidogenic region of the prion peptide/protein and might be the site of nucleation during fibrillization under conditions without denaturants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric H-L Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Hsi-Wen Kao
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsuan Lee
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.,Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Jessica Y C Huang
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Kuen-Phon Wu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.,Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Rita P-Y Chen
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.,Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan.,Neuroscience Program of Academia Sinica, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
High-resolution structure and strain comparison of infectious mammalian prions. Mol Cell 2021; 81:4540-4551.e6. [PMID: 34433091 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Within the extensive range of self-propagating pathologic protein aggregates of mammals, prions are the most clearly infectious (e.g., ∼109 lethal doses per milligram). The structures of such lethal assemblies of PrP molecules have been poorly understood. Here we report a near-atomic core structure of a brain-derived, fully infectious prion (263K strain). Cryo-electron microscopy showed amyloid fibrils assembled with parallel in-register intermolecular β sheets. Each monomer provides one rung of the ordered fibril core, with N-linked glycans and glycolipid anchors projecting outward. Thus, single monomers form the templating surface for incoming monomers at fibril ends, where prion growth occurs. Comparison to another prion strain (aRML) revealed major differences in fibril morphology but, like 263K, an asymmetric fibril cross-section without paired protofilaments. These findings provide structural insights into prion propagation, strains, species barriers, and membrane pathogenesis. This structure also helps frame considerations of factors influencing the relative transmissibility of other pathologic amyloids.
Collapse
|
5
|
Bartz JC. Environmental and host factors that contribute to prion strain evolution. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:5-16. [PMID: 33899132 PMCID: PMC8932343 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02310-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Prions are novel pathogens that are composed entirely of PrPSc, the self-templating conformation of the host prion protein, PrPC. Prion strains are operationally defined as a heritable phenotype of disease that are encoded by strain-specific conformations of PrPSc. The factors that influence the relative distribution of strains in a population are only beginning to be understood. For prions with an infectious etiology, environmental factors, such as strain-specific binding to surfaces and resistance to weathering, can influence which strains are available for transmission to a naïve host. Strain-specific differences in efficiency of infection by natural routes of infection can also select for prion strains. The host amino acid sequence of PrPC has the greatest effect on dictating the repertoire of prion strains. The relative abundance of PrPC, post-translational modifications of PrPC and cellular co-factors involved in prion conversion can also provide conditions that favor the prevalence of a subset of prion strains. Additionally, prion strains can interfere with each other, influencing the emergence of a dominant strain. Overall, both environmental and host factors may influence the repertoire and distribution of strains within a population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason C Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE, 68178, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Allelic Interference in Prion Replication Is Modulated by the Convertibility of the Interfering PrP C and Other Host-Specific Factors. mBio 2021; 12:mBio.03508-20. [PMID: 33727358 PMCID: PMC8092304 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03508-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion propagation can be interfered with by the expression of a second prion protein in the host. In the present study, we investigated prion propagation in a host expressing two different prion protein genes. Early studies in transgenic mouse lines have shown that the coexpression of endogenous murine prion protein (PrPC) and transgenic PrPC from another species either inhibits or allows the propagation of prions, depending on the infecting prion strain and interacting protein species. The way whereby this phenomenon, so-called “interference,” is modulated remains to be determined. In this study, different transgenic mouse lines were crossbred to produce mice coexpressing bovine and porcine PrPC, bovine and murine PrPC, or murine and porcine PrPC. These animals and their respective hemizygous controls were inoculated with several prion strains from different sources (cattle, mice, and pigs) to examine the effects of the simultaneous presence of PrPC from two different species. Our results indicate interference with the infection process, manifested as extended survival times and reduced attack rates. The interference with the infectious process was reduced or absent when the potentiality interfering PrPC species was efficiently converted by the inoculated agent. However, the propagation of the endogenous murine PrPSc was favored, allowing us to speculate that host-specific factors may disturb the interference caused by the coexpression of an exogenous second PrPC.
Collapse
|
7
|
Mok TH, Nihat A, Luk C, Sequeira D, Batchelor M, Mead S, Collinge J, Jackson GS. Bank vole prion protein extends the use of RT-QuIC assays to detect prions in a range of inherited prion diseases. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5231. [PMID: 33664355 PMCID: PMC7933407 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84527-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) real-time quaking-induced conversion assay (RT-QuIC) is an ultrasensitive prion amyloid seeding assay for diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) but several prion strains remain unexplored or resistant to conversion with commonly used recombinant prion protein (rPrP) substrates. Here, bank vole (BV) rPrP was used to study seeding by a wide range of archived post-mortem human CSF samples from cases of sporadic, acquired and various inherited prion diseases in high throughput 384-well format. BV rPrP substrate yielded positive reactions in 70/79 cases of sporadic CJD [Sensitivity 88.6% (95% CI 79.5-94.7%)], 1/2 variant CJD samples, and 9/20 samples from various inherited prion diseases; 5/57 non-prion disease control CSFs had positive reactions, yielding an overall specificity of 91.2% (95% CI 80.1-97.1%). Despite limitations of using post-mortem samples and our results' discrepancy with other studies, we demonstrated for the first time that BV rPrP is susceptible to conversion by human CSF samples containing certain prion strains not previously responsive in conventional rPrPs, thus justifying further optimisation for wider diagnostic and prognostic use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tze How Mok
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Akin Nihat
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Connie Luk
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Danielle Sequeira
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Mark Batchelor
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Simon Mead
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - John Collinge
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK
| | - Graham S Jackson
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, Courtauld Building, 33 Cleveland Street, London, W1W 7FF, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Arifin MI, Hannaoui S, Chang SC, Thapa S, Schatzl HM, Gilch S. Cervid Prion Protein Polymorphisms: Role in Chronic Wasting Disease Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052271. [PMID: 33668798 PMCID: PMC7956812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease found in both free-ranging and farmed cervids. Susceptibility of these animals to CWD is governed by various exogenous and endogenous factors. Past studies have demonstrated that polymorphisms within the prion protein (PrP) sequence itself affect an animal's susceptibility to CWD. PrP polymorphisms can modulate CWD pathogenesis in two ways: the ability of the endogenous prion protein (PrPC) to convert into infectious prions (PrPSc) or it can give rise to novel prion strains. In vivo studies in susceptible cervids, complemented by studies in transgenic mice expressing the corresponding cervid PrP sequence, show that each polymorphism has distinct effects on both PrPC and PrPSc. It is not entirely clear how these polymorphisms are responsible for these effects, but in vitro studies suggest they play a role in modifying PrP epitopes crucial for PrPC to PrPSc conversion and determining PrPC stability. PrP polymorphisms are unique to one or two cervid species and most confer a certain degree of reduced susceptibility to CWD. However, to date, there are no reports of polymorphic cervid PrP alleles providing absolute resistance to CWD. Studies on polymorphisms have focused on those found in CWD-endemic areas, with the hope that understanding the role of an animal's genetics in CWD can help to predict, contain, or prevent transmission of CWD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Immaculata Arifin
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Samia Hannaoui
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sheng Chun Chang
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Simrika Thapa
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Hermann M. Schatzl
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Sabine Gilch
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (M.I.A.); (S.H.); (S.C.C.); (S.T.); (H.M.S.)
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sangeetham SB, Engelke AD, Fodor E, Krausz SL, Tatzelt J, Welker E. The G127V variant of the prion protein interferes with dimer formation in vitro but not in cellulo. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3116. [PMID: 33542378 PMCID: PMC7862613 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-82647-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Scrapie prion, PrPSc, formation is the central event of all types of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), while the pathway with possible intermediates and their mechanism of formation from the normal isoform of prion (PrP), remains not fully understood. Recently, the G127V variant of the human PrP is reported to render the protein refractory to transmission of TSEs, via a yet unknown mechanism. Molecular dynamics studies suggested that this mutation interferes with the formation of PrP dimers. Here we analyze the dimerization of 127G and 127VPrP, in both in vitro and a mammalian cell culture system. Our results show that while molecular dynamics may capture the features affecting dimerization in vitro, G127V inhibiting dimer formation of PrP, these are not evidenced in a more complex cellular system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sudheer Babu Sangeetham
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of Szeged, Dugonics square 13, Szeged, 6720, Hungary
| | - Anna Dorothee Engelke
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Elfrieda Fodor
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary
| | - Sarah Laura Krausz
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
- School of Ph.D. Studies, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Aktogen Hungary Ltd., Kecskemét, 6000, Hungary
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, 6726, Hungary.
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Holec SA, Block AJ, Bartz JC. The role of prion strain diversity in the development of successful therapeutic treatments. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 175:77-119. [PMID: 32958242 PMCID: PMC8939712 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Prions are a self-propagating misfolded conformation of a cellular protein. Prions are found in several eukaryotic organisms with mammalian prion diseases encompassing a wide range of disorders. The first recognized prion disease, the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), affect several species including humans. Alzheimer's disease, synucleinopathies, and tauopathies share a similar mechanism of self-propagation of the prion form of the disease-specific protein reminiscent of the infection process of TSEs. Strain diversity in prion disease is characterized by differences in the phenotype of disease that is hypothesized to be encoded by strain-specific conformations of the prion form of the disease-specific protein. Prion therapeutics that target the prion form of the disease-specific protein can lead to the emergence of drug-resistant strains of prions, consistent with the hypothesis that prion strains exist as a dynamic mixture of a dominant strain in combination with minor substrains. To overcome this obstacle, therapies that reduce or eliminate the template of conversion are efficacious, may reverse neuropathology, and do not result in the emergence of drug resistance. Recent advancements in preclinical diagnosis of prion infection may allow for a combinational approach that treats the prion form and the precursor protein to effectively treat prion diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara A.M. Holec
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences and Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Alyssa J. Block
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States,Corresponding author:
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Huang JJ, Li XN, Liu WL, Yuan HY, Gao Y, Wang K, Tang B, Pang DW, Chen J, Liang Y. Neutralizing Mutations Significantly Inhibit Amyloid Formation by Human Prion Protein and Decrease Its Cytotoxicity. J Mol Biol 2019; 432:828-844. [PMID: 31821812 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.11.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, are fatal neurodegenerative diseases that affect many mammals including humans and are caused by the misfolding of prion protein (PrP). A naturally occurring protective polymorphism G127V in human PrP has recently been found to significantly attenuate prion diseases, but the mechanism has remained elusive. We herein report that the hydrophobic chain introduced in G127V significantly inhibits amyloid fibril formation by human PrP, highlighting the protective effect of the G127V polymorphism. We further introduce an amino acid with a different hydrophobic chain (Ile) at the same position and find that G127I has similar protective effects as G127V. Moreover, we show that these two neutralizing mutations, G127V and G127I, significantly decrease the human PrP cytotoxicity resulting from PrP fibril formation, mitochondrial damage, and elevated reactive oxygen species production enhanced by a strong prion-prone peptide PrP 106-126. These findings elucidate the molecular basis for a natural protective polymorphism in PrP and will enable the development of novel therapeutic strategies against prion diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jie Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiang-Ning Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Wan-Li Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Han-Ye Yuan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Kan Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Bo Tang
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Dai-Wen Pang
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Biology and Medicine (Ministry of Education), College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yi Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Miao J, Chard LS, Wang Z, Wang Y. Syrian Hamster as an Animal Model for the Study on Infectious Diseases. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2329. [PMID: 31632404 PMCID: PMC6781508 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases still remain one of the biggest challenges for human health. In order to gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and develop effective diagnostic tools, therapeutic agents, and preventive vaccines, a suitable animal model which can represent the characteristics of infectious is required. The Syrian hamster immune responses to infectious pathogens are similar to humans and as such, this model is advantageous for studying pathogenesis of infection including post-bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens, along with assessing the efficacy and interactions of medications and vaccines for those pathogens. This review summarizes the current status of Syrian hamster models and their use for understanding the underlying mechanisms of pathogen infection, in addition to their use as a drug discovery platform and provides a strong rationale for the selection of Syrian hamster as animal models in biomedical research. The challenges of using Syrian hamster as an alternative animal model for the research of infectious diseases are also addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinxin Miao
- Department of Science and Technology, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
- Sino-British Research Center for Molecular Oncology, National Center for the International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Louisa S. Chard
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zhimin Wang
- Sino-British Research Center for Molecular Oncology, National Center for the International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaohe Wang
- Sino-British Research Center for Molecular Oncology, National Center for the International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, School of Basic Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
A Single Amino Acid Substitution, Found in Mammals with Low Susceptibility to Prion Diseases, Delays Propagation of Two Prion Strains in Highly Susceptible Transgenic Mouse Models. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:6501-6511. [PMID: 30847740 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1535-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Specific variations in the amino acid sequence of prion protein (PrP) are key determinants of susceptibility to prion diseases. We previously showed that an amino acid substitution specific to canids confers resistance to prion diseases when expressed in mice and demonstrated its dominant-negative protective effect against a variety of infectious prion strains of different origins and characteristics. Here, we show that expression of this single amino acid change significantly increases survival time in transgenic mice expressing bank vole cellular prion protein (PrPC), which is inherently prone to misfolding, following inoculation with two distinct prion strains (the CWD-vole strain and an atypical strain of spontaneous origin). This amino acid substitution hinders the propagation of both prion strains, even when expressed in the context of a PrPC uniquely susceptible to a wide range of prion isolates. Non-inoculated mice expressing this substitution experience spontaneous prion formation, but showing an increase in survival time comparable to that observed in mutant mice inoculated with the atypical strain. Our results underscore the importance of this PrP variant in the search for molecules with therapeutic potential against prion diseases.
Collapse
|
14
|
Sangeetham SB, Huszár K, Bencsura P, Nyeste A, Hunyadi-Gulyás É, Fodor E, Welker E. Interrogating the Dimerization Interface of the Prion Protein Via Site-Specific Mutations to p-Benzoyl-L-Phenylalanine. J Mol Biol 2018; 430:2784-2801. [PMID: 29778603 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are centered on the conformational transition of the prion protein from a mainly helical, monomeric structure to a β-sheet rich ordered aggregate. Experiments indicate that the main infectious and toxic species in this process are however shorter oligomers, formation of which from the monomers is yet enigmatic. Here, we created 25 variants of the mouse prion protein site-specifically containing one genetically-incorporated para-benzoyl-phenylalanine (pBpa), a cross-linkable non-natural amino acid, in order to interrogate the interface of a prion protein-dimer, which might lie on the pathway of oligomerization. Our results reveal that the N-terminal part of the prion protein, especially regions around position 127 and 107, is integral part of the dimer interface. These together with additional pBpa-containing variants of mPrP might also facilitate to gain more structural insights into oligomeric and fibrillar prion protein species including the pathological variants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sudheer Babu Sangeetham
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Huszár
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Petra Bencsura
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Antal Nyeste
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary; ProteoScientia Ltd., Cserhátszentiván, Hungary
| | - Éva Hunyadi-Gulyás
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Elfrieda Fodor
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ervin Welker
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary; Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kanata E, Arsenakis M, Sklaviadis T. Caprine PrP variants harboring Asp-146, His-154 and Gln-211 alleles display reduced convertibility upon interaction with pathogenic murine prion protein in scrapie infected cells. Prion 2017; 10:391-408. [PMID: 27537339 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2016.1199312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrapie, the prion disease of sheep and goats, is a devastating malady of small ruminants. Due to its infectious nature, epidemic outbreaks may occur in flocks/herds consisting of highly susceptible animals. Field studies identified scrapie-protective caprine PrP variants, harboring specific single amino acid changes (Met-142, Arg-143, Asp-146, Ser-146, His-154, Gln-211 and Lys-222). Their effects are under further evaluation, and aim to determine the most protective allele. We assessed some of these variants (Asp-146, His-154, Gln-211 and Lys-222), after their exogenous expression as murine-caprine chimeras in a scrapie- infected murine cell line. We report that exogenously expressed PrPs undergo conformational conversion upon interaction with the endogenous pathological murine prion protein (PrPSC), which results in the detection of goat-specific and partially PK-resistant moieties. These moieties display a PK-resistance pattern distinct from the one detected in natural goat scrapie cases. Within this cellular model, distinct conformational conversion potentials were assigned to the tested variants. Molecules carrying the Asp-146, His-154 and Gln-211 alleles showed significantly lower conversion levels compared to wild type, confirming their protective effects against scrapie. Although we utilized a heterologous conversion system, this is to our knowledge, the first study of caprine PrP variants in a cellular context of scrapie, that confirms the protective effects of some of the studied alleles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Kanata
- a Department of Genetics , Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki , Greece.,b School of Pharmacy , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki , Greece
| | - Minas Arsenakis
- a Department of Genetics , Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki , Greece
| | - Theodoros Sklaviadis
- b School of Pharmacy , Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , Thessaloniki , Greece
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Grizel AV, Rubel AA, Chernoff YO. Strain conformation controls the specificity of cross-species prion transmission in the yeast model. Prion 2017; 10:269-82. [PMID: 27565563 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2016.1204060] [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: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transmissible self-assembled fibrous cross-β polymer infectious proteins (prions) cause neurodegenerative diseases in mammals and control non-Mendelian heritable traits in yeast. Cross-species prion transmission is frequently impaired, due to sequence differences in prion-forming proteins. Recent studies of prion species barrier on the model of closely related yeast species show that colocalization of divergent proteins is not sufficient for the cross-species prion transmission, and that an identity of specific amino acid sequences and a type of prion conformational variant (strain) play a major role in the control of transmission specificity. In contrast, chemical compounds primarily influence transmission specificity via favoring certain strain conformations, while the species origin of the host cell has only a relatively minor input. Strain alterations may occur during cross-species prion conversion in some combinations. The model is discussed which suggests that different recipient proteins can acquire different spectra of prion strain conformations, which could be either compatible or incompatible with a particular donor strain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia V Grizel
- a Laboratory of Amyloid Biology, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia.,b Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia.,c Department of Genetics and Biotechnology , St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Aleksandr A Rubel
- a Laboratory of Amyloid Biology, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia.,b Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia.,c Department of Genetics and Biotechnology , St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia
| | - Yury O Chernoff
- a Laboratory of Amyloid Biology, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia.,b Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University , St. Petersburg , Russia.,d School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta , GA , USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Shan Z, Hirai Y, Nakayama M, Hayashi R, Yamasaki T, Hasebe R, Song CH, Horiuchi M. Therapeutic effect of autologous compact bone-derived mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on prion disease. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:2615-2627. [PMID: 28874230 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative disorders of humans and animals and no effective treatments are currently available. Allogenic transplantation of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can prolong the survival of mice infected with prions. However, autologous transplantation is an appropriate model for evaluating the effects of MSCs on prion diseases. Therefore, we isolated and purified MSCs from the femur and tibia of mice as compact bone-derived MSCs (CB-MSCs). Flow cytometric analysis showed that CB-MSCs were negative for myeloid stem cell-derived cell markers CD11b and CD45, but positive for molecules such as Sca-1, CD105 and CD90.2, which are reported to be expressed on MSCs. The ability of CB-MSCs to migrate to brain extracts from prion-infected mice was confirmed by an in vitro migration assay. Intra-hippocampus transplantation of CB-MSCs at 120 days post-inoculation marginally but significantly prolonged the survival of mice infected with the Chandler prion strain. The transplantation of CB-MSCs did not influence the accumulation of disease-specific prion protein. However, the CB-MSC transplantation enhanced microglial activation, which appeared to be polarized to the M2-type activation state. These results suggest that autologous MSC transplantation is a possible treatment for prion diseases, while the modification of microglial activation may be a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhifu Shan
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Yuji Hirai
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Momoko Nakayama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Ryo Hayashi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yamasaki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Rie Hasebe
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| | - Chang-Hyun Song
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, College of Oriental Medicine, Daegue Haany University, Gyeongsan, 712-715, Republic of Korea
| | - Motohiro Horiuchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Hygiene, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0818, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Marín-Moreno A, Fernández-Borges N, Espinosa JC, Andréoletti O, Torres JM. Transmission and Replication of Prions. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 150:181-201. [PMID: 28838661 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a group of progressive, invariably fatal diseases that affect the nervous system of many mammals including humans. The key molecular event in the pathogenesis of TSEs is the conversion of the cellular prion protein PrPC into a disease-associated isoform PrPSc. The "protein-only hypothesis" argues that PrPSc itself is the infectious agent. In effect, PrPSc can adopt several structures that represent different prion strains. The interspecies transmission of TSEs is difficult because of differences between the host and donor primary PrP sequence. However, transmission is not impossible as this occurred when bovine spongiform encephalopathy spread to humans causing variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). This event determined a need for a thorough understanding of prion replication and transmission so that we could be one step ahead of further threats for human health. This chapter focuses on these concepts and on new insights gained into prion propagation mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juan C Espinosa
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Madrid, Spain
| | - Olivier Andréoletti
- UMR INRA-ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôte Agent Pathogène, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Juan M Torres
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Workman RG, Maddison BC, Gough KC. Ovine recombinant PrP as an inhibitor of ruminant prion propagation in vitro. Prion 2017; 11:265-276. [PMID: 28665745 PMCID: PMC5553304 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2017.1342919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal and incurable neurodegenerative diseases of humans and animals. Despite years of research, no therapeutic agents have been developed that can effectively manage or reverse disease progression. Recently it has been identified that recombinant prion proteins (rPrP) expressed in bacteria can act as inhibitors of prion replication within the in vitro prion replication system protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). Here, within PMCA reactions amplifying a range of ruminant prions including distinct Prnp genotypes/host species and distinct prion strains, recombinant ovine VRQ PrP displayed consistent inhibition of prion replication and produced IC50 values of 122 and 171 nM for ovine scrapie and bovine BSE replication, respectively. These findings illustrate the therapeutic potential of rPrPs with distinct TSE diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rob G Workman
- a School of Veterinary Medicine and Science , The University of Nottingham , Sutton Bonington , Leicestershire , UK
| | - Ben C Maddison
- b ADAS, The University of Nottingham , Sutton Bonington , Leicestershire , UK
| | - Kevin C Gough
- a School of Veterinary Medicine and Science , The University of Nottingham , Sutton Bonington , Leicestershire , UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Honda RP, Kuwata K. The native state of prion protein (PrP) directly inhibits formation of PrP-amyloid fibrils in vitro. Sci Rep 2017; 7:562. [PMID: 28373719 PMCID: PMC5429628 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00710-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The conversion of globular proteins into amyloid fibrils is associated with a wide variety of human diseases. One example is the prion protein (PrP), which adopts an α-helical structure in the native state but its amyloid form is implicated in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Previous evidence has suggested that destabilization of the native state promotes amyloid formation, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we report that the native state of PrP serves as a potent inhibitor in the formation of PrP amyloid fibrils. By monitoring the time courses of thioflavin T fluorescence, the kinetics of amyloid formation was studied in vitro under various concentrations of pre-formed amyloid, monomer, and denaturant. Quantitative analysis of the kinetic data using various models of enzyme kinetics suggested that the native state of PrP is either an uncompetitive or noncompetitive inhibitor of amyloid formation. This study highlights the significant role of the native state in inhibiting amyloid formation, which provides new insights into the pathogenesis of misfolding diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryo P Honda
- Department of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
| | - Kazuo Kuwata
- United Graduate School of Drug Discovery and Medical Information Sciences, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan. .,Department of Gene and Development, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Seelig DM, Goodman PA, Skinner PJ. Potential approaches for heterologous prion protein treatment of prion diseases. Prion 2017; 10:18-24. [PMID: 26636482 PMCID: PMC4981202 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2015.1123372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are progressive, fatal neurodegenerative diseases with no effective treatment. The pathology of these diseases involves the conversion of a protease sensitive form of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a protease resistant infectious form (PrPres). The efficiency of this conversion is predicated upon a number of factors, most notably a strong homology between cellular PrPC and PrPres. In our recently published study, we infected mice with the RML-Chandler strain of scrapie and treated them with heterologous hamster prion proteins. This treatment was seen to reduce clinical signs of prion disease, to delay the onset of clinical symptoms and to prolong survival. In this current article we discuss potential mechanisms of action of treatment with heterologous prion proteins. We also discuss potential extensions of these studies using a heterologous rabbit PrP-based treatment strategy or a peptide based strategy, and improvement of treatment delivery including a lentiviral-based system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davis M Seelig
- a Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department , University of Minnesota , Saint Paul , MN , USA
| | - Patricia A Goodman
- b Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department , University of Minnesota , Saint Paul , MN , USA
| | - Pamela J Skinner
- b Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department , University of Minnesota , Saint Paul , MN , USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Cheng YC, Hannaoui S, John TR, Dudas S, Czub S, Gilch S. Early and Non-Invasive Detection of Chronic Wasting Disease Prions in Elk Feces by Real-Time Quaking Induced Conversion. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166187. [PMID: 27829062 PMCID: PMC5102397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease of wild and captive cervids in North America. Prions are infectious agents composed of a misfolded version of a host-encoded protein, termed PrPSc. Infected cervids excrete and secrete prions, contributing to lateral transmission. Geographical distribution is expanding and case numbers in wild cervids are increasing. Recently, the first European cases of CWD have been reported in a wild reindeer and two moose from Norway. Therefore, methods to detect the infection early in the incubation time using easily available samples are desirable to facilitate effective disease management. We have adapted the real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assay, a sensitive in vitro prion amplification method, for pre-clinical detection of prion seeding activity in elk feces. Testing fecal samples from orally inoculated elk taken at various time points post infection revealed early shedding and detectable prion seeding activity throughout the disease course. Early shedding was also found in two elk encoding a PrP genotype associated with reduced susceptibility for CWD. In summary, we suggest that detection of CWD prions in feces by RT-QuIC may become a useful tool to support CWD surveillance in wild and captive cervids. The finding of early shedding independent of the elk’s prion protein genotype raises the question whether prolonged survival is beneficial, considering accumulation of environmental prions and its contribution to CWD transmission upon extended duration of shedding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yo Ching Cheng
- Dept. of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Samia Hannaoui
- Dept. of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Theodore R. John
- Dept. of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, United States of America
| | - Sandor Dudas
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge Laboratories, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Stefanie Czub
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Lethbridge Laboratories, Lethbridge, Canada
| | - Sabine Gilch
- Dept. of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Gao C, Han J, Zhang J, Wei J, Zhang BY, Tian C, Zhang J, Shi Q, Dong XP. Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification Cross-Species Products of Mouse-Adapted Scrapie Strain 139A and Hamster-Adapted Scrapie Strain 263K with Brain and Muscle Tissues of Opposite Animals Generate Infectious Prions. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:3771-3782. [PMID: 27259989 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-9945-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Transmission of prions between mammalian species is limited by a "species barrier," a biological effect involving an increase in incubation period to decrease the percentage of animals succumbing to disease. In this study, we used protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) technique, which accelerates the conversion of prion proteins in vitro. Direct interspecies PMCA involving 144 cycles confirmed that both mouse-adapted scrapie strain 139A and hamster-adapted 263K could use brain homogenates of opposite species to form proteinase K (PK)-resistant PrP proteins (PrPres). Newly formed interspecies prions could stably propagate themselves in subsequent serial PMCA passages. The two types of PMCA-generated cross-species PrPres changed their glycosylation profiles, which was similar to that observed during interspecies infection by the mouse agent 139A in vivo. These profiles were distinct from individual seeded PrPSc and possessed properties of new hosts. Comparative analysis with respect to PK resistance showed no significant diversity between PMCA-PrPres and native PrPSc or between brain and muscle PrPres. However, PrPres from the relatively early cycles of serial PMCA showed lower PK resistance than those from later cycles. Inoculation of these PMCA products amplified with homogeneous or heterogeneous brain tissues (cross-species products) induced experimental transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. These results suggested that PMCA can help prion strains to overcome species barrier and to propagate efficiently both in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jun Han
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China.,Shandong International Travel Healthcare Center, Shandong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Qingdao, 266001, China
| | - Jing Wei
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Bao-Yun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Chan Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Qi Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases (Zhejiang University), National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chang-Bai Rd 155, Beijing, 102206, China. .,Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Atkinson CJ, Zhang K, Munn AL, Wiegmans A, Wei MQ. Prion protein scrapie and the normal cellular prion protein. Prion 2016; 10:63-82. [PMID: 26645475 PMCID: PMC4981215 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2015.1110293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 10/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prions are infectious proteins and over the past few decades, some prions have become renowned for their causative role in several neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. Since their discovery, the mechanisms and mode of transmission and molecular structure of prions have begun to be established. There is, however, still much to be elucidated about prion diseases, including the development of potential therapeutic strategies for treatment. The significance of prion disease is discussed here, including the categories of human and animal prion diseases, disease transmission, disease progression and the development of symptoms and potential future strategies for treatment. Furthermore, the structure and function of the normal cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) and its importance in not only in prion disease development, but also in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease will also be discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Atkinson
- Division of Molecular and Gene Therapies, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Kai Zhang
- Division of Molecular and Gene Therapies, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Alan L. Munn
- Laboratory of Yeast Cell Biology, Molecular Basis of Disease Program, Menzies Health Institute Queensland and School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Adrian Wiegmans
- Tumour Microenvironment Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Australia
| | - Ming Q. Wei
- Division of Molecular and Gene Therapies, Menzies Health Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Skinner PJ, Kim HO, Bryant D, Kinzel NJ, Reilly C, Priola SA, Ward AE, Goodman PA, Olson K, Seelig DM. Treatment of Prion Disease with Heterologous Prion Proteins. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131993. [PMID: 26134409 PMCID: PMC4489745 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, bovine spongiform encephalopathy in cattle, and scrapie in sheep are fatal neurodegenerative diseases for which there is no effective treatment. The pathology of these diseases involves the conversion of a protease sensitive form of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a protease resistant infectious form (PrPsc or PrPres). Both in vitro (cell culture and cell free conversion assays) and in vivo (animal) studies have demonstrated the strong dependence of this conversion process on protein sequence homology between the initial prion inoculum and the host’s own cellular prion protein. The presence of non-homologous (heterologous) proteins is often inhibitory to this conversion process. We hypothesize that the presence of heterologous prion proteins from one species might therefore constitute an effective treatment for prion disease in another species. To test this hypothesis, we infected mice intracerebrally with murine adapted RML-Chandler scrapie and treated them with heterologous prion protein (purified bacterially expressed recombinant hamster prion protein) or vehicle alone. Treated animals demonstrated reduced disease associated pathology, decreased accumulation of protease-resistant disease-associated prion protein, with delayed onset of clinical symptoms and motor deficits. This was concomitant with significantly increased survival times relative to mock-treated animals. These results provide proof of principle that recombinant hamster prion proteins can effectively and safely inhibit prion disease in mice, and suggest that hamster or other non-human prion proteins may be a viable treatment for prion diseases in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pamela J. Skinner
- University of Minnesota, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, Saint Paul, MN 55108, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Hyeon O. Kim
- University of Minnesota, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, Saint Paul, MN 55108, United States of America
| | - Damani Bryant
- University of Minnesota, Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, Saint Paul, MN 55108, United States of America
| | - Nikilyn J. Kinzel
- University of Minnesota, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, Saint Paul, MN 55108, United States of America
| | - Cavan Reilly
- University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Division of Biostatistics, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States of America
| | - Suzette A. Priola
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana 59840, United States of America
| | - Anne E. Ward
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana 59840, United States of America
| | - Patricia A. Goodman
- University of Minnesota, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, Saint Paul, MN 55108, United States of America
| | - Katherine Olson
- University of Minnesota, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, Saint Paul, MN 55108, United States of America
| | - Davis M. Seelig
- University of Minnesota, Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, Saint Paul, MN 55108, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Salta E, Kanata E, Ouzounis CA, Gilch S, Schätzl H, Sklaviadis T. Assessing proteinase K resistance of fish prion proteins in a scrapie-infected mouse neuroblastoma cell line. Viruses 2014; 6:4398-421. [PMID: 25402173 PMCID: PMC4246229 DOI: 10.3390/v6114398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 08/27/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The key event in prion pathogenesis is the structural conversion of the normal cellular protein, PrP(C), into an aberrant and partially proteinase K resistant isoform, PrP(Sc). Since the minimum requirement for a prion disease phenotype is the expression of endogenous PrP in the host, species carrying orthologue prion genes, such as fish, could in theory support prion pathogenesis. Our previous work has demonstrated the development of abnormal protein deposition in sea bream brain, following oral challenge of the fish with natural prion infectious material. In this study, we used a prion-infected mouse neuroblastoma cell line for the expression of three different mature fish PrP proteins and the evaluation of the resistance of the exogenously expressed proteins to proteinase K treatment (PK), as an indicator of a possible prion conversion. No evidence of resistance to PK was detected for any of the studied recombinant proteins. Although not indicative of an absolute inability of the fish PrPs to structurally convert to pathogenic isoforms, the absence of PK-resistance may be due to supramolecular and conformational differences between the mammalian and piscine PrPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Salta
- Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Center for Human Genetics, KU Leuven, O&N 4 Herestraat 49, PO Box 602, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Eirini Kanata
- Department of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki GR-54124, Greece.
| | - Christos A Ouzounis
- Biological Computation & Process Laboratory (BCPL), Chemical Process Research Institute (CPERI), Centre for Research & Technology (CERTH), PO Box 361, GR-57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Sabine Gilch
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Hermann Schätzl
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Theodoros Sklaviadis
- Department of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki GR-54124, Greece.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Groveman BR, Dolan MA, Taubner LM, Kraus A, Wickner RB, Caughey B. Parallel in-register intermolecular β-sheet architectures for prion-seeded prion protein (PrP) amyloids. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:24129-42. [PMID: 25028516 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.578344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Structures of the infectious form of prion protein (e.g. PrP(Sc) or PrP-Scrapie) remain poorly defined. The prevalent structural models of PrP(Sc) retain most of the native α-helices of the normal, noninfectious prion protein, cellular prion protein (PrP(C)), but evidence is accumulating that these helices are absent in PrP(Sc) amyloid. Moreover, recombinant PrP(C) can form amyloid fibrils in vitro that have parallel in-register intermolecular β-sheet architectures in the domains originally occupied by helices 2 and 3. Here, we provide solid-state NMR evidence that the latter is also true of initially prion-seeded recombinant PrP amyloids formed in the absence of denaturants. These results, in the context of a primarily β-sheet structure, led us to build detailed models of PrP amyloid based on parallel in-register architectures, fibrillar shapes and dimensions, and other available experimentally derived conformational constraints. Molecular dynamics simulations of PrP(90-231) octameric segments suggested that such linear fibrils, which are consistent with many features of PrP(Sc) fibrils, can have stable parallel in-register β-sheet cores. These simulations revealed that the C-terminal residues ∼124-227 more readily adopt stable tightly packed structures than the N-terminal residues ∼90-123 in the absence of cofactors. Variations in the placement of turns and loops that link the β-sheets could give rise to distinct prion strains capable of faithful template-driven propagation. Moreover, our modeling suggests that single PrP monomers can comprise the entire cross-section of fibrils that have previously been assumed to be pairs of laterally associated protofilaments. Together, these insights provide a new basis for deciphering mammalian prion structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bradley R Groveman
- From the Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana 59840 and
| | - Michael A Dolan
- the Computational Biology Section, Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch, NIAID, and
| | - Lara M Taubner
- From the Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana 59840 and
| | - Allison Kraus
- From the Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana 59840 and
| | - Reed B Wickner
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Byron Caughey
- From the Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, Montana 59840 and
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Lacroux C, Comoy E, Moudjou M, Perret-Liaudet A, Lugan S, Litaise C, Simmons H, Jas-Duval C, Lantier I, Béringue V, Groschup M, Fichet G, Costes P, Streichenberger N, Lantier F, Deslys JP, Vilette D, Andréoletti O. Preclinical detection of variant CJD and BSE prions in blood. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004202. [PMID: 24945656 PMCID: PMC4055790 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD) is considered a likely consequence of human dietary exposure to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) agent. More recently, secondary vCJD cases were identified in patients transfused with blood products prepared from apparently healthy donors who later went on to develop the disease. As there is no validated assay for detection of vCJD/BSE infected individuals the prevalence of the disease in the population remains uncertain. In that context, the risk of vCJD blood borne transmission is considered as a serious concern by health authorities. In this study, appropriate conditions and substrates for highly efficient and specific in vitro amplification of vCJD/BSE agent using Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) were first identified. This showed that whatever the origin (species) of the vCJD/BSE agent, the ovine Q171 PrP substrates provided the best amplification performances. These results indicate that the homology of PrP amino-acid sequence between the seed and the substrate is not the crucial determinant of the vCJD agent propagation in vitro. The ability of this method to detect endogenous vCJD/BSE agent in the blood was then defined. In both sheep and primate models of the disease, the assay enabled the identification of infected individuals in the early preclinical stage of the incubation period. Finally, sample panels that included buffy coat from vCJD affected patients and healthy controls were tested blind. The assay identified three out of the four tested vCJD affected patients and no false positive was observed in 141 healthy controls. The negative results observed in one of the tested vCJD cases concurs with results reported by others using a different vCJD agent blood detection assay and raises the question of the potential absence of prionemia in certain patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Lacroux
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Emmanuel Comoy
- CEA, Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies (iMETI), Division of Prions and Related Diseases (SEPIA), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Mohammed Moudjou
- UR892 Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires Centre de Recherche de Jouy-en-Josas, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Armand Perret-Liaudet
- Hospices Civils de Lyon –Laboratoire Diagnostic Maladies à Prions; CNRS, INSERM, UCB Lyon1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, BioRan, Bron, France
| | - Séverine Lugan
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Claire Litaise
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Hugh Simmons
- VLA Weybridge, ASU, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | | | - Isabelle Lantier
- INRA, UMR 1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Vincent Béringue
- UR892 Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires Centre de Recherche de Jouy-en-Josas, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Martin Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Guillaume Fichet
- UR892 Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires Centre de Recherche de Jouy-en-Josas, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- Franklab, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
| | - Pierrette Costes
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Nathalie Streichenberger
- UR892 Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires Centre de Recherche de Jouy-en-Josas, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Frederic Lantier
- INRA, UMR 1282 Infectiologie et Santé Publique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Jean Philippe Deslys
- CEA, Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies (iMETI), Division of Prions and Related Diseases (SEPIA), Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Didier Vilette
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Andréoletti
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôtes Agents Pathogènes, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Enhanced virulence of sheep-passaged bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent is revealed by decreased polymorphism barriers in prion protein conversion studies. J Virol 2013; 88:2903-12. [PMID: 24371051 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02446-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) can be efficiently transmitted to small ruminants (sheep and goats) with certain prion protein (PrP) genotypes. Polymorphisms in PrP of both the host and donor influence the transmission efficiency of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in general. These polymorphisms in PrP also modulate the PrP conversion underlying TSE agent replication. Here we demonstrate that single-round protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) can be used to assess species and polymorphism barriers at the molecular level. We assessed those within and between the ovine and bovine species in vitro using a variety of natural scrapie and experimentally generated cross-species BSE agents. These BSE agents include ovBSE-ARQ isolates (BSE derived from sheep having the ARQ/ARQ PrP genotype), and two unique BSE-derived variants: BSE passaged in VRQ/VRQ sheep and a cow BSE agent isolate generated by back-transmission of ovBSE-ARQ into its original host. PMCA allowed us to quantitatively determine PrP conversion profiles that correlated with known in vivo transmissibility and susceptibility in the two ruminant species in which strain-specific molecular signatures, like its molecular weight after protease digestion, were maintained. Furthermore, both BSE agent isolates from ARQ and VRQ sheep demonstrated a surprising transmission profile in which efficient transmissions to both sheep and bovine variants was combined. Finally, all data support the notion that ARQ-derived sheep BSE points to a significant increase in virulence compared to all other tested scrapie- and BSE-derived variants reflected by the increased conversion efficiencies of previously inefficient convertible PrP variants (including the so-called "resistant" sheep ARR variant). IMPORTANCE Prion diseases such as scrapie in sheep and goats, BSE in cattle, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by prions. BSE is known to be transmissible to a variety of hosts, including sheep and humans. Based on the typical BSE agent strain signatures and epidemiological data, the occurrence of a novel variant of CJD in humans was linked to BSE occurrence in the United Kingdom. Measures, including genetic selection of sheep toward less susceptible PrP genotypes, have been implemented to lower the risk of BSE transmission into sheep, since the disease could potentially spread into a natural reservoir. In this study, we demonstrated using molecular PrP conversion studies that when BSE is first transmitted through sheep, the host range is modified significantly and the PrP converting potency increased, allowing the ovine BSE to transmit more efficiently than cow BSE into supposedly less susceptible hosts.
Collapse
|
30
|
Tahmoorespur M, Jelokhani Niaraki S. Analysis of sequence variations of prion protein gene in dromedary camels in Iran. JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL RESEARCH 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2013.842481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
31
|
Recombinant human prion protein inhibits prion propagation in vitro. Sci Rep 2013; 3:2911. [PMID: 24105336 PMCID: PMC3793212 DOI: 10.1038/srep02911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are associated with the conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into the pathological scrapie isoform (PrPSc) in the brain. Both the in vivo and in vitro conversion of PrPC into PrPSc is significantly inhibited by differences in amino acid sequence between the two molecules. Using protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), we now report that the recombinant full-length human PrP (rHuPrP23-231) (that is unglycosylated and lacks the glycophosphatidylinositol anchor) is a strong inhibitor of human prion propagation. Furthermore, rHuPrP23-231 also inhibits mouse prion propagation in a scrapie-infected mouse cell line. Notably, it binds to PrPSc, but not PrPC, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of recombinant PrP results from blocking the interaction of brain PrPC with PrPSc. Our findings suggest a new avenue for treating prion diseases, in which a patient's own unglycosylated and anchorless PrP is used to inhibit PrPSc propagation without inducing immune response side effects.
Collapse
|
32
|
Singh J, Udgaonkar JB. Dissection of Conformational Conversion Events during Prion Amyloid Fibril Formation Using Hydrogen Exchange and Mass Spectrometry. J Mol Biol 2013; 425:3510-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2013] [Revised: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
|
33
|
Taguchi Y, Mistica AMA, Kitamoto T, Schätzl HM. Critical significance of the region between Helix 1 and 2 for efficient dominant-negative inhibition by conversion-incompetent prion protein. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003466. [PMID: 23825952 PMCID: PMC3694865 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal infectious neurodegenerative disorders in man and animals associated with the accumulation of the pathogenic isoform PrPSc of the host-encoded prion protein (PrPc). A profound conformational change of PrPc underlies formation of PrPSc and prion propagation involves conversion of PrPc substrate by direct interaction with PrPSc template. Identifying the interfaces and modalities of inter-molecular interactions of PrPs will highly advance our understanding of prion propagation in particular and of prion-like mechanisms in general. To identify the region critical for inter-molecular interactions of PrP, we exploited here dominant-negative inhibition (DNI) effects of conversion-incompetent, internally-deleted PrP (ΔPrP) on co-expressed conversion-competent PrP. We created a series of ΔPrPs with different lengths of deletions in the region between first and second α-helix (H1∼H2) which was recently postulated to be of importance in prion species barrier and PrP fibril formation. As previously reported, ΔPrPs uniformly exhibited aberrant properties including detergent insolubility, limited protease digestion resistance, high-mannose type N-linked glycans, and intracellular localization. Although formerly controversial, we demonstrate here that ΔPrPs have a GPI anchor attached. Surprisingly, despite very similar biochemical and cell-biological properties, DNI efficiencies of ΔPrPs varied significantly, dependant on location and inversely correlated with the size of deletion. This data demonstrates that H1∼H2 and the region C-terminal to it are critically important for efficient DNI. It also suggests that this region is involved in PrP-PrP interaction and conversion of PrPC into PrPSc. To reconcile the paradox of how an intracellular PrP can exert DNI, we demonstrate that ΔPrPs are subject to both proteasomal and lysosomal/autophagic degradation pathways. Using autophagy pathways ΔPrPs obtain access to the locale of prion conversion and PrPSc recycling and can exert DNI there. This shows that the intracellular trafficking of PrPs is more complex than previously anticipated. Prion diseases are deadly infectious diseases of the brain characterized by accumulation of a pathologic protein (PrPSc) which is derived from the normal prion protein (PrPc). Prions replicate by direct contact in a template-directed refolding process which involves conversion of PrPC into PrPSc. Identifying the modalities of this interaction can advance our molecular understanding of prion diseases. Like substrates and competitive inhibitors of enzymes, a conversion-incompetent PrP can inhibit conversion of normal PrPC, a phenomenon known as dominant-negative inhibition (DNI). Interestingly, some conversion-incompetent PrPs efficiently cause DNI but others do not, presumably depending on affinity for PrPSc and integrity of interaction interface. We utilized DNI to characterize the PrP-PrP interaction interface in cultured cells. We created a series of PrPs with internal deletions in the region between helix 1 and 2 and evaluated their DNI. We found an inverse correlation between deletion size and DNI which suggests that this region plays an important role in PrP-PrP interaction. We also found that such PrPs are subject to various cellular degradation pathways and that a fraction of them reaches the intracellular locale of prion conversion. Further investigation of such prion proteins might help elucidating the cellular mechanisms of the PrPC-PrPSc interaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuzuru Taguchi
- Departments of Veterinary Sciences and of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, United States of America.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Chuang CC, Liao TY, Chen EHL, Chen RPY. How do amino acid substitutions affect the amyloidogenic properties and seeding efficiency of prion peptides. Amino Acids 2013; 45:785-96. [PMID: 23736988 PMCID: PMC3776267 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-013-1522-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2012] [Accepted: 05/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The amino acid sequences in the amyloidogenic region (amino acids 108–144) of several mammalian prion proteins were compared and variations were found to occur at residues 109 (M or L), 112 (M or V), 129 (M, V, or L), 135 (N or S), 138 (M, L, or I), 139 (M or I), and 143 (N or S). Using the bovine PrP peptide (residues 108–144 based on the numbering of the human prion protein sequence) as a control peptide, several peptides with one amino acid differing from that of the bovine PrP peptide at residues 109, 112, 135, 138, 139, or 143 and several mammalian PrP peptides were synthesized, and the effects of these amino acid substitutions on the amyloidogenic properties of these peptides were compared and discussed on the basis of the chemical and structural properties of amino acids. Our results showed that the V112M substitution accelerated nucleation of amyloidogenesis, while the N143S and I139M substitutions retarded nucleation. These effects tended to cancel each other out when two substitutions with opposite effects were present on the same peptide. Moreover, acceleration or inhibition of nucleation was not necessarily correlated with effect on seeding efficiency. Using amyloid fibrils prepared from the bovine PrP peptide as seeds, the seeding efficiency for the monomer peptides with the M129L, S135N, N143S, or I139M substitution was decreased compared to that for bPrP peptide. Of all the mammalian peptides used in this study, the dog, mule deer, and pig PrP peptides had the lowest seeding efficiencies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chen Chuang
- Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan, ROC
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Hagiwara K, Hara H, Hanada K. Species-barrier phenomenon in prion transmissibility from a viewpoint of protein science. J Biochem 2013; 153:139-45. [PMID: 23284000 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvs148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, are fatal infectious neurodegenerative disorders. Their causative agents are prions, which are composed of disease-associated forms of prion protein (PrP(Sc)). Naturally occurring cases of TSEs are found in several mammalian species including humans, sheep, goats, minks, cattle and deer. Prions are also experimentally transmissible to other mammals such as mice, hamsters and monkeys, but interspecies transmission is often inefficient due to the 'species-barrier'. Studies have suggested that the barrier is not only simply determined by differences in amino acid sequences of cellular PrP (PrP(C)) among animal species, but also by prion strains which are closely associated with conformational properties of PrP(Sc) aggregates. Although the conformational properties of PrP(Sc) remain largely unknown, recent investigation of local structures of PrP(C) and, in particular, structural modelling of PrP(Sc) aggregates have provided molecular insight into this field. In this review, we discuss the species-barrier phenomenon in terms of the protein science.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ken'ichi Hagiwara
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Cronier S, Carimalo J, Schaeffer B, Jaumain E, Béringue V, Miquel MC, Laude H, Peyrin JM. Endogenous prion protein conversion is required for prion-induced neuritic alterations and neuronal death. FASEB J 2012; 26:3854-61. [PMID: 22661006 DOI: 10.1096/fj.11-201772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Prions cause fatal neurodegenerative conditions and result from the conversion of host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) into abnormally folded scrapie PrP (PrP(Sc)). Prions can propagate both in neurons and astrocytes, yet neurotoxicity mechanisms remain unclear. Recently, PrP(C) was proposed to mediate neurotoxic signaling of β-sheet-rich PrP and non-PrP conformers independently of conversion. To investigate the role of astrocytes and neuronal PrP(C) in prion-induced neurodegeneration, we set up neuron and astrocyte primary cocultures derived from PrP transgenic mice. In this system, prion-infected astrocytes delivered ovine PrP(Sc) to neurons lacking PrP(C) (prion-resistant), or expressing a PrP(C) convertible (sheep) or not (mouse, human). We show that interaction between neuronal PrP(C) and exogenous PrP(Sc) was not sufficient to induce neuronal death but that efficient PrP(C) conversion was required for prion-associated neurotoxicity. Prion-infected astrocytes markedly accelerated neurodegeneration in homologous cocultures compared to infected single neuronal cultures, despite no detectable neurotoxin release. Finally, PrP(Sc) accumulation in neurons led to neuritic damages and cell death, both potentiated by glutamate and reactive oxygen species. Thus, conversion of neuronal PrP(C) rather than PrP(C)-mediated neurotoxic signaling appears as the main culprit in prion-induced neurodegeneration. We suggest that active prion replication in neurons sensitizes them to environmental stress regulated by neighboring cells, including astrocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Cronier
- UR892, Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires, Institut National de Recherche Agronomique, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Mouse prion protein (PrP) segment 100 to 104 regulates conversion of PrP(C) to PrP(Sc) in prion-infected neuroblastoma cells. J Virol 2012; 86:5626-36. [PMID: 22398286 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.06606-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are characterized by the replicative propagation of disease-associated forms of prion protein (PrP(Sc); PrP refers to prion protein). The propagation is believed to proceed via two steps; the initial binding of the normal form of PrP (PrP(C)) to PrP(Sc) and the subsequent conversion of PrP(C) to PrP(Sc). We have explored the two-step model in prion-infected mouse neuroblastoma (ScN2a) cells by focusing on the mouse PrP (MoPrP) segment 92-GGTHNQWNKPSKPKTN-107, which is within a region previously suggested to be part of the binding interface or shown to differ in its accessibility to anti-PrP antibodies between PrP(C) and PrP(Sc). Exchanging the MoPrP segment with the corresponding chicken PrP segment (106-GGSYHNQKPWKPPKTN-121) revealed the necessity of MoPrP residues 99 to 104 for the chimeras to achieve the PrP(Sc) state, while segment 95 to 98 was replaceable with the chicken sequence. An alanine substitution at position 100, 102, 103, or 104 of MoPrP gave rise to nonconvertible mutants that associated with MoPrP(Sc) and interfered with the conversion of endogenous MoPrP(C). The interference was not evoked by a chimera (designated MCM2) in which MoPrP segment 95 to 104 was changed to the chicken sequence, though MCM2 associated with MoPrP(Sc). Incubation of the cells with a synthetic peptide composed of MoPrP residues 93 to 107 or alanine-substituted cognates did not inhibit the conversion, whereas an anti-P8 antibody recognizing the above sequence in PrP(C) reduced the accumulation of PrP(Sc) after 10 days of incubation of the cells. These results suggest the segment 100 to 104 of MoPrP(C) plays a key role in conversion after binding to MoPrP(Sc).
Collapse
|
38
|
Eiden M, Leidel F, Strohmeier B, Fast C, Groschup MH. A Medicinal Herb Scutellaria lateriflora Inhibits PrP Replication in vitro and Delays the Onset of Prion Disease in Mice. Front Psychiatry 2012; 3:9. [PMID: 22363300 PMCID: PMC3281244 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2012.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2011] [Accepted: 02/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) are characterized by the misfolding of the host encoded prion protein (PrP(C)) into a pathogenic isoform (PrP(Sc)) which leads to the accumulation of β-sheet-rich fibrils and subsequent loss of neurons and synaptic functions. Although many compounds have been identified which inhibit accumulation or dissolve fibrils and aggregates in vitro there is no therapeutic treatment to stop these progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Here we describe the effects of the traditional medicinal herb Scutellaria lateriflora (S. lateriflora) and its natural compounds, the flavonoids baicalein and baicalin, on the development of prion disease using in vitro and in vivo models. S. lateriflora extract as well as both constituents reduced the PrP(res) accumulation in scrapie-infected cell cultures and cell-free conversion assays and lead to the destabilization of pre-existing PrP(Sc) fibrils. Moreover, tea prepared from S. lateriflora, prolonged significantly the incubation time of scrapie-infected mice upon oral treatment. Therefore S. lateriflora extracts as well as the individual compounds can be considered as promising candidates for the development of new therapeutic drugs against TSEs and other neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Eiden
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health Greifswald, Germany
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Dissociation of infectivity from seeding ability in prions with alternate docking mechanism. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1002128. [PMID: 21779169 PMCID: PMC3136465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2010] [Accepted: 05/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies identified two mammalian prion protein (PrP) polybasic domains that bind the disease-associated conformer PrPSc, suggesting that these domains of cellular prion protein (PrPC) serve as docking sites for PrPSc during prion propagation. To examine the role of polybasic domains in the context of full-length PrPC, we used prion proteins lacking one or both polybasic domains expressed from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells as substrates in serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) reactions. After ∼5 rounds of sPMCA, PrPSc molecules lacking the central polybasic domain (ΔC) were formed. Surprisingly, in contrast to wild-type prions, ΔC-PrPSc prions could bind to and induce quantitative conversion of all the polybasic domain mutant substrates into PrPSc molecules. Remarkably, ΔC-PrPSc and other polybasic domain PrPSc molecules displayed diminished or absent biological infectivity relative to wild-type PrPSc, despite their ability to seed sPMCA reactions of normal mouse brain homogenate. Thus, ΔC-PrPSc prions interact with PrPC molecules through a novel interaction mechanism, yielding an expanded substrate range and highly efficient PrPSc propagation. Furthermore, polybasic domain deficient PrPSc molecules provide the first example of dissociation between normal brain homogenate sPMCA seeding ability from biological prion infectivity. These results suggest that the propagation of PrPSc molecules may not depend on a single stereotypic mechanism, but that normal PrPC/PrPSc interaction through polybasic domains may be required to generate prion infectivity. Prions are unconventional infectious agents that cause fatal diseases in humans and other animals. Previous studies have suggested that prion infectivity depends upon the ability of a sample to change the shape of a normal brain protein called the prion protein (PrP) into a disease-associated shape. Other studies have identified a pair of positively charged domains within the structure of PrP that appear to be important for the interaction between the normal and disease-associated shapes of the prion protein. In this report, we show that the shape of normal PrP can change into the disease-associated form through a novel mechanism that does not involve positively charged domains. However, it appears that interaction through the positively charged domains is required to produce infectious prions efficiently. Our results show for the first time that the ability to change the shape of normal PrP into its disease-associated state is not the sole determinant of prion infectivity.
Collapse
|
40
|
Imamura M, Kato N, Okada H, Iwamaru Y, Shimizu Y, Mohri S, Yokoyama T. Strain-specific effects of reducing agents on the cell-free conversion of recombinant prion protein into a protease-resistant form. Microbiol Immunol 2011; 55:633-40. [PMID: 21645053 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2011.00357.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenic isoform (PrP(Sc) ) of the host-encoded normal cellular prion protein (PrP(C) ) is believed to be the infectious agent of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Spontaneous conversion of α-helix-rich recombinant PrP into the PrP(Sc) -like β-sheet-rich form or aggregation of cytosolic PrP has been found to be accelerated under reducing conditions. However, the effect of reducing conditions on PrP(Sc) -mediated conversion of PrP(C) into PrP(Sc) has remained unknown. In this study, the effect of reducing conditions on the binding of bacterial recombinant mouse PrP (MoPrP) with PrP(Sc) and the conversion of MoPrP into proteinase K-resistant PrP (PrP(res) ) using a cell-free conversion assay was investigated. High concentrations of dithiothreitol did not inhibit either the binding or conversion reactions of PrP(Sc) from five prion strains. Indeed, dithiothreitol significantly accelerated mouse-adapted BSE-seeded conversion. These data suggest that conversion of PrP(Sc) derived from a subset of prion strains is accelerated under reducing conditions, as has previously been shown for spontaneous conversion. Furthermore, the five prion strains used could be classified into three groups according to their efficiency at binding and conversion of MoPrP and cysteine-less mutants under both reducing and nonreducing conditions. The resulting classification is similar to that derived from biological and biochemical strain-specific features.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morikazu Imamura
- Prion Disease Research Center, National Institute of Animal Health, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
DiSalvo S, Serio TR. Insights into prion biology: integrating a protein misfolding pathway with its cellular environment. Prion 2011; 5:76-83. [PMID: 21654204 DOI: 10.4161/pri.5.2.16413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein misfolding and assembly into ordered, self-templating aggregates (amyloid) has emerged as a novel mechanism for regulating protein function. For a subclass of amyloidogenic proteins known as prions, this process induces transmissible changes in normal cellular physiology, ranging from neurodegenerative disease in animals and humans to new traits in fungi. The severity and stability of these altered phenotypic states can be attenuated by the conformation or amino-acid sequence of the prion, but in most of these cases, the protein retains the ability to form amyloid in vitro. Thus, our ability to link amyloid formation in vitro with its biological consequences in vivo remains a challenge. In two recent studies, we have begun to address this disconnect by assessing the effects of the cellular environment on traits associated with the misfolding of the yeast prion Sup35. Remarkably, the effects of quality control pathways and of limitations on protein transfer in vivo amplify the effects of even slight differences in the efficiency of Sup35 misfolding, leading to dramatic changes in the associated phenotype. Together, our studies suggest that the interplay between protein misfolding pathways and their cellular context is a crucial contributor to prion biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne DiSalvo
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Ayers JI, Schutt CR, Shikiya RA, Aguzzi A, Kincaid AE, Bartz JC. The strain-encoded relationship between PrP replication, stability and processing in neurons is predictive of the incubation period of disease. PLoS Pathog 2011; 7:e1001317. [PMID: 21437239 PMCID: PMC3060105 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2010] [Accepted: 02/10/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion strains are characterized by differences in the outcome of disease, most notably incubation period and neuropathological features. While it is established that the disease specific isoform of the prion protein, PrPSc, is an essential component of the infectious agent, the strain-specific relationship between PrPSc properties and the biological features of the resulting disease is not clear. To investigate this relationship, we examined the amplification efficiency and conformational stability of PrPSc from eight hamster-adapted prion strains and compared it to the resulting incubation period of disease and processing of PrPSc in neurons and glia. We found that short incubation period strains were characterized by more efficient PrPSc amplification and higher PrPSc conformational stabilities compared to long incubation period strains. In the CNS, the short incubation period strains were characterized by the accumulation of N-terminally truncated PrPSc in the soma of neurons, astrocytes and microglia in contrast to long incubation period strains where PrPSc did not accumulate to detectable levels in the soma of neurons but was detected in glia similar to short incubation period strains. These results are inconsistent with the hypothesis that a decrease in conformational stability results in a corresponding increase in replication efficiency and suggest that glia mediated neurodegeneration results in longer survival times compared to direct replication of PrPSc in neurons. Prion diseases are a group of infectious fatal neurodegenerative diseases that affect animals including humans. This unique infectious agent is the result of a post-translational conformational change of the normal form of the prion protein, PrPC, to an infectious form of the prion protein, PrPSc. Different strains of the infectious agent result in characteristic incubation periods and neuropathological features within a single host species. These strain-specific differences in disease outcome are likely due to strain-specific conformations of PrPSc, though the mechanisms by which different conformation can affect prion strain properties are not understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the biochemical properties of PrPSc to the corresponding neuropathological characteristics of eight hamster-adapted prion strains. Our findings indicate that PrPSc from short incubation period strains were more efficiently replicated, had a more stable conformation, and were observed to be more resistant to clearance from the soma of neurons compared to prion strains with a relatively long incubation period. These results suggest the progression of prion disease is influenced by the balance between replication and clearance of PrPSc in neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob I. Ayers
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Charles R. Schutt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Ronald A. Shikiya
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anthony E. Kincaid
- Department of Physical Therapy, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Jones M, Peden AH, Head MW, Ironside JW. The application of in vitro cell-free conversion systems to human prion diseases. Acta Neuropathol 2011; 121:135-43. [PMID: 20535485 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-010-0708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2010] [Revised: 05/20/2010] [Accepted: 05/30/2010] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
A key event in the pathogenesis of prion diseases is the conversion of the normal cellular isoform of the prion protein into the disease-associated isoform, but the mechanisms operating in this critical event are not yet fully understood. A number of novel approaches have recently been developed to study factors influencing this process. One of these, the protein misfolding cyclical amplification (PMCA) technique, has been used to explore defined factors influencing the conversion of cellular prion protein in a cell-free model system. Although initially developed in animal models, this technique has been increasingly applied to human prion diseases. Recent studies have focused on the role of different isoforms of the disease-associated human prion protein and the effects of the naturally occurring polymorphism at codon 129 in the human prion protein gene on the conversion process, improving our understanding of the interaction between host and agent factors that influence the wide range of phenotypes in human prion diseases. This technique also allows a greatly enhanced sensitivity of detection of disease-associated prion protein in human tissues and fluids, which is potentially applicable to disease screening, particularly for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The PMCA technique can also be used to model human susceptibility to a range of prions of non-human origin, which is likely to prove of considerable future interest as more novel and potentially pathogenic prion diseases are identified in animal species that form part of the human food chain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Jones
- Components and vCJD Research, National Science Laboratories, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Edinburgh, EH 17 7QT, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
The conversion of the normal prion protein (PrP(C)) into its misfolded, aggregation-prone and infectious (prion) isoform is central to the progression of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. Since the initial development of a cell free PrP conversion reaction, striking progress has been made in the development of much more continuous prion-induced conversion and amplification reactions. These studies have provided major insights into the molecular underpinnings of prion propagation and enabled the development of ultra-sensitive tests for prions and prion disease diagnosis. This chapter will provide an overview of such reactions and the practical and fundamental consequences of their development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina D Orrú
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Wilham JM, Orrú CD, Bessen RA, Atarashi R, Sano K, Race B, Meade-White KD, Taubner LM, Timmes A, Caughey B. Rapid end-point quantitation of prion seeding activity with sensitivity comparable to bioassays. PLoS Pathog 2010; 6:e1001217. [PMID: 21152012 PMCID: PMC2996325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 357] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2010] [Accepted: 11/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A major problem for the effective diagnosis and management of prion diseases is the lack of rapid high-throughput assays to measure low levels of prions. Such measurements have typically required prolonged bioassays in animals. Highly sensitive, but generally non-quantitative, prion detection methods have been developed based on prions' ability to seed the conversion of normally soluble protease-sensitive forms of prion protein to protease-resistant and/or amyloid fibrillar forms. Here we describe an approach for estimating the relative amount of prions using a new prion seeding assay called real-time quaking induced conversion assay (RT-QuIC). The underlying reaction blends aspects of the previously described quaking-induced conversion (QuIC) and amyloid seeding assay (ASA) methods and involves prion-seeded conversion of the alpha helix-rich form of bacterially expressed recombinant PrPC to a beta sheet-rich amyloid fibrillar form. The RT-QuIC is as sensitive as the animal bioassay, but can be accomplished in 2 days or less. Analogous to end-point dilution animal bioassays, this approach involves testing of serial dilutions of samples and statistically estimating the seeding dose (SD) giving positive responses in 50% of replicate reactions (SD50). Brain tissue from 263K scrapie-affected hamsters gave SD50 values of 1011-1012/g, making the RT-QuIC similar in sensitivity to end-point dilution bioassays. Analysis of bioassay-positive nasal lavages from hamsters affected with transmissible mink encephalopathy gave SD50 values of 103.5–105.7/ml, showing that nasal cavities release substantial prion infectivity that can be rapidly detected. Cerebral spinal fluid from 263K scrapie-affected hamsters contained prion SD50 values of 102.0–102.9/ml. RT-QuIC assay also discriminated deer chronic wasting disease and sheep scrapie brain samples from normal control samples. In principle, end-point dilution quantitation can be applied to many types of prion and amyloid seeding assays. End point dilution RT-QuIC provides a sensitive, rapid, quantitative, and high throughput assay of prion seeding activity. Prion diseases are deadly infectious neurodegenerative disorders of mammals which involve the misfolding of host prion protein. To better manage these diseases, we need to be able to detect and quantify the infectious particles, or prions, in biological samples. However, current tests lack the sensitivity, speed and/or quantitative capabilities required for many important applications in medicine, agriculture, wildlife biology and research. To address this problem, we have developed a new prion assay that is highly sensitive, rapid, and quantitative. This assay takes advantage of the ability of miniscule amounts of infectious prions to seed the misfolding of large excesses of normal prion protein in test tube reactions. Quantitation is achieved by testing a range of sample dilutions and determining loss of seeding activity, i.e. the end-point dilution. Similar analyses have long been used to quantify prions by inoculation into animals; however, such bioassays take months or years to perform and are both animal-intensive and expensive. Our new method provides a more practical means of detecting and quantifying prions. So far, we have applied this assay to prions from sheep, deer, and hamsters, and have found surprisingly high levels of prions in the nasal and cerebral spinal fluids of infected hamsters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason M. Wilham
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Christina D. Orrú
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Richard A. Bessen
- Veterinary Molecular Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Ryuichiro Atarashi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan
| | - Kazunori Sano
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan
| | - Brent Race
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Kimberly D. Meade-White
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Lara M. Taubner
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Andrew Timmes
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
| | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, Hamilton, Montana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Prion protein self-interactions: A gateway to novel therapeutic strategies? Vaccine 2010; 28:7810-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2010.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2010] [Revised: 08/31/2010] [Accepted: 09/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
|
47
|
Sigurdson CJ, Nilsson KPR, Hornemann S, Manco G, Fernández-Borges N, Schwarz P, Castilla J, Wüthrich K, Aguzzi A. A molecular switch controls interspecies prion disease transmission in mice. J Clin Invest 2010; 120:2590-9. [PMID: 20551516 DOI: 10.1172/jci42051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2009] [Accepted: 04/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are lethal neurodegenerative disorders that present with aggregated forms of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), which are known as PrPSc. Prions from different species vary considerably in their transmissibility to xenogeneic hosts. The variable transmission barriers depend on sequence differences between incoming PrPSc and host PrPC and additionally, on strain-dependent conformational properties of PrPSc. The beta2-alpha2 loop region within PrPC varies substantially between species, with its structure being influenced by the residue types in the 2 amino acid sequence positions 170 (most commonly S or N) and 174 (N or T). In this study, we inoculated prions from 5 different species into transgenic mice expressing either disordered-loop or rigid-loop PrPC variants. Similar beta2-alpha2 loop structures correlated with efficient transmission, whereas dissimilar loops correlated with strong transmission barriers. We then classified literature data on cross-species transmission according to the 170S/N polymorphism. Transmission barriers were generally low between species with the same amino acid residue in position 170 and high between those with different residues. These findings point to a triggering role of the local beta2-alpha2 loop structure for prion transmissibility between different species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina J Sigurdson
- Department of Pathology and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Bishop MT, Pennington C, Heath CA, Will RG, Knight RSG. PRNP variation in UK sporadic and variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease highlights genetic risk factors and a novel non-synonymous polymorphism. BMC MEDICAL GENETICS 2009; 10:146. [PMID: 20035629 PMCID: PMC2806268 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2350-10-146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2009] [Accepted: 12/26/2009] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background Genetic analysis of the human prion protein gene (PRNP) in suspect cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is necessary for accurate diagnosis and case classification. Previous publications on the genetic variation at the PRNP locus have highlighted the presence of numerous polymorphisms, in addition to the well recognised one at codon 129, with significant variability between geographically distinct populations. It is therefore of interest to consider their influence on susceptibility or the clinico-pathological disease phenotype. This study aimed to characterise the frequency and effect of PRNP open reading frame polymorphisms other than codon 129 in both disease and control samples sourced from the United Kingdom population. Methods DNA was extracted from blood samples and genetic data obtained by full sequence analysis of the prion protein gene or by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using restriction enzymes specific to the gene polymorphism under investigation. Results 147 of 166 confirmed cases of variant CJD (vCJD) in the UK have had PRNP codon 129 genotyping and all are methionine homozygous at codon 129; 118 have had full PRNP gene sequencing. Of the latter, 5 cases have shown other polymorphic loci: at codon 219 (2, 1.69%), at codon 202 (2, 1.69%), and a 24 bp deletion in the octapeptide repeat region (1, 0.85%). E219K and D202D were not found in sporadic CJD (sCJD) cases and therefore may represent genetic risk factors for vCJD. Genetic analysis of 309 confirmed UK sCJD patients showed codon 129 genotype frequencies of MM: 59.5% (n = 184), MV: 21.4% (n = 66), and VV: 19.1% (n = 59). Thirteen (4.2%) had the A117A polymorphism, one of which also had the P68P polymorphism, four (1.3%) had a 24 bp deletion, and a single patient had a novel missense variation at codon 167. As the phenotype of this latter case is similar to sCJD and in the absence of a family history of CJD, it is unknown whether this is a form of genetic CJD, or simply a neutral polymorphism. Conclusions This analysis of PRNP genetic variation in UK CJD patients is the first to show a comprehensive comparison with healthy individuals (n = 970) from the same population, who were genotyped for the three most common variations (codon 129, codon 117, and 24 bp deletion). These latter two genetic variations were equally frequent in UK sCJD or vCJD cases and a normal (healthy blood donor) UK population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T Bishop
- National CJD Surveillance Unit, University of Edinburgh, Bryan Matthews Building, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are inevitably lethal neurodegenerative diseases that affect humans and a large variety of animals. The infectious agent responsible for TSEs is the prion, an abnormally folded and aggregated protein that propagates itself by imposing its conformation onto the cellular prion protein (PrPC) of the host. PrPCis necessary for prion replication and for prion-induced neurodegeneration, yet the proximal causes of neuronal injury and death are still poorly understood. Prion toxicity may arise from the interference with the normal function of PrPC, and therefore, understanding the physiological role of PrPCmay help to clarify the mechanism underlying prion diseases. Here we discuss the evolution of the prion concept and how prion-like mechanisms may apply to other protein aggregation diseases. We describe the clinical and the pathological features of the prion diseases in human and animals, the events occurring during neuroinvasion, and the possible scenarios underlying brain damage. Finally, we discuss potential antiprion therapies and current developments in the realm of prion diagnostics.
Collapse
|
50
|
Geoghegan JC, Miller MB, Kwak AH, Harris BT, Supattapone S. Trans-dominant inhibition of prion propagation in vitro is not mediated by an accessory cofactor. PLoS Pathog 2009; 5:e1000535. [PMID: 19649330 PMCID: PMC2713408 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1000535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2009] [Accepted: 07/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies identified prion protein (PrP) mutants which act as dominant negative inhibitors of prion formation through a mechanism hypothesized to require an unidentified species-specific cofactor termed protein X. To study the mechanism of dominant negative inhibition in vitro, we used recombinant PrPC molecules expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells as substrates in serial protein misfolding cyclic amplification (sPMCA) reactions. Bioassays confirmed that the products of these reactions are infectious. Using this system, we find that: (1) trans-dominant inhibition can be dissociated from conversion activity, (2) dominant-negative inhibition of prion formation can be reconstituted in vitro using only purified substrates, even when wild type (WT) PrPC is pre-incubated with poly(A) RNA and PrPSc template, and (3) Q172R is the only hamster PrP mutant tested that fails to convert into PrPSc and that can dominantly inhibit conversion of WT PrP at sub-stoichiometric levels. These results refute the hypothesis that protein X is required to mediate dominant inhibition of prion propagation, and suggest that PrP molecules compete for binding to a nascent seeding site on newly formed PrPSc molecules, most likely through an epitope containing residue 172. Over the past two decades, various investigators have observed that heterozygous animals possessing two different forms of the gene encoding the prion protein (PrP) are more difficult to infect with some strains of infectious prions than homozygous animals possessing only the most commonly occurring form of the gene encoding PrP for that species. In 1995, it was hypothesized that the inhibition of prion infection in heterozygous animals might be caused by competition between the two different types of PrP molecules for binding to a common cofactor required for prion propagation, provisionally named “protein X,” through a specific portion of the PrP molecule. Here, we report that mixing different purified PrP molecules together in test tube reactions lacking accessory proteins can also interfere with prion propagation. We also found that some mutations of the putative protein X binding site do not inhibit the formation of hamster prions in chemical reactions. Our work suggests that different PrP molecules most likely compete for binding to newly formed prions rather than an accessory protein cofactor, and argues against the existence of protein X.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James C. Geoghegan
- Department of Biochemistry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Michael B. Miller
- Department of Biochemistry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Aimee H. Kwak
- Department of Biochemistry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Brent T. Harris
- Department of Pathology, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Surachai Supattapone
- Department of Biochemistry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|