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Stefano GB, Büttiker P, Weissenberger S, Anders M, Raboch J, Ptacek R, Kream RM. Potential Prion Involvement in Long COVID-19 Neuropathology, Including Behavior. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s10571-023-01342-8. [PMID: 36977809 PMCID: PMC10047479 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01342-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Prion' is a term used to describe a protein infectious particle responsible for several neurodegenerative diseases in mammals, e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The novelty is that it is protein based infectious agent not involving a nucleic acid genome as found in viruses and bacteria. Prion disorders exhibit, in part, incubation periods, neuronal loss, and induce abnormal folding of specific normal cellular proteins due to enhancing reactive oxygen species associated with mitochondria energy metabolism. These agents may also induce memory, personality and movement abnormalities as well as depression, confusion and disorientation. Interestingly, some of these behavioral changes also occur in COVID-19 and mechanistically include mitochondrial damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 and subsequenct production of reactive oxygen species. Taken together, we surmise, in part, long COVID may involve the induction of spontaneous prion emergence, especially in individuals susceptible to its origin may thus explain some of its manesfestions post-acute viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- George B Stefano
- First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry of the First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Charles University in Prague, 120 00 Prague 2, Ke Karlovu 11, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Pascal Büttiker
- First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry of the First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Charles University in Prague, 120 00 Prague 2, Ke Karlovu 11, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Simon Weissenberger
- Department of Psychology, University of New York in Prague, 120 00 Prague 2, Londýnská 41, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Anders
- First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry of the First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Charles University in Prague, 120 00 Prague 2, Ke Karlovu 11, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Raboch
- First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry of the First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Charles University in Prague, 120 00 Prague 2, Ke Karlovu 11, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Ptacek
- First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry of the First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Charles University in Prague, 120 00 Prague 2, Ke Karlovu 11, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Richard M Kream
- First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry of the First Faculty of Medicine and General Teaching Hospital, Charles University in Prague, 120 00 Prague 2, Ke Karlovu 11, Prague, Czech Republic
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2
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Mysterud A, Ytrehus B, Tranulis MA, Rauset GR, Rolandsen CM, Strand O. Antler cannibalism in reindeer. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22168. [PMID: 33335134 PMCID: PMC7747554 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79050-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases constitute a class of invariably fatal and degenerative encephalopathies. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a contagious prion disease among cervids, which is spreading and causing marked population declines in USA and Canada. The first outbreak of CWD in Europe was discovered in a reindeer population in Norway in 2016. In the worst-case scenario with continental-wide spreading of CWD in Eurasia, an annual harvest of around 4 million cervids is at stake only in Europe, with huge economic and cultural significance. An in situ origin of CWD was suspected, and it appear urgent to identify the likely cause to prevent future emergences. Here, we document the novel phenomenon of extensive antler cannibalism prior to shedding among reindeer in the CWD-infected population. The extent of antler cannibalism increased over the last decades when CWD emerged, and included ingestion of vascularized antlers. Ingestion of tissues from conspecifics is a risk factor for the emergence of prion diseases, where the presence of extensive antler cannibalism opens the intriguing possibility of a ‘Kuru-analogue’ origin of CWD among the reindeer in Europe. Based on general insight on pathology of prion diseases and strain selection processes, we propose an hypothesis for how contagious CWD may emerge from sporadic CWD under the unique epidemiological conditions we document here. More research is required to document the presence of prions in reindeer antlers, and whether antler cannibalism actually led to a strain selection process and the emergence of a contagious form of CWD from a sporadic form of CWD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1066, 0316, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Bjørnar Ytrehus
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P. O. Box 5685, 7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Michael A Tranulis
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369 Sentrum, 0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - Geir Rune Rauset
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P. O. Box 5685, 7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Christer M Rolandsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P. O. Box 5685, 7485, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Olav Strand
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Torgarden, P. O. Box 5685, 7485, Trondheim, Norway
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Abstract
Senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the principal histopathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer disease. The essential constituents of these lesions are structurally abnormal variants of normally generated proteins: Aβ protein in plaques and tau protein in tangles. At the molecular level, both proteins in a pathogenic state share key properties with classic prions, i.e., they consist of alternatively folded, β-sheet-rich forms of the proteins that autopropagate by the seeded corruption and self-assembly of like proteins. Other similarities with prions include the ability to manifest as polymorphic and polyfunctional strains, resistance to chemical and enzymatic destruction, and the ability to spread within the brain and from the periphery to the brain. In Alzheimer disease, current evidence indicates that the pathogenic cascade follows from the endogenous, sequential corruption of Aβ and then tau. Therapeutic options include reducing the production or multimerization of the proteins, uncoupling the Aβ-tauopathy connection, or promoting the inactivation or removal of anomalous assemblies from the brain. Although aberrant Aβ appears to be the prime mover of Alzheimer disease pathogenesis, once set in motion by Aβ, the prion-like propagation of tauopathy may proceed independently of Aβ; if so, Aβ might be solely targeted as an early preventive measure, but optimal treatment of Alzheimer disease at later stages of the cascade could require intervention in both pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lary C Walker
- Department of Neurology and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States.
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4
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Abstract
Most age-related neurodegenerative diseases are associated with the misfolding and aberrant accumulation of specific proteins in the nervous system. The proteins self-assemble and spread by a prion-like process of corruptive molecular templating, whereby abnormally folded proteins induce the misfolding and aggregation of like proteins into characteristic lesions. Despite the apparent simplicity of this process at the molecular level, diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, and others display remarkable phenotypic heterogeneity, both clinically and pathologically. Evidence is growing that this variability is mediated, at least in part, by the acquisition of diverse molecular architectures by the misfolded proteins, variants referred to as proteopathic strains. The structural and functional diversity of the assemblies is influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and local contextual factors. Insights into proteopathic strains gleaned from the classical prion diseases can be profitably incorporated into research on other neurodegenerative diseases. Their potentially wide-ranging influence on disease phenotype also suggests that proteopathic strains should be considered in the design and interpretation of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lary C Walker
- Department of Neurology and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322;
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Haus JM, Eyler TB, Duda MD, Bowman JL. Hunter perceptions toward chronic wasting disease: Implications for harvest and management. WILDLIFE SOC B 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob M. Haus
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Delaware531 S College AvenueNewarkDE19716USA
| | - T. Brian Eyler
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources14038 Blairs Valley RoadClear SpringMD21722USA
| | - Mark D. Duda
- Responsive Management130 Franklin StreetHarrisonburgVA22801USA
| | - Jacob L. Bowman
- Department of Entomology and Wildlife EcologyUniversity of Delaware531 S College AvenueNewarkDE19716USA
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Sushma B, Gugwad S, Pavaskar R, Malik SA. Prions in dentistry: A need to be concerned and known. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol 2016; 20:111-4. [PMID: 27194872 PMCID: PMC4860911 DOI: 10.4103/0973-029x.180961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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 were first discovered by Stanley B. Prusiner who defined prions as infectious, transmissible proteinaceous particles that lack nucleic acid and are composed exclusively of a modified isoform of the noninfectious cellular prion protein (PrPC). These are incurable neurodegenerative conditions affecting both animals and humans. They may be sporadic, infectious or inherited in origin. Human prion diseases include Creutzfeldt–Jakob desease (CJD), Gerstmann– Straussler–Scheinker disease, Kuru and Fatal familial insomnia. Prions resist the conventional sterilization procedures and hence the dentists must be aware of such diseases so as to opt standard methods of infection control and decontamination for such infectious agents. This review article divulge the dentists with a brief overview of the characteristics of prions, the risk of transmission and the implications for infection control in dentist.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Sushma
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dental Sciences, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University, Karad, Maharastra, India
| | - Sachin Gugwad
- Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Sciences, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University, Karad, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rajdeep Pavaskar
- Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Goa Dental College and Hospital, Bambolim, Goa, India
| | - Shambhvi A Malik
- Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, School of Dental Sciences, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences Deemed University, Karad, Maharastra, India
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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.
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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
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Ngoungoure VLN, Schluesener J, Moundipa PF, Schluesener H. Natural polyphenols binding to amyloid: A broad class of compounds to treat different human amyloid diseases. Mol Nutr Food Res 2014; 59:8-20. [DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201400290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2014] [Revised: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Viviane L. Ndam Ngoungoure
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Yaoundé I; Yaoundé Cameroon
- Division of Immunopathology of the Nervous System; Department of Neuropathology; Institute of Pathology; University of Tuebingen; Tuebingen Germany
| | - Jan Schluesener
- Division of Immunopathology of the Nervous System; Department of Neuropathology; Institute of Pathology; University of Tuebingen; Tuebingen Germany
| | - Paul F. Moundipa
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology; University of Yaoundé I; Yaoundé Cameroon
| | - Hermann Schluesener
- Division of Immunopathology of the Nervous System; Department of Neuropathology; Institute of Pathology; University of Tuebingen; Tuebingen Germany
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9
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Biochemical and immunological aspects of protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. JOURNAL OF THE IRANIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s13738-014-0491-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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10
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Abstract
The purpose of this introductory chapter is to provide the reader with a brief overview of the factors that drive disease emergence in order to set the scene for the more detailed chapters that follow. The chapter is divided into three parts. The first deals with the activities of humans that drive disease emergence. This ranges from historical factors such as animal domestication to the impact of new technologies such as air travel and agricultural intensification in response to population growth. The second section deals with virus properties that enable them to adapt to new hosts, particularly jumping between species. The final section deals with the activities of animals themselves that contribute to disease emergence.
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11
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Efimov S, Karataeva F, Aganov A, Berger S, Klochkov V. Spatial structure of cyclosporin A and insight into its flexibility. J Mol Struct 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2012.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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12
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Reconstructing the fungal tree of life using phylogenomics and a preliminary investigation of the distribution of yeast prion-like proteins in the fungal kingdom. J Mol Evol 2011; 73:116-33. [PMID: 21938499 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-011-9461-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2011] [Accepted: 09/07/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
We have used three independent phylogenomic approaches (concatenated alignments, single-, and multi-gene supertrees) to reconstruct the fungal tree of life (FTOL) using publicly available fungal genomes. This is the first time multi-gene families have been used in fungal supertree reconstruction and permits us to use up to 66% of the 1,001,217 genes in our fungal database. Our analyses show that different phylogenomic datasets derived from varying clustering criteria and alignment orientation do not have a major effect on phylogenomic supertree reconstruction. Overall the resultant phylogenomic trees are relatively congruent with one another and successfully recover the major fungal phyla, subphyla and classes. We find that where incongruences do occur, the inferences are usually poorly supported. Within the Ascomycota phylum, our phylogenies reconstruct monophyletic Saccharomycotina and Pezizomycotina subphyla clades and infer a sister group relationship between these to the exclusion of the Taphrinomycotina. Within the Pezizomycotina subphylum, all three phylogenies infer a sister group relationship between the Leotiomycetes and Sordariomycetes classes. However, there is conflict regarding the relationships with the Dothideomycetes and Eurotiomycetes classes. Within the Basidiomycota phylum, supertrees derived from single- and multi-gene families infer a sister group relationship between the Pucciniomycotina and Agaricomycotina subphyla while the concatenated phylogeny infers a poorly supported relationship between the Agaricomycotina and Ustilagomycotina. The reconstruction of a robust FTOL is important for future fungal comparative analyses. We illustrate this point by performing a preliminary investigation into the phyletic distribution of yeast prion-like proteins in the fungal kingdom.
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Vaske JJ, Lyon KM. CWD prevalence, perceived human health risks, and state influences on deer hunting participation. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2011; 31:488-496. [PMID: 21039704 DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2010.01514.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
This study examined factors predicted by previous research to influence hunters' decisions to stop hunting deer in a state. Data were obtained from mail surveys of resident and nonresident deer hunters in Arizona, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin (n = 3,518). Hunters were presented with six scenarios depicting hypothetical CWD prevalence levels and human health risks from the disease (e.g., death), and asked if they would continue or stop hunting deer in the state. Bivariate analyses examined the influence of five predictor variables: (a) CWD prevalence, (b) hypothetical human death from CWD, (c) perceived human health risks from CWD, (d) state, and (e) residency. In the bivariate analyses, prevalence was the strongest predictor of quitting hunting in the state followed by hypothetical human death and perceived risk. The presence of CWD in a state and residency were weak, but statistically significant, predictors. Interactions among these predictors increased the potential for stopping hunting in the state. Multivariate analyses suggested that 64% of our respondents would quit hunting in the worst-case scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry J Vaske
- Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
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14
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Abskharon RNN, Soror SH, Pardon E, El Hassan H, Legname G, Steyaert J, Wohlkonig A. Crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of a specific VHH domain against mouse prion protein. Acta Crystallogr Sect F Struct Biol Cryst Commun 2010; 66:1644-6. [PMID: 21139215 PMCID: PMC2998374 DOI: 10.1107/s1744309110042168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2010] [Accepted: 10/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Prion disorders are infectious diseases that are characterized by the conversion of the cellular prion protein PrPC into the pathogenic isoform PrPSc. Specific antibodies that interact with the cellular prion protein have been shown to inhibit this transition. Recombinant VHHs (variable domain of dromedary heavy-chain antibodies) or nanobodies are single-domain antibodies, making them the smallest antigen-binding fragments. A specific nanobody (Nb_PrP_01) was raised against mouse PrPC. A crystallization condition for this recombinant nanobody was identified using high-throughput screening. The crystals were optimized using streak-seeding and the hanging-drop method. The crystals belonged to the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1), with unit-cell parameters a=30.04, b=37.15, c=83.00 Å, and diffracted to 1.23 Å resolution using synchrotron radiation. The crystal structure of this specific nanobody against PrPC together with the known PrPC structure may help in understanding the PrPC/PrPSc transition mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romany N. N. Abskharon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Molecular and Cellular Interactions, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Sameh H. Soror
- Structural Biology Brussels, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Molecular and Cellular Interactions, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Molecular and Cellular Interactions, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Hassan El Hassan
- Structural Biology Brussels, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Molecular and Cellular Interactions, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- International School for Advanced Studies, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Trieste, Italy
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Molecular and Cellular Interactions, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Wohlkonig
- Structural Biology Brussels, Free University of Brussels, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
- Molecular and Cellular Interactions, VIB, Pleinlaan 2, Brussels 1050, Belgium
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15
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Induction of cerebral beta-amyloidosis: intracerebral versus systemic Abeta inoculation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:12926-31. [PMID: 19622727 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0903200106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 211] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance of the aberrant polymerization of Abeta in the early pathogenic cascade of Alzheimer's disease, little is known about the induction of Abeta aggregation in vivo. Here we show that induction of cerebral beta-amyloidosis can be achieved in many different brain areas of APP23 transgenic mice through the injection of dilute Abeta-containing brain extracts. Once the amyloidogenic process has been exogenously induced, the nature of the induced Abeta-deposition is determined by the brain region of the host. Because these observations are reminiscent of a prion-like mechanism, we then investigated whether cerebral beta-amyloidosis also can be induced by peripheral and systemic inoculations or by the intracerebral implantation of stainless steel wires previously coated with minute amounts of Abeta-containing brain extract. Results reveal that oral, intravenous, intraocular, and intranasal inoculations yielded no detectable induction of cerebral beta-amyloidosis in APP23 transgenic mice. In contrast, transmission of cerebral beta-amyloidosis through the Abeta-contaminated steel wires was demonstrated. Notably, plasma sterilization, but not boiling of the wires before implantation, prevented the induction of beta-amyloidosis. Our results suggest that minute amounts of Abeta-containing brain material in direct contact with the CNS can induce cerebral beta-amyloidosis, but that systemic cellular mechanisms of prion uptake and transport to the CNS may not apply to Abeta.
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16
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Malaisé M, Schätzl HM, Bürkle A. The octarepeat region of prion protein, but not the TM1 domain, is important for the antioxidant effect of prion protein. Free Radic Biol Med 2008; 45:1622-30. [PMID: 18824094 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2008] [Revised: 07/23/2008] [Accepted: 08/20/2008] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of prion diseases, but its physiological function is far from understood. Several candidate functions have been proposed including binding and internalization of metal ions, a superoxide dismutase-like activity, regulation of cellular antioxidant activities, and signal transduction. The transmembrane (TM1) region of PrP(c) (residues 110-135) is particularly interesting because of its very high evolutionary conservation. We investigated a possible role of TM1 in the antioxidant defense, by assessing the impact of overexpressing wt-PrP or deletion mutants in N(2)A mouse neuroblastoma cells on intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Under conditions of oxidative stress, intracellular ROS levels were significantly lowered in cells overexpressing either wild-type PrP(c) (wt-PrP) or a deletion mutant affecting TM1 (Delta8TM1-PrP), but, as expected, not in cultures overexpressing a deletion mutant lacking the octapeptide region (Deltaocta-PrP). Overexpression of wt-PrP, Delta8TM1-PrP, or Deltaocta-PrP did not affect basal ROS levels. Interestingly, the mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lowered in Deltaocta-PrP-transfected cultures in the absence of oxidative stress. We conclude that the protective effect of PrP(c) against oxidative stress involves the octarepeat region but not the TM1 domain nor the high-affinity copper binding site described for human residues His96/His111.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muriel Malaisé
- Molecular Toxicology Group, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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17
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Anantharam V, Kanthasamy A, Choi CJ, Martin DP, Latchoumycandane C, Richt JA, Kanthasamy AG. Opposing roles of prion protein in oxidative stress- and ER stress-induced apoptotic signaling. Free Radic Biol Med 2008; 45:1530-41. [PMID: 18835352 PMCID: PMC2628483 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2008] [Revised: 08/01/2008] [Accepted: 08/25/2008] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Although the prion protein is abundantly expressed in the CNS, its biological functions remain unclear. To determine the endogenous function of the cellular prion protein (PrP(c)), we compared the effects of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducers on apoptotic signaling in PrP(c)-expressing and PrP(ko) (knockout) neural cells. H(2)O(2), brefeldin A (BFA), and tunicamycin (TUN) induced increases in caspase-9 and caspase-3, PKCdelta proteolytic activation, and DNA fragmentation in PrP(c) and PrP(ko) cells. Interestingly, ER stress-induced activation of caspases, PKCdelta, and apoptosis was significantly exacerbated in PrP(c) cells, whereas H(2)O(2)-induced proapoptotic changes were suppressed in PrP(c) compared to PrP(ko) cells. Additionally, caspase-12 and caspase-8 were activated only in the BFA and TUN treatments. Inhibitors of caspase-9, caspase-3, and PKCdelta significantly blocked H(2)O(2)-, BFA-, and TUN-induced apoptosis, whereas the caspase-8 inhibitor attenuated only BFA- and TUN-induced cell death, and the antioxidant MnTBAP blocked only H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis. Overexpression of the kinase-inactive PKCdelta(K376R) or the cleavage site-resistant PKCdelta(D327A) mutant suppressed both ER and oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Thus, PrP(c) plays a proapoptotic role during ER stress and an antiapoptotic role during oxidative stress-induced cell death. Together, these results suggest that cellular PrP enhances the susceptibility of neural cells to impairment of protein processing and trafficking, but decreases the vulnerability to oxidative insults, and that PKCdelta is a key downstream mediator of cellular stress-induced neuronal apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Anumantha G. Kanthasamy
- Corresponding Author: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa Center for Advanced Neurotoxicology, 2062 Veterinary Medicine Building, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011. USA. Tel.: (515) 294-2516, Fax: (515) 294-2315, E-mail:
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18
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Sellarajah S, Boussard C, Lekishvili T, Brown DR, Gilbert IH. Synthesis and testing of peptides for anti-prion activity. Eur J Med Chem 2008; 43:2418-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2008.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2007] [Revised: 01/10/2008] [Accepted: 01/18/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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19
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Levavasseur E, Metharom P, Dorban G, Nakano H, Kakiuchi T, Carnaud C, Sarradin P, Aucouturier P. Experimental scrapie in 'plt' mice: an assessment of the role of dendritic-cell migration in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. J Gen Virol 2007; 88:2353-2360. [PMID: 17622642 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.82816-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripherally acquired transmissible spongiform encephalopathies display strikingly long incubation periods, during which increasing amounts of prions can be detected in lymphoid tissues. While precise sites of peripheral accumulation have been described, the mechanisms of prion transport from mucosa and skin to lymphoid and nervous tissues remain unknown. Because of unique functional abilities, dendritic cells (DCs) have been suspected to participate in prion pathogenesis. In mice inoculated subcutaneously with scrapie-infected DCs, the incubation was shorter when cells were alive as compared with killed cells, suggesting that DC functions may facilitate prion neuroinvasion. However, early propagation in lymphoid tissues seemed not importantly affected by DC vitality. Mutant (plt) mice that have deficient CCL19/CCL21 expression and DC migration displayed similar infection of secondary lymphoid organs as normal mice, regardless of the route of inoculation and scrapie strain. Under certain conditions of transcutaneous inoculation, the incubation and duration of disease were moderately prolonged in plt mice. This was not related to a milder neuropathogenesis, since plt and normal mice were equally susceptible to intracerebral prion challenge. We conclude that peripheral spreading of prions appears poorly dependent on cell migration through the chemokine/receptor system CCL19/CCL21/CCR7, although DCs might be able to help prions reach sites of neuroinvasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Levavasseur
- Inserm UMR S 712, Hôpital St-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S 712, Paris, France
| | - Pat Metharom
- Inserm UMR S 712, Hôpital St-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S 712, Paris, France
| | - Gauthier Dorban
- CRPP, Faculty of Medicine, University of Liège, B-4020 Liège, Belgium
| | - Hideki Nakano
- Laboratory of Respiratory Biology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Terutaka Kakiuchi
- Department of Immunology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Claude Carnaud
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S 712, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Sarradin
- INRA, UR1282, Infectiologie Animale et Santé Publique, IASP, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Pierre Aucouturier
- Inserm UMR S 712, Hôpital St-Antoine, F-75012 Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, UMR S 712, Paris, France
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20
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Sigurdson CJ, Manco G, Schwarz P, Liberski P, Hoover EA, Hornemann S, Polymenidou M, Miller MW, Glatzel M, Aguzzi A. Strain fidelity of chronic wasting disease upon murine adaptation. J Virol 2006; 80:12303-11. [PMID: 17020952 PMCID: PMC1676299 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01120-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a prion disease of deer and elk, is highly prevalent in some regions of North America. The establishment of mouse-adapted CWD prions has proven difficult due to the strong species barrier between mice and deer. Here we report the efficient transmission of CWD to transgenic mice overexpressing murine PrP. All mice developed disease 500 +/- 62 days after intracerebral CWD challenge. The incubation period decreased to 228 +/- 103 days on secondary passage and to 162 +/- 6 days on tertiary passage. Mice developed very large, radially structured cerebral amyloid plaques similar to those of CWD-infected deer and elk. PrP(Sc) was detected in spleen, indicating that murine CWD was lymphotropic. PrP(Sc) glycoform profiles maintained a predominantly diglycosylated PrP pattern, as seen with CWD in deer and elk, across all passages. Therefore, all pathological, biochemical, and histological strain characteristics of CWD appear to persist upon repetitive serial passage through mice. These findings indicate that the salient strain-specific properties of CWD are encoded by agent-intrinsic components rather than by host factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina J Sigurdson
- UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Institute of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
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21
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Abstract
Protein folding is a spontaneous process that is essential for life, yet the concentrated and complex interior of a cell is an inherently hostile environment for the efficient folding of many proteins. Some proteins-constrained by sequence, topology, size, and function-simply cannot fold by themselves and are instead prone to misfolding and aggregation. This problem is so deeply entrenched that a specialized family of proteins, known as molecular chaperones, evolved to assist in protein folding. Here we examine one essential class of molecular chaperones, the large, oligomeric, and energy utilizing chaperonins or Hsp60s. The bacterial chaperonin GroEL, along with its co-chaperonin GroES, is probably the best-studied example of this family of protein-folding machine. In this review, we examine some of the general properties of proteins that do not fold well in the absence of GroEL and then consider how folding of these proteins is enhanced by GroEL and GroES. Recent experimental and theoretical studies suggest that chaperonins like GroEL and GroES employ a combination of protein isolation, unfolding, and conformational restriction to drive protein folding under conditions where it is otherwise not possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zong Lin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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22
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Walker LC, Levine H, Mattson MP, Jucker M. Inducible proteopathies. Trends Neurosci 2006; 29:438-43. [PMID: 16806508 PMCID: PMC10725716 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2006.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2005] [Revised: 03/07/2006] [Accepted: 06/08/2006] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Numerous degenerative diseases are characterized by the aberrant polymerization and accumulation of specific proteins. These proteopathies include neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and the prion diseases, in addition to diverse systemic disorders, particularly the amyloidoses. The prion diseases have been shown to be transmissible by an alternative conformation of the normal cellular prion protein. Other proteopathies have been thought to be non-transmissible, but there is growing evidence that some systemic and cerebral amyloidoses can be induced by exposure of susceptible hosts to cognate molecular templates. As we review here, the mechanistic similarities among these diseases provide unprecedented opportunities for elucidating the induction of protein misfolding and assembly in vivo, and for developing an integrated therapeutic approach to degenerative proteopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lary C Walker
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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23
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Leclerc E, Serban H, Prusiner SB, Burton DR, Williamson RA. Copper induces conformational changes in the N-terminal part of cell-surface PrPC. Arch Virol 2006; 151:2103-9. [PMID: 16791441 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-006-0804-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2006] [Accepted: 05/10/2006] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are caused by misfolding of the cellular prion protein, PrPC. In vitro studies have shown that PrP binds copper via the octarepeat region lying within the unstructured N-terminal segment of the protein, but the significance of copper in PrP metabolism remains unclear. Here, six specific antibodies recognizing different epitope regions of PrP were used to measure the effect of copper on the conformation of the molecule at the cell surface. Binding of an antibody, E149, to an epitope within the octarepeat domain of PrP is halved in the presence of copper, whereas binding of antibodies recognizing epitope motifs C-terminal to residue 90 of PrP remain relatively unaltered under equivalent conditions. These experiments strongly suggest that copper induces localized conformational change within the N-terminal portion of cell-surface PrPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Leclerc
- Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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24
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Grosset A, Moskowitz K, Nelsen C, Pan T, Davidson E, Orser CS. Rapid presymptomatic detection of PrPSc via conformationally responsive palindromic PrP peptides. Peptides 2005; 26:2193-200. [PMID: 16269350 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2005.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2005] [Revised: 03/09/2005] [Accepted: 03/09/2005] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Structurally unique, synthetic prion peptides provide the basis of a simple assay to serve as both a detection and signal amplification system that distinguishes the normal prion protein, PrPC, from the misfolded prion protein, PrPSc, that is associated with the occurrence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). Proof-of-principle has been shown on brain samples from an experimental scrapie hamster model. The assay demonstrates very sensitive detection of PrPSc in animal brain tissue with potential application for early presymptomatic detection in animal screening. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the assay could enable blood tests for this TSE disease as well as other amyloid and/or misfolded protein diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Grosset
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20006, USA
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25
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Jeong BH, Kim NH, Kim JI, Carp RI, Kim YS. Polymorphisms at codons 56 and 174 of the prion-like protein gene (PRND) are not associated with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. J Hum Genet 2005; 50:311-314. [PMID: 15933804 DOI: 10.1007/s10038-005-0254-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2004] [Accepted: 03/31/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Association between sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and the prion-like protein gene (PRND) has been reported in the German population. To investigate whether the PRND polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk for developing sporadic CJD in the Korean population, we compared the genotype and allele frequencies of PRND polymorphisms in 110 sporadic CJD patients with those in 102 healthy Koreans. Two polymorphisms (P56L, T174 M) in Koreans were found in the open reading frame (ORF) of PRND. One heterozygote of P56L was observed in normal controls but not in sporadic CJD patients. A strong significant difference of PRND genotype frequency at codon 174 was found between the normal Korean population and various European populations. In contrast to results in the German population, our study did not show a significant difference in PRND genotype or allele frequency at codon 174 between sporadic CJD and normal controls. This was the first genetic association study of the ORF of PRND in an Asian CJD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung-Hoon Jeong
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Ilsong Building, 1605-4 Gwanyang-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Kyounggi-do, 431-060, South Korea
| | - Nam-Ho Kim
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Ilsong Building, 1605-4 Gwanyang-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Kyounggi-do, 431-060, South Korea
| | - Jae-Il Kim
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA
| | - Richard I Carp
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY, 10314, USA
| | - Yong-Sun Kim
- Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Hallym University, Ilsong Building, 1605-4 Gwanyang-dong, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Kyounggi-do, 431-060, South Korea.
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26
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Garcion E, Wallace B, Pelletier L, Wion D. RNA mutagenesis and sporadic prion diseases. J Theor Biol 2004; 230:271-4. [PMID: 15302558 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2004.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2004] [Revised: 05/17/2004] [Accepted: 05/19/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The extremely low incidence of sporadic prion diseases suggests that they may arise as a rare stochastic event in otherwise healthy animals or humans. Current hypotheses for sporadic prion disease include horizontal transmission, spontaneous conversion of PrpC into PrpSc, and somatic mutation of the Prp gene. Here, we suggest RNA mutation as a possible initial event in the etiology of sporadic prion disease. The proposed model is based on (i) the fact that in Prp-expressing cells, mutations are statistically more likely to occur in the Prp mRNA population than in the corresponding two copies of the Prp gene, and (ii) the absence of RNA repair mechanisms analogous to those found for DNA mismatch correction resulting in a relatively higher rate of RNA mutations. Here, we suggest that translation of mutated Prp mRNA could lead to the synthesis of transient Prp(Sc) which results in the conversion of PrpC into PrpSc and the propagation of a disease-associated isoform. This model points to RNA mutation as a possible mechanism for the generation of sporadic prion diseases and other pathological disorders in which infectious proteins other than PrpSc might be implicated.
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27
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Popović M, Glavac D, Smerkolj S, Svigelj V, Kalan G, Galvani V, Cernilec M, Bresjanac M. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in Slovenia from 1985 to 2003. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2004; 116:524-9. [PMID: 15471179 DOI: 10.1007/bf03217705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
AIM The epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and subsequent emergence of a new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease have raised great public concern, initiating improved and prospective surveillance of human prion diseases in Europe and all over the world. This report briefly presents the epidemiology, clinical data, neuropathology, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and prion-protein gene analysis of Slovenian cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from January 1985 to the end of 2003. MATERIALS, METHODS AND RESULTS During the 19-year period, 39 suspected cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease were referred and 22 were confirmed. The prion-protein gene was analyzed in 12 of the confirmed cases and the protein glycosylation pattern in 11. There was a low average incidence of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (0.5/million) throughout the surveillance period, but a pronounced increase between January 2001 and December 2003 (to 1.9/million/year). A high female to male ratio (2.5/1) was noted. All of the confirmed cases were defined as sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease based on the clinical data, neuropathological findings, glycosylation pattern, and gene analysis. All tested cases had a type-2 glycosylation pattern; eleven of the twelve tested patients were homozygous at codon 129 of the prion-protein gene (1 VV and 10 MM) and one was heterozygous. CONCLUSION The small number of Slovenian cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease during the last 19 years has shown a pronounced increase in incidence, reflecting improved surveillance, and a high female to male ratio, where female cases are more than twice as numerous as male cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Popović
- Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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28
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Mattson MP. Infectious agents and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Ageing Res Rev 2004; 3:105-20. [PMID: 15163105 PMCID: PMC7172323 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2003.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2003] [Accepted: 08/06/2003] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
chlamdAs with other organ systems, the vulnerability of the nervous system to infectious agents increases with aging. Several different infectious agents can cause neurodegenerative conditions, with prominent examples being human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) dementia and prion disorders. Such infections of the central nervous system (CNS) typically have a relatively long incubation period and a chronic progressive course, and are therefore increasing in frequency as more people live longer. Infectious agents may enter the central nervous system in infected migratory macrophages, by transcytosis across blood-brain barrier cells or by intraneuronal transfer from peripheral nerves. Synapses and lipid rafts are important sites at which infectious agents may enter neurons and/or exert their cytotoxic effects. Recent findings suggest the possibility that infectious agents may increase the risk of common age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and stroke. While scenarios can be envisioned whereby viruses such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, herpes simplex and influenza promote damage to neurons during aging, there is no conclusive evidence for a major role of these pathogens in neurodegenerative disorders. In the case of stroke, blood vessels may be adversely affected by bacteria or viruses resulting in atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark P Mattson
- Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, Gerontology Research Center, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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29
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Abstract
AbstractThe yeast Sup35 and Rnq1 proteins can exist in either the noninfectious soluble forms, [psi–]or[pin–], respectively, or the multiple infectious amyloid-like forms called [PSI+]or[PIN+] prion variants (or prion strains). It was previously shown that [PSI+] and [PIN+] prions enhance one another's de novo appearance. Here we show that specific prion variants of [PSI+] and [PIN+] disrupt each other's stable inheritance. Acquiring [PSI+] often impedes the inheritance of particular [PIN+] variants. Conversely, the presence of some [PIN+] variants impairs the inheritance of weak [PSI+] but not strong [PSI+] variants. These same [PIN+] variants generate a single-dot fluorescence pattern when a fusion of Rnq1 and green fluorescent protein is expressed. Another [PIN+] variant, which forms a distinctly different multiple-dot fluorescence pattern, does not impair [PSI+] inheritance. Thus, destabilization of prions by heterologous prions depends upon the variants involved. These findings may have implications for understanding interactions among other amyloid-forming proteins, including those associated with certain human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Bradley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Laboratory for Molecular Biology, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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30
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Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system targets numerous cellular proteins for degradation. In addition, modifications by ubiquitin-like proteins as well as proteins containing ubiquitin-interacting and -associated motifs modulate many others. This tightly controlled process involves multiple specific and general enzymes of the system as well as many modifying and ancillary proteins. Thus, it is not surprising that ubiquitin-mediated degradation/processing/modification regulates a broad array of basic cellular processes. Moreover, aberrations in the system have been implicated, either as a primary cause or secondary consequence, in the pathogenesis of both inherited and acquired neurodegenerative diseases. Recent findings indicate that the system is involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Prion diseases as well as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This raises hopes for a better understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in these diseases and for the development of novel, mechanism-based therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Ciechanover
- Department of Biochemistry and The Rappaport Family Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences, The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel.
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