1
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Vieira TCRG, Barros CA, Domingues R, Outeiro TF. PrP meets alpha-synuclein: Molecular mechanisms and implications for disease. J Neurochem 2023. [PMID: 37855859 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of prions has challenged dogmas and has revolutionized our understanding of protein-misfolding diseases. The concept of self-propagation via protein conformational changes, originally discovered for the prion protein (PrP), also applies to other proteins that exhibit similar behavior, such as alpha-synuclein (aSyn), a central player in Parkinson's disease and in other synucleinopathies. aSyn pathology appears to spread from one cell to another during disease progression, and involves the misfolding and aggregation of aSyn. How the transfer of aSyn between cells occurs is still being studied, but one important hypothesis involves receptor-mediated transport. Interestingly, recent studies indicate that the cellular prion protein (PrPC ) may play a crucial role in this process. PrPC has been shown to act as a receptor/sensor for protein aggregates in different neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the interaction between aSyn and PrPC and discuss its role in synucleinopathies. We examine the properties of PrP and aSyn, including their structure, function, and aggregation. Additionally, we discuss the current understanding of PrPC 's role as a receptor/sensor for aSyn aggregates and identify remaining unanswered questions in this area of research. Ultimately, we posit that exploring the interaction between aSyn and PrPC may offer potential treatment options for synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuane C R G Vieira
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Caroline A Barros
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis and National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renato Domingues
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tiago Fleming Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
- Scientific Employee with an Honorary Contract at Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
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2
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Bauer S, Dittrich L, Kaczmarczyk L, Schleif M, Benfeitas R, Jackson WS. Translatome profiling in fatal familial insomnia implicates TOR signaling in somatostatin neurons. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/11/e202201530. [PMID: 36192034 PMCID: PMC9531780 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bauer and colleagues report that among the six neuron types studied, somatostatin neurons have an unexpectedly strong and similar response to two distinct genetic prion diseases before disease onset. Selective neuronal vulnerability is common in neurodegenerative diseases but poorly understood. In genetic prion diseases, including fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD), different mutations in the Prnp gene manifest as clinically and neuropathologically distinct diseases. Here we report with electroencephalography studies that theta waves are mildly increased in 21 mo old knock-in mice modeling FFI and CJD and that sleep is mildy affected in FFI mice. To define affected cell types, we analyzed cell type–specific translatomes from six neuron types of 9 mo old FFI and CJD mice. Somatostatin (SST) neurons responded the strongest in both diseases, with unexpectedly high overlap in genes and pathways. Functional analyses revealed up-regulation of neurodegenerative disease pathways and ribosome and mitochondria biogenesis, and down-regulation of synaptic function and small GTPase-mediated signaling in FFI, implicating down-regulation of mTOR signaling as the root of these changes. In contrast, responses in glutamatergic cerebellar neurons were disease-specific. The high similarity in SST neurons of FFI and CJD mice suggests that a common therapy may be beneficial for multiple genetic prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Bauer
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lars Dittrich
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lech Kaczmarczyk
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany
| | - Melvin Schleif
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany
| | - Rui Benfeitas
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Walker S Jackson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden .,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn, Germany
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3
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Shekarian T, Zinner CP, Bartoszek EM, Duchemin W, Wachnowicz AT, Hogan S, Etter MM, Flammer J, Paganetti C, Martins TA, Schmassmann P, Zanganeh S, Le Goff F, Muraro MG, Ritz MF, Phillips D, Bhate SS, Barlow GL, Nolan GP, Schürch CM, Hutter G. Immunotherapy of glioblastoma explants induces interferon-γ responses and spatial immune cell rearrangements in tumor center, but not periphery. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn9440. [PMID: 35776791 PMCID: PMC10883360 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn9440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A patient-tailored, ex vivo drug response platform for glioblastoma (GBM) would facilitate therapy planning, provide insights into treatment-induced mechanisms in the immune tumor microenvironment (iTME), and enable the discovery of biomarkers of response. We cultured regionally annotated GBM explants in perfusion bioreactors to assess iTME responses to immunotherapy. Explants were treated with anti-CD47, anti-PD-1, or their combination, and analyzed by multiplexed microscopy [CO-Detection by indEXing (CODEX)], enabling the spatially resolved identification of >850,000 single cells, accompanied by explant secretome interrogation. Center and periphery explants differed in their cell type and soluble factor composition, and responses to immunotherapy. A subset of explants displayed increased interferon-γ levels, which correlated with shifts in immune cell composition within specified tissue compartments. Our study demonstrates that ex vivo immunotherapy of GBM explants enables an active antitumoral immune response within the tumor center and provides a framework for multidimensional personalized assessment of tumor response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tala Shekarian
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carl P Zinner
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ewelina M Bartoszek
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wandrille Duchemin
- sciCORE Center for Scientific Computing, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Anna T Wachnowicz
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Hogan
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Manina M Etter
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Julia Flammer
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Paganetti
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tomas A Martins
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Philip Schmassmann
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Steven Zanganeh
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA, USA
| | | | - Manuele G Muraro
- Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital of Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Françoise Ritz
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Darci Phillips
- Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Salil S Bhate
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Graham L Barlow
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Garry P Nolan
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christian M Schürch
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital and Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gregor Hutter
- Brain Tumor Immunotherapy Lab, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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4
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Matamoros-Angles A, Hervera A, Soriano J, Martí E, Carulla P, Llorens F, Nuvolone M, Aguzzi A, Ferrer I, Gruart A, Delgado-García JM, Del Río JA. Analysis of co-isogenic prion protein deficient mice reveals behavioral deficits, learning impairment, and enhanced hippocampal excitability. BMC Biol 2022; 20:17. [PMID: 35027047 PMCID: PMC8759182 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01203-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a cell surface GPI-anchored protein, usually known for its role in the pathogenesis of human and animal prionopathies. However, increasing knowledge about the participation of PrPC in prion pathogenesis contrasts with puzzling data regarding its natural physiological role. PrPC is expressed in a number of tissues, including at high levels in the nervous system, especially in neurons and glial cells, and while previous studies have established a neuroprotective role, conflicting evidence for a synaptic function has revealed both reduced and enhanced long-term potentiation, and variable observations on memory, learning, and behavior. Such evidence has been confounded by the absence of an appropriate knock-out mouse model to dissect the biological relevance of PrPC, with some functions recently shown to be misattributed to PrPC due to the presence of genetic artifacts in mouse models. Here we elucidate the role of PrPC in the hippocampal circuitry and its related functions, such as learning and memory, using a recently available strictly co-isogenic Prnp0/0 mouse model (PrnpZH3/ZH3). Results We performed behavioral and operant conditioning tests to evaluate memory and learning capabilities, with results showing decreased motility, impaired operant conditioning learning, and anxiety-related behavior in PrnpZH3/ZH3 animals. We also carried in vivo electrophysiological recordings on CA3-CA1 synapses in living behaving mice and monitored spontaneous neuronal firing and network formation in primary neuronal cultures of PrnpZH3/ZH3 vs wildtype mice. PrPC absence enhanced susceptibility to high-intensity stimulations and kainate-induced seizures. However, long-term potentiation (LTP) was not enhanced in the PrnpZH3/ZH3 hippocampus. In addition, we observed a delay in neuronal maturation and network formation in PrnpZH3/ZH3 cultures. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that PrPC promotes neuronal network formation and connectivity. PrPC mediates synaptic function and protects the synapse from excitotoxic insults. Its deletion may underlie an epileptogenic-susceptible brain that fails to perform highly cognitive-demanding tasks such as associative learning and anxiety-like behaviors. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01203-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Matamoros-Angles
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Hervera
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J Soriano
- Departament de Física de la Materia Condensada, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - E Martí
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Bioinformatics and Genomics, Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona, Spain
| | - P Carulla
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Llorens
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Neurology, University Medical School, Göttingen, Germany.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Amyloidosis Center, Foundation IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - I Ferrer
- CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Senior Consultant, Bellvitge University Hospital, IDIBELL (Bellvitge Biomedical Research Centre), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Gruart
- Division of Neurosciences, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - J M Delgado-García
- Division of Neurosciences, Pablo de Olavide University, 41013, Seville, Spain.
| | - J A Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,CIBERNED (Network Centre of Biomedical Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases), Institute of Health Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain. .,Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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5
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Abstract
Prion diseases are neurodegenerative disorders caused by conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into scrapie prion protein (PrPSc). As the main component of prion, PrPSc acts as an infectious template that recruits and converts normal cellular PrPC into its pathogenic, misfolded isoform. Intriguingly, the phenomenon of prionoid, or prion-like, spread has also been observed in many other disease-associated proteins, such as amyloid β (Aβ), tau and α-synuclein. This Cell Science at a Glance and the accompanying poster highlight recently described physiological roles of prion protein and the advanced understanding of pathogenesis of prion disease they have afforded. Importantly, prion protein may also be involved in the pathogenesis of other neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Therapeutic studies of prion disease have also exploited novel strategies to combat these devastating diseases. Future studies on prion protein and prion disease will deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihong Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, CH-8091, Switzerland
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6
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Microglia in Prion Diseases: Angels or Demons? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207765. [PMID: 33092220 PMCID: PMC7589037 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are rare transmissible neurodegenerative disorders caused by the accumulation of a misfolded isoform (PrPSc) of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in the central nervous system (CNS). Neuropathological hallmarks of prion diseases are neuronal loss, astrogliosis, and enhanced microglial proliferation and activation. As immune cells of the CNS, microglia participate both in the maintenance of the normal brain physiology and in driving the neuroinflammatory response to acute or chronic (e.g., neurodegenerative disorders) insults. Microglia involvement in prion diseases, however, is far from being clearly understood. During this review, we summarize and discuss controversial findings, both in patient and animal models, suggesting a neuroprotective role of microglia in prion disease pathogenesis and progression, or—conversely—a microglia-mediated exacerbation of neurotoxicity in later stages of disease. We also will consider the active participation of PrPC in microglial functions, by discussing previous reports, but also by presenting unpublished results that support a role for PrPC in cytokine secretion by activated primary microglia.
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7
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Marín-Moreno A, Espinosa JC, Torres JM. Transgenic mouse models for the study of prion diseases. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 175:147-177. [PMID: 32958231 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Prions are unique agents that challenge the molecular biology dogma by transmitting information on the protein level. They cause neurodegenerative diseases that lack of any cure or treatment called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. The function of the normal form of the prion protein, the exact mechanism of prion propagation between species as well as at the cellular level and neuron degeneration remains elusive. However, great amount of information known for all these aspects has been achieved thanks to the use of animal models and more precisely to transgenic mouse models. In this chapter, the main contributions of these powerful research tools in the prion field are revised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Marín-Moreno
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan María Torres
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Madrid, Spain.
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8
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Sorce S, Nuvolone M, Russo G, Chincisan A, Heinzer D, Avar M, Pfammatter M, Schwarz P, Delic M, Müller M, Hornemann S, Sanoudou D, Scheckel C, Aguzzi A. Genome-wide transcriptomics identifies an early preclinical signature of prion infection. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008653. [PMID: 32598380 PMCID: PMC7360066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical course of prion diseases is accurately predictable despite long latency periods, suggesting that prion pathogenesis is driven by precisely timed molecular events. We constructed a searchable genome-wide atlas of mRNA abundance and splicing alterations during the course of disease in prion-inoculated mice. Prion infection induced PrP-dependent transient changes in mRNA abundance and processing already at eight weeks post inoculation, well ahead of any neuropathological and clinical signs. In contrast, microglia-enriched genes displayed an increase simultaneous with the appearance of clinical signs, whereas neuronal-enriched transcripts remained unchanged until the very terminal stage of disease. This suggests that glial pathophysiology, rather than neuronal demise, could be the final driver of disease. The administration of young plasma attenuated the occurrence of early mRNA abundance alterations and delayed signs in the terminal phase of the disease. The early onset of prion-induced molecular changes might thus point to novel biomarkers and potential interventional targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Sorce
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mario Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Foundation Scientific Institute Policlinico San Matteo, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Russo
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH/University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andra Chincisan
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Heinzer
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Merve Avar
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Petra Schwarz
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mirzet Delic
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Micha Müller
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simone Hornemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Despina Sanoudou
- Clinical Genomics and Pharmacogenomics Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Claudia Scheckel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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9
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Gavín R, Lidón L, Ferrer I, del Río JA. The Quest for Cellular Prion Protein Functions in the Aged and Neurodegenerating Brain. Cells 2020; 9:cells9030591. [PMID: 32131451 PMCID: PMC7140396 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular (also termed ‘natural’) prion protein has been extensively studied for many years for its pathogenic role in prionopathies after misfolding. However, neuroprotective properties of the protein have been demonstrated under various scenarios. In this line, the involvement of the cellular prion protein in neurodegenerative diseases other than prionopathies continues to be widely debated by the scientific community. In fact, studies on knock-out mice show a vast range of physiological functions for the protein that can be supported by its ability as a cell surface scaffold protein. In this review, we first summarize the most commonly described roles of cellular prion protein in neuroprotection, including antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities and modulation of glutamate receptors. Second, in light of recently described interaction between cellular prion protein and some amyloid misfolded proteins, we will also discuss the molecular mechanisms potentially involved in protection against neurodegeneration in pathologies such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-93-4031185
| | - Laia Lidón
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Senior Consultant, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08908 Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Antonio del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Science Park of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (L.L.); (J.A.d.R.)
- Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (Ciberned), 28031 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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10
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Adão-Novaes J, Valverde R, Landemberger M, Silveira M, Simões-Pires E, Lowe J, Linden R. Substrain-related dependence of Cu(I)-ATPase activity among prion protein-null mice. Brain Res 2020; 1727:146550. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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11
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Skedsmo FS, Malachin G, Våge DI, Hammervold MM, Salvesen Ø, Ersdal C, Ranheim B, Stafsnes MH, Bartosova Z, Bruheim P, Jäderlund KH, Matiasek K, Espenes A, Tranulis MA. Demyelinating polyneuropathy in goats lacking prion protein. FASEB J 2019; 34:2359-2375. [PMID: 31907995 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902588r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Studies in mice with ablation of Prnp, the gene that encodes the cellular prion protein (PrPC ), have led to the hypothesis that PrPC is important for peripheral nerve myelin maintenance. Here, we have used a nontransgenic animal model to put this idea to the test; namely, goats that, due to a naturally occurring nonsense mutation, lack PrPC . Teased nerve fiber preparation revealed a demyelinating pathology in goats without PrPC . Affected nerves were invaded by macrophages and T cells and displayed vacuolated fibers, shrunken axons, and onion bulbs. Peripheral nerve lipid composition was similar in young goats with or without PrPC , but markedly different between corresponding groups of adult goats, reflecting the progressive nature of the neuropathy. This is the first report of a subclinical demyelinating polyneuropathy caused by loss of PrPC function in a nontransgenic mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik S Skedsmo
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Giulia Malachin
- Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dag Inge Våge
- Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE), Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Mie Marie Hammervold
- Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE), Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Øyvind Salvesen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cecilie Ersdal
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Birgit Ranheim
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marit H Stafsnes
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Zdenka Bartosova
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Per Bruheim
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Karin H Jäderlund
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kaspar Matiasek
- Section of Clinical & Comparative Neuropathology, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Arild Espenes
- Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael A Tranulis
- Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
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12
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Siberchicot C, Gault N, Déchamps N, Barroca V, Aguzzi A, Roméo PH, Radicella JP, Bravard A, Bernardino-Sgherri J. Prion protein deficiency impairs hematopoietic stem cell determination and sensitizes myeloid progenitors to irradiation. Haematologica 2019; 105:1216-1222. [PMID: 31371412 PMCID: PMC7193476 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.205716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly conserved among species and expressed in various types of cells, numerous roles have been attributed to the cellular prion protein (PrPC). In hematopoiesis, PrPC regulates hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal but the mechanisms involved in this regulation are unknown. Here we show that PrPC regulates hematopoietic stem cell number during aging and their determination towards myeloid progenitors. Furthermore, PrPC protects myeloid progenitors against the cytotoxic effects of total body irradiation. This radioprotective effect was associated with increased cellular prion mRNA level and with stimulation of the DNA repair activity of the Apurinic/pyrimidinic endonuclease 1, a key enzyme of the base excision repair pathway. Altogether, these results show a previously unappreciated role of PrPC in adult hematopoiesis, and indicate that PrPC-mediated stimulation of BER activity might protect hematopoietic progenitors from the cytotoxic effects of total body irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Capucine Siberchicot
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)/Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF)/Institute of Biology François Jacob (IBFJ)/Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (iRCM), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Laboratory of Research in Genetic Instability (LRIG), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Gault
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)/Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF)/Institute of Biology François Jacob (IBFJ)/Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (iRCM), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France.,Laboratory of Repair and Transcription in Hematopoietic Stem Cells (LRTS), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Inserm U967, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Nathalie Déchamps
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)/Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF)/Institute of Biology François Jacob (IBFJ)/Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (iRCM), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France.,Inserm U967, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Vilma Barroca
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)/Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF)/Institute of Biology François Jacob (IBFJ)/Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (iRCM), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France.,Laboratory of Repair and Transcription in Hematopoietic Stem Cells (LRTS), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Inserm U967, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paul-Henri Roméo
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)/Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF)/Institute of Biology François Jacob (IBFJ)/Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (iRCM), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France.,Laboratory of Repair and Transcription in Hematopoietic Stem Cells (LRTS), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Inserm U967, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - J Pablo Radicella
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)/Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF)/Institute of Biology François Jacob (IBFJ)/Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (iRCM), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Laboratory of Research in Genetic Instability (LRIG), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France
| | - Anne Bravard
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)/Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF)/Institute of Biology François Jacob (IBFJ)/Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (iRCM), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France .,Laboratory of Research in Genetic Instability (LRIG), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France.,Laboratory of Repair and Transcription in Hematopoietic Stem Cells (LRTS), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Inserm U967, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Jacqueline Bernardino-Sgherri
- French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA)/Direction of Fundamental Research (DRF)/Institute of Biology François Jacob (IBFJ)/Institute of Cellular and Molecular Radiobiology (iRCM), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France .,Laboratory of Research in Genetic Instability (LRIG), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Université Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Sud, Paris, France.,Laboratory of Repair and Transcription in Hematopoietic Stem Cells (LRTS), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France.,Inserm U967, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses Cedex, France
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13
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Abstract
Prion diseases are progressive, incurable and fatal neurodegenerative conditions. The term 'prion' was first nominated to express the revolutionary concept that a protein could be infectious. We now know that prions consist of PrPSc, the pathological aggregated form of the cellular prion protein PrPC. Over the years, the term has been semantically broadened to describe aggregates irrespective of their infectivity, and the prion concept is now being applied, perhaps overenthusiastically, to all neurodegenerative diseases that involve protein aggregation. Indeed, recent studies suggest that prion diseases (PrDs) and protein misfolding disorders (PMDs) share some common disease mechanisms, which could have implications for potential treatments. Nevertheless, the transmissibility of bona fide prions is unique, and PrDs should be considered as distinct from other PMDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Scheckel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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14
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Salvesen Ø, Tatzelt J, Tranulis MA. The prion protein in neuroimmune crosstalk. Neurochem Int 2018; 130:104335. [PMID: 30448564 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2018.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a medium-sized glycoprotein, attached to the cell surface by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. PrPC is encoded by a single-copy gene, PRNP, which is abundantly expressed in the central nervous system and at lower levels in non-neuronal cells, including those of the immune system. Evidence from experimental knockout of PRNP in rodents, goats, and cattle and the occurrence of a nonsense mutation in goat that prevents synthesis of PrPC, have shown that the molecule is non-essential for life. Indeed, no easily recognizable phenotypes are associate with a lack of PrPC, except the potentially advantageous trait that animals without PrPC cannot develop prion disease. This is because, in prion diseases, PrPC converts to a pathogenic "scrapie" conformer, PrPSc, which aggregates and eventually induces neurodegeneration. In addition, endogenous neuronal PrPC serves as a toxic receptor to mediate prion-induced neurotoxicity. Thus, PrPC is an interesting target for treatment of prion diseases. Although loss of PrPC has no discernable effect, alteration of its normal physiological function can have very harmful consequences. It is therefore important to understand cellular processes involving PrPC, and research of this topic has advanced considerably in the past decade. Here, we summarize data that indicate the role of PrPC in modulating immune signaling, with emphasis on neuroimmune crosstalk both under basal conditions and during inflammatory stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Øyvind Salvesen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway.
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
| | - Michael A Tranulis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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15
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Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (Lag3) expression is increased in prion infections but does not modify disease progression. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14600. [PMID: 30279468 PMCID: PMC6168446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32712-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are fatal degenerative disorders that share common neuropathological and biochemical features, including the aggregation of pathological protein conformers. Lymphocyte activation gene 3 (Lag3, also known as CD223) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of receptors expressed on peripheral immune cells, microglia and neurons, which serves as a receptor for α-synuclein aggregates in PD. Here we examined the possible role of Lag3 in the pathogenesis of prion diseases. Through quantitative real-time PCR and RNA-sequencing, we found that the expression levels of Lag3 were relatively low in the adult mouse brains, yet its expression was increased after prion infection. However, we failed finding significant differences regarding the incubation time, PrPSc load, neurodegeneration, astrocyte and microglia reactions and inflammatory gene expression between the Lag3 knockout mice and wild-type littermate controls after prion infection. We conclude that loss of Lag3 has no significant influence on prion disease pathogenesis. Considering that Lag3 is an immune checkpoint receptor, our results suggest that immune checkpoint inhibition (an increasingly prevalent therapeutic modality against many types of cancer) might not exert positive or negative effects on the progression of prion diseases.
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16
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Akila Parvathy Dharshini S, Taguchi YH, Michael Gromiha M. Exploring the selective vulnerability in Alzheimer disease using tissue specific variant analysis. Genomics 2018; 111:936-949. [PMID: 29879491 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2018.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The selective vulnerability of distinct regions of the brain is a critical factor in neurodegenerative disorders. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), neurons in hippocampus situated in medial temporal lobe are immensely damaged. Identifying tissue-specific variants is essential in order to perceive the selective vulnerability in AD. In current work, we aligned mRNA-seq data with HG19/HG38 genomic assembly and identified specific variations present in temporal, frontal and other lobes of the AD using sequence alignment map tools. We compared the results with the genome-wide association and gene expression quantitative trait loci studies of the various neurological disorders. We also distinguished variants and epitranscriptomic modifications through the RNA-modification database and evaluated the variant effect in the coding/UTR regions. In addition, we developed genetic and functional interaction networks to understand the relationship between predicted vulnerable variations and differentially expressed genes. We found that genes involved in gliogenesis, intermediate filament organization are altered in the temporal lobe. Oxidative phosphorylation, and calcium ion homeostasis are modified in the frontal lobe, and protein degradation, apoptotic signaling are altered in other lobes. From this study, we propose that disruption of glial cell structural integrity, defective gliogenesis, and failure in glia-neuron communication are the primary factors for selective vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Akila Parvathy Dharshini
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Y-H Taguchi
- Department of Physics, Chuo University, Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8551, Japan
| | - M Michael Gromiha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai 600036, Tamilnadu, India; Advanced Computational Drug Discovery Unit (ACDD), Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsutacho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan.
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17
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Abstract
Several studies have indicated that certain misfolded amyloids composed of tau, β-amyloid or α-synuclein can be transferred from cell to cell, suggesting the contribution of mechanisms reminiscent of those by which infective prions spread through the brain. This process of a 'prion-like' spreading between cells is also relevant as a novel putative therapeutic target that could block the spreading of proteinaceous aggregates throughout the brain which may underlie the progressive nature of neurodegenerative diseases. The relevance of β-amyloid oligomers and cellular prion protein (PrPC) binding has been a focus of interest in Alzheimer's disease (AD). At the molecular level, β-amyloid/PrPC interaction takes place in two differently charged clusters of PrPC. In addition to β-amyloid, participation of PrPC in α-synuclein binding and brain spreading also appears to be relevant in α-synucleopathies. This review summarizes current knowledge about PrPC as a putative receptor for amyloid proteins and the physiological consequences of these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A Del Río
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Senior Consultant Neuropathology, Service of Pathology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Center for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain; Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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18
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The function of the cellular prion protein in health and disease. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 135:159-178. [PMID: 29151170 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1790-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The essential role of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) in prion disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is well documented. Moreover, evidence is accumulating that PrPC may act as a receptor for protein aggregates and transduce neurotoxic signals in more common neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Although the pathological roles of PrPC have been thoroughly characterized, a general consensus on its physiological function within the brain has not yet been established. Knockout studies in various organisms, ranging from zebrafish to mice, have implicated PrPC in a diverse range of nervous system-related activities that include a key role in the maintenance of peripheral nerve myelination as well as a general ability to protect against neurotoxic stimuli. Thus, the function of PrPC may be multifaceted, with different cell types taking advantage of unique aspects of its biology. Deciphering the cellular function(s) of PrPC and the consequences of its absence is not simply an academic curiosity, since lowering PrPC levels in the brain is predicted to be a powerful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of prion disease. In this review, we outline the various approaches that have been employed in an effort to uncover the physiological and pathological functions of PrPC. While these studies have revealed important clues about the biology of the prion protein, the precise reason for PrPC's existence remains enigmatic.
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19
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Beckman D, Linden R. A roadmap for investigating the role of the prion protein in depression associated with neurodegenerative disease. Prion 2017; 10:131-42. [PMID: 27057694 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2016.1152437] [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: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The physiological properties of the native, endogenous prion protein (PrP(C)) is a matter of concern, due to its pleiotropic functions and links to neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. In line with our hypothesis that the basic function of PrP(C) is to serve as a cell surface scaffold for the assembly of signaling modules, multiple interactions have been identified of PrP(C) with signaling molecules, including neurotransmitter receptors. We recently reported evidence that PrP(C) may modulate monoaminergic neurotransmission, as well as depressive-like behavior in mice. Here, we discuss how those results, together with a number of other studies, including our previous demonstration that both inflammatory and behavioral stress modulate PrP(C) content in neutrophils, suggest a distributed role of PrP(C) in clinical depression and inflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases. An overarching understanding of the multiple interventions of PrP(C) upon physiological events may both shed light on the pathogenesis of, as well as help the identification of novel therapeutic targets for clinical depression, Prion and Alzheimer's Diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael Linden
- a Instituto de Biofísica da UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
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20
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Carlson GA. Prion Protein and Genetic Susceptibility to Diseases Caused by Its Misfolding. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 150:123-145. [PMID: 28838658 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Early genetic studies on scrapie, an infectious neurodegenerative disease of sheep that was adapted to mice, provided evidence in support of the hypothesis that the agent was a slow virus with a nucleic acid genome independent of the host. Particularly compelling support for an independent genome came from the existence of strains of scrapie agent, some of which were true breeding, while others appeared to mutate under selective pressure. Kuru, a neurodegenerative disease in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea, had pathological changes similar to those in scrapie and also proved to be transmissible. Genetic studies with the tools of molecular biology and transgenic mice forced a reevaluation of earlier work and supported the prion hypothesis of a novel pathogen devoid of nucleic acid. In this chapter, I discuss the contributions of classical and molecular genetics to understanding PrP prion diseases and to determining that heritable information is enciphered in protein conformation.
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21
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Mabbott NA. Immunology of Prion Protein and Prions. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 150:203-240. [PMID: 28838662 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Many natural prion diseases are acquired peripherally, such as following the oral consumption of contaminated food or pasture. After peripheral exposure many prion isolates initially accumulate to high levels within the host's secondary lymphoid tissues. The replication of prions within these tissues is essential for their efficient spread to the brain where they ultimately cause neurodegeneration. This chapter describes our current understanding of the critical tissues, cells, and molecules which the prions exploit to mediate their efficient propagation from the site of exposure (such as the intestine) to the brain. Interactions between the immune system and prions are not only restricted to the secondary lymphoid tissues. Therefore, an account of how the activation status of the microglial in the brain can also influence progression of prion disease pathogenesis is provided. Prion disease susceptibility may also be influenced by additional factors such as chronic inflammation, coinfection with other pathogens, and aging. Finally, the potential for immunotherapy to provide a means of safe and effective prophylactic or therapeutic intervention in these currently untreatable diseases is considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil A Mabbott
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
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22
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Hirsch TZ, Martin-Lannerée S, Mouillet-Richard S. Functions of the Prion Protein. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 150:1-34. [PMID: 28838656 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Although initially disregarded compared to prion pathogenesis, the functions exerted by the cellular prion protein PrPC have gained much interest over the past two decades. Research aiming at unraveling PrPC functions started to intensify when it became appreciated that it would give clues as to how it is subverted in the context of prion infection and, more recently, in the context of Alzheimer's disease. It must now be admitted that PrPC is implicated in an incredible variety of biological processes, including neuronal homeostasis, stem cell fate, protection against stress, or cell adhesion. It appears that these diverse roles can all be fulfilled through the involvement of PrPC in cell signaling events. Our aim here is to provide an overview of our current understanding of PrPC functions from the animal to the molecular scale and to highlight some of the remaining gaps that should be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Z Hirsch
- INSERM UMR 1124, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, Paris, France
| | - Séverine Martin-Lannerée
- INSERM UMR 1124, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Mouillet-Richard
- INSERM UMR 1124, Paris, France; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, Paris, France.
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23
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Malachin G, Reiten MR, Salvesen Ø, Aanes H, Kamstra JH, Skovgaard K, Heegaard PMH, Ersdal C, Espenes A, Tranulis MA, Bakkebø MK. Loss of prion protein induces a primed state of type I interferon-responsive genes. PLoS One 2017. [PMID: 28651013 PMCID: PMC5484497 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) has been extensively studied because of its pivotal role in prion diseases; however, its functions remain incompletely understood. A unique line of goats has been identified that carries a nonsense mutation that abolishes synthesis of PrPC. In these animals, the PrP-encoding mRNA is rapidly degraded. Goats without PrPC are valuable in re-addressing loss-of-function phenotypes observed in Prnp knockout mice. As PrPC has been ascribed various roles in immune cells, we analyzed transcriptomic responses to loss of PrPC in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from normal goat kids (n = 8, PRNP+/+) and goat kids without PrPC (n = 8, PRNPTer/Ter) by mRNA sequencing. PBMCs normally express moderate levels of PrPC. The vast majority of genes were similarly expressed in the two groups. However, a curated list of 86 differentially expressed genes delineated the two genotypes. About 70% of these were classified as interferon-responsive genes. In goats without PrPC, the majority of type I interferon-responsive genes were in a primed, modestly upregulated state, with fold changes ranging from 1.4 to 3.7. Among these were ISG15, DDX58 (RIG-1), MX1, MX2, OAS1, OAS2 and DRAM1, all of which have important roles in pathogen defense, cell proliferation, apoptosis, immunomodulation and DNA damage response. Our data suggest that PrPC contributes to the fine-tuning of resting state PBMCs expression level of type I interferon-responsive genes. The molecular mechanism by which this is achieved will be an important topic for further research into PrPC physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Malachin
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Malin R. Reiten
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Øyvind Salvesen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Håvard Aanes
- Department of Microbiology, Division of diagnostics and intervention, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jorke H. Kamstra
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kerstin Skovgaard
- Innate Immunology Group, Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter M. H. Heegaard
- Innate Immunology Group, Section for Immunology and Vaccinology, National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Cecilie Ersdal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arild Espenes
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael A. Tranulis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
- * E-mail:
| | - Maren K. Bakkebø
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
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24
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Hanusova Z, Mosko T, Matej R, Holada K. Precision in the design of an experimental study deflects the significance of proteinase-activated receptor 2 expression in scrapie-inoculated mice. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:1563-1569. [DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zdenka Hanusova
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Studnickova 7, Prague 2, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Tibor Mosko
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Studnickova 7, Prague 2, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Radoslav Matej
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Thomayer Teaching Hospital, Videnska 800, Prague 4, 14059, Czech Republic
- Department of Pathology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Studnickova 2, Prague 2, 12800, Czech Republic
| | - Karel Holada
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Studnickova 7, Prague 2, 128 00, Czech Republic
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25
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Nuvolone M, Paolucci M, Sorce S, Kana V, Moos R, Matozaki T, Aguzzi A. Prion pathogenesis is unaltered in the absence of SIRPα-mediated "don't-eat-me" signaling. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177876. [PMID: 28545141 PMCID: PMC5435345 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are neurodegenerative conditions caused by misfolding of the prion protein, leading to conspicuous neuronal loss and intense microgliosis. Recent experimental evidence point towards a protective role of microglia against prion-induced neurodegeneration, possibly through elimination of prion-containing apoptotic bodies. The molecular mechanisms by which microglia recognize and eliminate apoptotic cells in the context of prion diseases are poorly defined. Here we investigated the possible involvement of signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα), a key modulator of host cell phagocytosis; SIRPα is encoded by the Sirpa gene that is genetically linked to the prion gene Prnp. We found that Sirpa transcripts are highly enriched in microglia cells within the brain. However, Sirpa mRNA levels were essentially unaltered during the course of experimental prion disease despite upregulation of other microglia-enriched transcripts. To study the involvement of SIRPα in prion pathogenesis in vivo, mice expressing a truncated SIRPα protein unable to inhibit phagocytosis were inoculated with rodent-adapted scrapie prions of the 22L strain. Homozygous and heterozygous Sirpa mutants and wild-type mice experienced similar incubation times after inoculation with either of two doses of 22L prions. Moreover, the extent of neuronal loss, microgliosis and abnormal prion protein accumulation was not significantly affected by Sirpa genotypes. Collectively, these data indicate that SIRPα-mediated phagocytosis is not a major determinant in prion disease pathogenesis. It will be important to search for additional candidates mediating prion phagocytosis, as this mechanism may represent an important target of antiprion therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment Center, Foundation Scientific Institute Policlinico San Matteo, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- * E-mail: (MN); (AA)
| | - Marta Paolucci
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Sorce
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Veronika Kana
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rita Moos
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Takashi Matozaki
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Signaling, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (MN); (AA)
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Abstract
The misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) causes fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Yet PrPC is highly conserved in mammals, suggesting that it exerts beneficial functions preventing its evolutionary elimination. Ablation of PrPC in mice results in well-defined structural and functional alterations in the peripheral nervous system. Many additional phenotypes were ascribed to the lack of PrPC, but some of these were found to arise from genetic artifacts of the underlying mouse models. Here, we revisit the proposed physiological roles of PrPC in the central and peripheral nervous systems and highlight the need for their critical reassessment using new, rigorously controlled animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Angela Wulf
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Assunta Senatore
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091, Zürich, Switzerland.
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Castle AR, Gill AC. Physiological Functions of the Cellular Prion Protein. Front Mol Biosci 2017; 4:19. [PMID: 28428956 PMCID: PMC5382174 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2017.00019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The prion protein, PrPC, is a small, cell-surface glycoprotein notable primarily for its critical role in pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disorders known as prion diseases. A hallmark of prion diseases is the conversion of PrPC into an abnormally folded isoform, which provides a template for further pathogenic conversion of PrPC, allowing disease to spread from cell to cell and, in some circumstances, to transfer to a new host. In addition to the putative neurotoxicity caused by the misfolded form(s), loss of normal PrPC function could be an integral part of the neurodegenerative processes and, consequently, significant research efforts have been directed toward determining the physiological functions of PrPC. In this review, we first summarise important aspects of the biochemistry of PrPC before moving on to address the current understanding of the various proposed functions of the protein, including details of the underlying molecular mechanisms potentially involved in these functions. Over years of study, PrPC has been associated with a wide array of different cellular processes and many interacting partners have been suggested. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the previously well-established links between PrPC and processes such as stress-protection, copper homeostasis and neuronal excitability. Instead, the functions best-supported by the current literature include regulation of myelin maintenance and of processes linked to cellular differentiation, including proliferation, adhesion, and control of cell morphology. Intriguing connections have also been made between PrPC and the modulation of circadian rhythm, glucose homeostasis, immune function and cellular iron uptake, all of which warrant further investigation.
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Nuvolone M, Sorce S, Paolucci M, Aguzzi A. Extended characterization of the novel co-isogenic C57BL/6J Prnp -/- mouse line. Amyloid 2017; 24:36-37. [PMID: 28434290 DOI: 10.1080/13506129.2017.1289913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Nuvolone
- a Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Silvia Sorce
- a Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Marta Paolucci
- a Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- a Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich , Zurich , Switzerland
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Nuvolone M, Schmid N, Miele G, Sorce S, Moos R, Schori C, Beerli RR, Bauer M, Saudan P, Dietmeier K, Lachmann I, Linnebank M, Martin R, Kallweit U, Kana V, Rushing EJ, Budka H, Aguzzi A. Cystatin F is a biomarker of prion pathogenesis in mice. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171923. [PMID: 28178353 PMCID: PMC5298286 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Misfolding of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into the scrapie prion protein (PrPSc) results in progressive, fatal, transmissible neurodegenerative conditions termed prion diseases. Experimental and epidemiological evidence point toward a protracted, clinically silent phase in prion diseases, yet there is no diagnostic test capable of identifying asymptomatic individuals incubating prions. In an effort to identify early biomarkers of prion diseases, we have compared global transcriptional profiles in brains from pre-symptomatic prion-infected mice and controls. We identified Cst7, which encodes cystatin F, as the most strongly upregulated transcript in this model. Early and robust upregulation of Cst7 mRNA levels and of its cognate protein was validated in additional mouse models of prion disease. Surprisingly, we found no significant increase in cystatin F levels in both cerebrospinal fluid or brain parenchyma of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease compared to Alzheimer’s disease or non-demented controls. Our results validate cystatin F as a useful biomarker of early pathogenesis in experimental models of prion disease, and point to unexpected species-specific differences in the transcriptional responses to prion infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Schmid
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gino Miele
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Sorce
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rita Moos
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Monika Bauer
- Cytos Biotechnology AG, Zurich-Schlieren, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Michael Linnebank
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roland Martin
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulf Kallweit
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology; Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Veronika Kana
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Herbert Budka
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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30
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Abstract
Since its discovery the cellular prion protein (encoded by the Prnp gene) has been associated with a large number of functions. The proposed functions rank from basic cellular processes such as cell cycle and survival to neural functions such as behavior and neuroprotection, following a pattern similar to that of Moore's law for electronics. In addition, particular interest is increasing in the participation of Prnp in neurodegeneration. However, in recent years a redefinition of these functions has begun, since examples of previously attributed functions were increasingly re-associated with other proteins. Most of these functions are linked to so-called "Prnp-flanking genes" that are close to the genomic locus of Prnp and which are present in the genome of some Prnp mouse models. In addition, their role in neuroprotection against convulsive insults has been confirmed in recent studies. Lastly, in recent years a large number of models indicating the participation of different domains of the protein in apoptosis have been uncovered. However, after more than 10 years of molecular dissection our view is that the simplest mechanistic model in PrP(C)-mediated cell death should be considered, as Ockham's razor theory suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A del Río
- a Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) , Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona , Spain.,b Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Inmunology , Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.,c Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- a Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) , Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona , Spain.,b Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Inmunology , Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.,c Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) , Barcelona , Spain
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Mehrabian M, Hildebrandt H, Schmitt-Ulms G. NCAM1 Polysialylation: The Prion Protein's Elusive Reason for Being? ASN Neuro 2016; 8:8/6/1759091416679074. [PMID: 27879349 PMCID: PMC5122176 DOI: 10.1177/1759091416679074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Much confusion surrounds the physiological function of the cellular prion protein (PrPC). It is, however, anticipated that knowledge of its function will shed light on its contribution to neurodegenerative diseases and suggest ways to interfere with the cellular toxicity central to them. Consequently, efforts to elucidate its function have been all but exhaustive. Building on earlier work that uncovered the evolutionary descent of the prion founder gene from an ancestral ZIP zinc transporter, we recently investigated a possible role of PrPC in a morphogenetic program referred to as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). By capitalizing on PrPC knockout cell clones in a mammalian cell model of EMT and using a comparative proteomics discovery strategy, neural cell adhesion molecule-1 emerged as a protein whose upregulation during EMT was perturbed in PrPC knockout cells. Follow-up work led us to observe that PrPC regulates the polysialylation of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM1 in cells undergoing morphogenetic reprogramming. In addition to governing cellular migration, polysialylation modulates several other cellular plasticity programs PrPC has been phenotypically linked to. These include neurogenesis in the subventricular zone, controlled mossy fiber sprouting and trimming in the hippocampal formation, hematopoietic stem cell renewal, myelin repair and maintenance, integrity of the circadian rhythm, and glutamatergic signaling. This review revisits this body of literature and attempts to present it in light of this novel contextual framework. When approached in this manner, a coherent model of PrPC acting as a regulator of polysialylation during specific cell and tissue morphogenesis events comes into focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohadeseh Mehrabian
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Herbert Hildebrandt
- Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada .,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Donaldson DS, Mabbott NA. The influence of the commensal and pathogenic gut microbiota on prion disease pathogenesis. J Gen Virol 2016; 97:1725-1738. [PMID: 27193137 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a unique group of transmissible, chronic, neurodegenerative disorders. Following peripheral exposure (e.g. oral), prions often accumulate first within the secondary lymphoid tissues before they infect the central nervous system (CNS). Prion replication within secondary lymphoid tissues is crucial for the efficient spread of disease to the CNS. Once within the CNS, the responses of innate immune cells within it can have a significant influence on neurodegeneration and disease progression. Recently, there have been substantial advances in our understanding of how cross-talk between the host and the vast community of commensal microorganisms present at barrier surfaces such as the gut influences the development and regulation of the host's immune system. These effects are evident not only in the mucosal immune system in the gut, but also in the CNS. The actions of this microbial community (the microbiota) have many important beneficial effects on host health, from metabolism of nutrients and regulation of host development to protection from pathogen infection. However, the microbiota can also have detrimental effects in some circumstances. In this review we discuss the many and varied interactions between prions, the host and the gut microbiota. Particular emphasis is given to the ways by which changes to the composition of the commensal gut microbiota or congruent pathogen infection may influence prion disease pathogenesis and/or disease susceptibility. Understanding how these factors influence prion pathogenesis and disease susceptibility is important for assessing the risk to infection and the design of novel opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Donaldson
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Neil A Mabbott
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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33
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Schneider C, Nobs SP, Heer AK, Hirsch E, Penninger J, Siggs OM, Kopf M. Frontline Science: Coincidental null mutation of Csf2rα in a colony of PI3Kγ-/- mice causes alveolar macrophage deficiency and fatal respiratory viral infection. J Leukoc Biol 2016; 101:367-376. [PMID: 27468760 DOI: 10.1189/jlb.4hi0316-157r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Revised: 06/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PI3Ks have been identified as key signaling proteins involved in many basic biologic processes in health and disease. Transgenic animals have been essential tools to study the underlying molecular mechanisms in this context and therefore, have been widely used to elucidate the role of these factors in many different settings. More specifically, PI3Kγ, a subunit highly expressed in the hematopoietic system, has been implicated to play an important role in many inflammatory diseases as well as cancer. Here, we report identification of multiple, additional, previously unknown mutations in the genome of a widely used PI3Kγ-deficient (PI3Kγ-/-) mouse colony. These include a STOP mutation in the GM-CSFRα chain, leading to a complete and specific deficiency in GM-CSF signaling. PI3Kγ-/- animals consequently lacked alveolar macrophages (AMs) and succumbed rapidly to influenza virus infection. Furthermore, PI3Kγ-/- mice carried an additional mutation that affects mucin 2 (Muc2) transcripts. This protein is strongly involved in the regulation of colorectal cancer, and indeed, conflicting reports have indicated that PI3Kγ-/- animals spontaneously develop colorectal tumors. Thus, we uncover previously unknown, confounding factors present in a strain of PI3Kγ-/- mice, leading to additional deficiencies in important signaling pathways with potentially wide-ranging implications for the interpretation of previous studies. By separating the mutations, we established a unique Csf2ra-/- mouse model that allows us to study the role of cell intrinsic GM-CSFR signaling in vivo without confounding variables introduced by defective IL-5R and IL-3R signaling in mice lacking the common β chain (Csf2rb).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Schneider
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Samuel P Nobs
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Alex K Heer
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Emilio Hirsch
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | | | - Owen M Siggs
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Kopf
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland;
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Zhang M, Hutter G, Kahn SA, Azad TD, Gholamin S, Xu CY, Liu J, Achrol AS, Richard C, Sommerkamp P, Schoen MK, McCracken MN, Majeti R, Weissman I, Mitra SS, Cheshier SH. Anti-CD47 Treatment Stimulates Phagocytosis of Glioblastoma by M1 and M2 Polarized Macrophages and Promotes M1 Polarized Macrophages In Vivo. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153550. [PMID: 27092773 PMCID: PMC4836698 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [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: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) represent an important cellular subset within the glioblastoma (WHO grade IV) microenvironment and are a potential therapeutic target. TAMs display a continuum of different polarization states between antitumorigenic M1 and protumorigenic M2 phenotypes, with a lower M1/M2 ratio correlating with worse prognosis. Here, we investigated the effect of macrophage polarization on anti-CD47 antibody-mediated phagocytosis of human glioblastoma cells in vitro, as well as the effect of anti-CD47 on the distribution of M1 versus M2 macrophages within human glioblastoma cells grown in mouse xenografts. Bone marrow-derived mouse macrophages and peripheral blood-derived human macrophages were polarized in vitro toward M1 or M2 phenotypes and verified by flow cytometry. Primary human glioblastoma cell lines were offered as targets to mouse and human M1 or M2 polarized macrophages in vitro. The addition of an anti-CD47 monoclonal antibody led to enhanced tumor-cell phagocytosis by mouse and human M1 and M2 macrophages. In both cases, the anti-CD47-induced phagocytosis by M1 was more prominent than that for M2. Dissected tumors from human glioblastoma xenografted within NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ mice and treated with anti-CD47 showed a significant increase of M1 macrophages within the tumor. These data show that anti-CD47 treatment leads to enhanced tumor cell phagocytosis by both M1 and M2 macrophage subtypes with a higher phagocytosis rate by M1 macrophages. Furthermore, these data demonstrate that anti-CD47 treatment alone can shift the phenotype of macrophages toward the M1 subtype in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Zhang
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Gregor Hutter
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Suzana A. Kahn
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Tej D. Azad
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Sharareh Gholamin
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Chelsea Y. Xu
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Jie Liu
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Achal S. Achrol
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Chase Richard
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Pia Sommerkamp
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Matthew Kenneth Schoen
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Melissa N. McCracken
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Ravi Majeti
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Irving Weissman
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
| | - Siddhartha S. Mitra
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SHC); (SSM)
| | - Samuel H. Cheshier
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Stem Cell Research and Medicine at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SHC); (SSM)
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35
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Nuvolone M, Hermann M, Sorce S, Russo G, Tiberi C, Schwarz P, Minikel E, Sanoudou D, Pelczar P, Aguzzi A. Strictly co-isogenic C57BL/6J-Prnp-/- mice: A rigorous resource for prion science. J Exp Med 2016; 213:313-27. [PMID: 26926995 PMCID: PMC4813672 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20151610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although its involvement in prion replication and neurotoxicity during transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is undisputed, the physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) remains enigmatic. A plethora of functions have been ascribed to PrP(C) based on phenotypes of Prnp(-/-) mice. However, all currently available Prnp(-/-) lines were generated in embryonic stem cells from the 129 strain of the laboratory mouse and mostly crossed to non-129 strains. Therefore, Prnp-linked loci polymorphic between 129 and the backcrossing strain resulted in systematic genetic confounders and led to erroneous conclusions. We used TALEN-mediated genome editing in fertilized mouse oocytes to create the Zurich-3 (ZH3) Prnp-ablated allele on a pure C57BL/6J genetic background. Genomic, transcriptional, and phenotypic characterization of Prnp(ZH3/ZH3) mice failed to identify phenotypes previously described in non-co-isogenic Prnp(-/-) mice. However, aged Prnp(ZH3/ZH3) mice developed a chronic demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, confirming the crucial involvement of PrP(C) in peripheral myelin maintenance. This new line represents a rigorous genetic resource for studying the role of PrP(C) in physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mario Hermann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Sorce
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giancarlo Russo
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich (FGCZ), 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Cinzia Tiberi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Schwarz
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eric Minikel
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139 Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142 Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Despina Sanoudou
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Attikon Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Pawel Pelczar
- Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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36
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Nuvolone M, Aguzzi A. Altered Monoaminergic Systems and Depressive-like Behavior in Congenic Prion Protein Knock-out Mice. J Biol Chem 2016; 290:26350. [PMID: 26500295 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.l115.689117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mario Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Halliez S, Martin-Lannerée S, Passet B, Hernandez-Rapp J, Castille J, Urien C, Chat S, Laude H, Vilotte JL, Mouillet-Richard S, Béringue V. Prion protein localizes at the ciliary base during neural and cardiovascular development, and its depletion affects α-tubulin post-translational modifications. Sci Rep 2015; 5:17146. [PMID: 26679898 PMCID: PMC4683536 DOI: 10.1038/srep17146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although conversion of the cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) into a misfolded isoform is the underlying cause of prion diseases, understanding PrPC physiological functions has remained challenging. PrPC depletion or overexpression alters the proliferation and differentiation properties of various types of stem and progenitor cells in vitro by unknown mechanisms. Such involvement remains uncertain in vivo in the absence of any drastic phenotype of mice lacking PrPC. Here, we report PrPC enrichment at the base of the primary cilium in stem and progenitor cells from the central nervous system and cardiovascular system of developing mouse embryos. PrPC depletion in a neuroepithelial cell line dramatically altered key cilium-dependent processes, such as Sonic hedgehog signalling and α-tubulin post-translational modifications. These processes were also affected over a limited time window in PrPC–ablated embryos. Thus, our study reveals PrPC as a potential actor in the developmental regulation of microtubule dynamics and ciliary functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Halliez
- INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), UR892, Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Bruno Passet
- INRA, UMR1313, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Johan Castille
- INRA, UMR1313, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Céline Urien
- INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), UR892, Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sophie Chat
- INRA, UMR1313, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,INRA, Plateforme MIMA2, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Hubert Laude
- INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), UR892, Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Jean-Luc Vilotte
- INRA, UMR1313, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Vincent Béringue
- INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), UR892, Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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38
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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Dendritic Cells during Prion Disease. J Immunol Res 2015; 2015:168574. [PMID: 26697507 PMCID: PMC4677227 DOI: 10.1155/2015/168574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are a unique group of proteinaceous pathogens which cause neurodegenerative disease and can be transmitted by a variety of exposure routes. After peripheral exposure, the accumulation and replication of prions within secondary lymphoid organs are obligatory for their efficient spread from the periphery to the brain where they ultimately cause neurodegeneration and death. Mononuclear phagocytes (MNP) are a heterogeneous population of dendritic cells (DC) and macrophages. These cells are abundant throughout the body and display a diverse range of roles based on their anatomical locations. For example, some MNP are strategically situated to provide a first line of defence against pathogens by phagocytosing and destroying them. Conventional DC are potent antigen presenting cells and migrate via the lymphatics to the draining lymphoid tissue where they present the antigens to lymphocytes. The diverse roles of MNP are also reflected in various ways in which they interact with prions and in doing so impact on disease pathogenesis. Indeed, some studies suggest that prions exploit conventional DC to infect the host. Here we review our current understanding of the influence of MNP in the pathogenesis of the acquired prion diseases with particular emphasis on the role of conventional DC.
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39
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Activation and function of murine primary microglia in the absence of the prion protein. J Neuroimmunol 2015; 286:25-32. [PMID: 26298321 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The prion protein (PrP(C)) is predominantly expressed in the nervous and immune systems and is involved in relevant cell signaling. Microglia participate in neuroimmune interactions, and their regulatory mechanisms are critical for both health and disease. Despite recent reports with a microglial cell line, little is known about the relevance of PrP(C) in brain microglia. We investigated the role of PrP(C) in mouse primary microglia, and found no differences between wild type and Prnp-null cells in cell morphology or the expression of a microglial marker. Translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus also did not differ, nor did cytokine production. The levels of iNOS were also similar and, finally, microglia of either genotype showed no differences in either rates of phagocytosis or migration, even following activation. Thus, functional roles of PrP(C) in primary microglial cells are - if present - much more subtle than in transformed microglial cell lines.
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40
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Carulla P, Llorens F, Matamoros-Angles A, Aguilar-Calvo P, Espinosa JC, Gavín R, Ferrer I, Legname G, Torres JM, del Río JA. Involvement of PrP(C) in kainate-induced excitotoxicity in several mouse strains. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11971. [PMID: 26155834 PMCID: PMC4648388 DOI: 10.1038/srep11971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Accepted: 06/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) has been associated with a plethora of cellular functions ranging from cell cycle to neuroprotection. Mice lacking PrP(C) show an increased susceptibility to epileptic seizures; the protein, then, is neuroprotective. However, lack of experimental reproducibility has led to considering the possibility that other factors besides PrP(C) deletion, such as the genetic background of mice or the presence of so-called "Prnp flanking genes", might contribute to the reported susceptibility. Here, we performed a comparative analysis of seizure-susceptibility using characterized Prnp(+/+) and Prnp(0/0) mice of B6129, B6.129, 129/Ola or FVB/N genetic backgrounds. Our study indicates that PrP(C) plays a role in neuroprotection in KA-treated cells and mice. For this function, PrP(C) should contain the aa32-93 region and needs to be linked to the membrane. In addition, some unidentified "Prnp-flanking genes" play a role parallel to PrP(C) in the KA-mediated responses in B6129 and B6.129 Prnp(0/0) mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Carulla
- 1] Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [2] Department of Cell Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [3] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Franc Llorens
- 1] Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [2] Department of Cell Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [3] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain [4] German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Robert-Koch Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreu Matamoros-Angles
- 1] Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [2] Department of Cell Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [3] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Juan Carlos Espinosa
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosalina Gavín
- 1] Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [2] Department of Cell Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [3] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- 1] Institut de Neuropatologia, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain [2] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Juan Maria Torres
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
| | - José A del Río
- 1] Molecular and Cellular Neurobiotechnology, Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Parc Científic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [2] Department of Cell Biology, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain [3] Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
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41
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Reiten MR, Bakkebø MK, Brun-Hansen H, Lewandowska-Sabat AM, Olsaker I, Tranulis MA, Espenes A, Boysen P. Hematological shift in goat kids naturally devoid of prion protein. Front Cell Dev Biol 2015. [PMID: 26217662 PMCID: PMC4495340 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2015.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) is incompletely understood. The expression of PrPC in hematopoietic stem cells and immune cells suggests a role in the development of these cells, and in PrPC knockout animals altered immune cell proliferation and phagocytic function have been observed. Recently, a spontaneous nonsense mutation at codon 32 in the PRNP gene in goats of the Norwegian Dairy breed was discovered, rendering homozygous animals devoid of PrPC. Here we report hematological and immunological analyses of homozygous goat kids lacking PrPC (PRNPTer/Ter) compared to heterozygous (PRNP+/Ter) and normal (PRNP+/+) kids. Levels of cell surface PrPC and PRNP mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) correlated well and were very low in PRNPTer/Ter, intermediate in PRNP+/Ter and high in PRNP+/+ kids. The PRNPTer/Ter animals had a shift in blood cell composition with an elevated number of red blood cells (RBCs) and a tendency toward a smaller mean RBC volume (P = 0.08) and an increased number of neutrophils (P = 0.068), all values within the reference ranges. Morphological investigations of blood smears and bone marrow imprints did not reveal irregularities. Studies of relative composition of PBMCs, phagocytic ability of monocytes and T-cell proliferation revealed no significant differences between the genotypes. Our data suggest that PrPC has a role in bone marrow physiology and warrant further studies of PrPC in erythroid and immune cell progenitors as well as differentiated effector cells also under stressful conditions. Altogether, this genetically unmanipulated PrPC-free animal model represents a unique opportunity to unveil the enigmatic physiology and function of PrPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin R Reiten
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway
| | - Maren K Bakkebø
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway
| | - Hege Brun-Hansen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna M Lewandowska-Sabat
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway
| | - Ingrid Olsaker
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael A Tranulis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway
| | - Arild Espenes
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway
| | - Preben Boysen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences Oslo, Norway
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42
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Vaeth M, Zee I, Concepcion AR, Maus M, Shaw P, Portal-Celhay C, Zahra A, Kozhaya L, Weidinger C, Philips J, Unutmaz D, Feske S. Ca2+ Signaling but Not Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry Is Required for the Function of Macrophages and Dendritic Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 195:1202-17. [PMID: 26109647 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1403013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) through Ca(2+) release-activated Ca(2+) (CRAC) channels is essential for immunity to infection. CRAC channels are formed by ORAI1 proteins in the plasma membrane and activated by stromal interaction molecule (STIM)1 and STIM2 in the endoplasmic reticulum. Mutations in ORAI1 and STIM1 genes that abolish SOCE cause severe immunodeficiency with recurrent infections due to impaired T cell function. SOCE has also been observed in cells of the innate immune system such as macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) and may provide Ca(2+) signals required for their function. The specific role of SOCE in macrophage and DC function, as well as its contribution to innate immunity, however, is not well defined. We found that nonselective inhibition of Ca(2+) signaling strongly impairs many effector functions of bone marrow-derived macrophages and bone marrow-derived DCs, including phagocytosis, inflammasome activation, and priming of T cells. Surprisingly, however, macrophages and DCs from mice with conditional deletion of Stim1 and Stim2 genes, and therefore complete inhibition of SOCE, showed no major functional defects. Their differentiation, FcR-dependent and -independent phagocytosis, phagolysosome fusion, cytokine production, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and their ability to present Ags to activate T cells were preserved. Our findings demonstrate that STIM1, STIM2, and SOCE are dispensable for many critical effector functions of macrophages and DCs, which has important implications for CRAC channel inhibition as a therapeutic strategy to suppress pathogenic T cells while not interfering with myeloid cell functions required for innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Vaeth
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and
| | - Isabelle Zee
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and
| | - Axel R Concepcion
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and
| | - Mate Maus
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and
| | - Patrick Shaw
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and
| | | | - Aleena Zahra
- Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
| | - Lina Kozhaya
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
| | - Carl Weidinger
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and
| | - Jennifer Philips
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and
| | - Derya Unutmaz
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016
| | - Stefan Feske
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016; and
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43
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Zeng L, Zou W, Wang G. Cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) and its role in stress responses. Int J Clin Exp Med 2015; 8:8042-50. [PMID: 26221369 PMCID: PMC4509314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 05/05/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Investigation of the physiological function of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) has been developed by the generation of transgenic mice, however, the pathological mechanisms related to PrP(C) in prion diseases such as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are still abstruse. Regardless of some differences, most studies describe the neuroprotective role of PrP(C) in environmental stresses. In this review, we will update the current knowledge on the responses of PrP(C) to various stresses, especially those correlated with cell signaling and neural degeneration, including ischemia, oxidative stress, inflammation and autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Zeng
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang UniversityNanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wenquan Zou
- Department of Neurology, National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, National Center for Regenerative Medicine, Case Western Reserve University2085 Adelbert Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
- Department of Urology Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang UniversityNanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Gongxian Wang
- Department of Urology Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang UniversityNanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
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44
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Zhu C, Herrmann US, Li B, Abakumova I, Moos R, Schwarz P, Rushing EJ, Colonna M, Aguzzi A. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2 is involved in prion-induced microglial activation but does not contribute to prion pathogenesis in mouse brains. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:1994-2003. [PMID: 25816748 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Dysfunctional variants of the innate immune cell surface receptor TREM2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-2) were identified as major genetic risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Here we assessed a possible involvement of TREM2 in prion disease. We report that TREM2 expression by microglia is significantly up-regulated upon prion infection. However, depletion of TREM2 did not affect disease incubation time and survival after intracerebral prion infection. Interestingly, markers of microglial activation were attenuated in prion-infected TREM2(-/-) mice, suggesting an involvement of TREM2 in prion-induced microglial activation. Further phenotype profiling of microglia revealed that TREM2 deficiency did not change microglial phenotypes. We conclude that TREM2 is involved in prion-induced microglial activation but does not noticeably modulate the pathogenesis of experimental prion infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihong Zhu
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Uli S Herrmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bei Li
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Irina Abakumova
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Rita Moos
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Schwarz
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elisabeth J Rushing
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marco Colonna
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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45
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Nuvolone M, Sorce S, Schwarz P, Aguzzi A. Prion pathogenesis in the absence of NLRP3/ASC inflammasomes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117208. [PMID: 25671600 PMCID: PMC4324825 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of the scrapie prion protein PrPSc, a misfolded conformer of the cellular prion protein PrPC, is a crucial feature of prion diseases. In the central nervous system, this process is accompanied by conspicuous microglia activation. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multi-molecular complex which can sense heterogeneous pathogen-associated molecular patterns and culminates in the activation of caspase 1 and release of IL 1β. The NLRP3 inflammasome was reported to be essential for IL 1β release after in vitro exposure to the amyloidogenic peptide PrP106-126 and to recombinant PrP fibrils. We therefore studied the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in a mouse model of prion infection. Upon intracerebral inoculation with scrapie prions (strain RML), mice lacking NLRP3 (Nlrp3-/-) or the inflammasome adaptor protein ASC (Pycard-/-) succumbed to scrapie with attack rates and incubation times similar to wild-type mice, and developed the classic histologic and biochemical features of prion diseases. Genetic ablation of NLRP3 or ASC did not significantly impact on brain levels of IL 1β at the terminal stage of disease. Our results exclude a significant role for NLRP3 and ASC in prion pathogenesis and invalidate their claimed potential as therapeutic target against prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (AA); (MN)
| | - Silvia Sorce
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Schwarz
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (AA); (MN)
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46
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Gurka S, Hartung E, Becker M, Kroczek RA. Mouse Conventional Dendritic Cells Can be Universally Classified Based on the Mutually Exclusive Expression of XCR1 and SIRPα. Front Immunol 2015; 6:35. [PMID: 25699051 PMCID: PMC4316789 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the identification of mouse dendritic cells (DC) in the early 70s, all attempts to consistently classify the identified functional DC subpopulations according to their surface molecule expression failed. In the absence of DC lineage markers, a great variety of non-congruent surface molecules were used instead. Recent advances in the understanding of the involvement of transcription factors in the differentiation of DC subpopulations, together with the identification of a lineage marker for cross-presenting DC, have now allowed to establish a consistent and unified DC classification in the mouse. We demonstrate in the present article that all conventional DC in the mouse can be universally subdivided into either XCR1+ (“cross-presenting”) DC or SIRPα+ DC, irrespective of their activation status. This advancement will greatly facilitate future work on the biology of mouse DC. We discuss this new classification in view of current DC classification systems in the mouse and the human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Gurka
- Molecular Immunology, Robert Koch-Institute , Berlin , Germany
| | - Evelyn Hartung
- Molecular Immunology, Robert Koch-Institute , Berlin , Germany
| | - Martina Becker
- Molecular Immunology, Robert Koch-Institute , Berlin , Germany
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47
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Sakudo A, Onodera T. Prion protein (PrP) gene-knockout cell lines: insight into functions of the PrP. Front Cell Dev Biol 2015; 2:75. [PMID: 25642423 PMCID: PMC4295555 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2014.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidation of prion protein (PrP) functions is crucial to fully understand prion diseases. A major approach to studying PrP functions is the use of PrP gene-knockout (Prnp (-/-)) mice. So far, six types of Prnp (-/-) mice have been generated, demonstrating the promiscuous functions of PrP. Recently, other PrP family members, such as Doppel and Shadoo, have been found. However, information obtained from comparative studies of structural and functional analyses of these PrP family proteins do not fully reveal PrP functions. Recently, varieties of Prnp (-/-) cell lines established from Prnp (-/-) mice have contributed to the analysis of PrP functions. In this mini-review, we focus on Prnp (-/-) cell lines and summarize currently available Prnp (-/-) cell lines and their characterizations. In addition, we introduce the recent advances in the methodology of cell line generation with knockout or knockdown of the PrP gene. We also discuss how these cell lines have provided valuable insights into PrP functions and show future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akikazu Sakudo
- Laboratory of Biometabolic Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of the Ryukyus Nishihara, Japan
| | - Takashi Onodera
- Research Center for Food Safety, School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo Tokyo, Japan
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48
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Sorce S, Nuvolone M, Keller A, Falsig J, Varol A, Schwarz P, Bieri M, Budka H, Aguzzi A. The role of the NADPH oxidase NOX2 in prion pathogenesis. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004531. [PMID: 25502554 PMCID: PMC4263757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion infections cause neurodegeneration, which often goes along with oxidative stress. However, the cellular source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their pathogenetic significance are unclear. Here we analyzed the contribution of NOX2, a prominent NADPH oxidase, to prion diseases. We found that NOX2 is markedly upregulated in microglia within affected brain regions of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Similarly, NOX2 expression was upregulated in prion-inoculated mouse brains and in murine cerebellar organotypic cultured slices (COCS). We then removed microglia from COCS using a ganciclovir-dependent lineage ablation strategy. NOX2 became undetectable in ganciclovir-treated COCS, confirming its microglial origin. Upon challenge with prions, NOX2-deficient mice showed delayed onset of motor deficits and a modest, but significant prolongation of survival. Dihydroethidium assays demonstrated a conspicuous ROS burst at the terminal stage of disease in wild-type mice, but not in NOX2-ablated mice. Interestingly, the improved motor performance in NOX2 deficient mice was already measurable at earlier stages of the disease, between 13 and 16 weeks post-inoculation. We conclude that NOX2 is a major source of ROS in prion diseases and can affect prion pathogenesis. The deposition of misfolded, aggregated prion protein in the brain causes transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), a group of disorders including Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and mad cow disease. TSE are characterized by neurodegeneration and progressive, lethal neurological dysfunction. Signs of oxidative damage are found in TSE, implying excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), yet their source is unclear. Here, we analyzed the role of the NADPH oxidase enzyme, NOX2, in prion pathogenesis. NOX2 is a membrane-bound electrochemical pump that generates ROS. We found that NOX2 is upregulated in the brains of patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and of prion-infected mice. Interestingly, NOX2 ablation led to abrogation of ROS production in mice inoculated with prions, and was associated with a milder clinical course of the disease and increased life expectancy. We conclude that NOX2 is a relevant contributor to the excessive production of ROS. This study spawns the possibility that inhibiting NOX2 activation might help attenuate prion disease progression – a legitimate and important goal even if there is little reason to expect anti-NOX2 therapies to be curative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Sorce
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mario Nuvolone
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annika Keller
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jeppe Falsig
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ahmet Varol
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Schwarz
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Monika Bieri
- Institute of Surgical Pathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Herbert Budka
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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49
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Halliez S, Passet B, Martin-Lannerée S, Hernandez-Rapp J, Laude H, Mouillet-Richard S, Vilotte JL, Béringue V. To develop with or without the prion protein. Front Cell Dev Biol 2014; 2:58. [PMID: 25364763 PMCID: PMC4207017 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2014.00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The deletion of the cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) in mouse, goat, and cattle has no drastic phenotypic consequence. This stands in apparent contradiction with PrPC quasi-ubiquitous expression and conserved primary and tertiary structures in mammals, and its pivotal role in neurodegenerative diseases such as prion and Alzheimer's diseases. In zebrafish embryos, depletion of PrP ortholog leads to a severe loss-of-function phenotype. This raises the question of a potential role of PrPC in the development of all vertebrates. This view is further supported by the early expression of the PrPC encoding gene (Prnp) in many tissues of the mouse embryo, the transient disruption of a broad number of cellular pathways in early Prnp−/− mouse embryos, and a growing body of evidence for PrPC involvement in the regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation in various types of mammalian stem cells and progenitors. Finally, several studies in both zebrafish embryos and in mammalian cells and tissues in formation support a role for PrPC in cell adhesion, extra-cellular matrix interactions and cytoskeleton. In this review, we summarize and compare the different models used to decipher PrPC functions at early developmental stages during embryo- and organo-genesis and discuss their relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Halliez
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, U892 Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Bruno Passet
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR1313 Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Séverine Martin-Lannerée
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, UMR-S1124 Paris, France ; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR-S1124 Paris, France
| | - Julia Hernandez-Rapp
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, UMR-S1124 Paris, France ; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR-S1124 Paris, France
| | - Hubert Laude
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, U892 Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sophie Mouillet-Richard
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, UMR-S1124 Paris, France ; Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR-S1124 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Luc Vilotte
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, UMR1313 Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Vincent Béringue
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, U892 Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires Jouy-en-Josas, France
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50
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Wong ASL, Mortin-Toth S, Sung M, Canty AJ, Gulban O, Greaves DR, Danska JS. Polymorphism in the innate immune receptor SIRPα controls CD47 binding and autoimmunity in the nonobese diabetic mouse. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 193:4833-44. [PMID: 25305319 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1401984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The signal regulatory protein (SIRP) locus encodes a family of paired receptors that mediate both activating and inhibitory signals and is associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) risk. The NOD mouse model recapitulates multiple features of human T1D and enables mechanistic analysis of the impact of genetic variations on disease. In this study, we identify Sirpa encoding an inhibitory receptor on myeloid cells as a gene in the insulin-dependent diabetes locus 13.2 (Idd13.2) that drives islet inflammation and T1D. Compared to T1D-resistant strains, the NOD variant of SIRPα displayed greater binding to its ligand CD47, as well as enhanced T cell proliferation and diabetogenic potency. Myeloid cell-restricted expression of a Sirpa transgene accelerated disease in a dose-dependent manner and displayed genetic and functional interaction with the Idd5 locus to potentiate insulitis progression. Our study demonstrates that variations in both SIRPα sequence and expression level modulate T1D immunopathogenesis. Thus, we identify Sirpa as a T1D risk gene and provide insight into the complex mechanisms by which disease-associated variants act in concert to drive defined stages in disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Sut Ling Wong
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S1A8, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada
| | - Steven Mortin-Toth
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada
| | - Michael Sung
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada
| | - Angelo J Canty
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario L8S4L8, Canada
| | - Omid Gulban
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada
| | - David R Greaves
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX13RE, United Kingdom; and
| | - Jayne S Danska
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S1A8, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario M5G1X8, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S1A8, Canada
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