1
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Zerr I, Ladogana A, Mead S, Hermann P, Forloni G, Appleby BS. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other prion diseases. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2024; 10:14. [PMID: 38424082 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-024-00497-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Prion diseases share common clinical and pathological characteristics such as spongiform neuronal degeneration and deposition of an abnormal form of a host-derived protein, termed prion protein. The characteristic features of prion diseases are long incubation times, short clinical courses, extreme resistance of the transmissible agent to degradation and lack of nucleic acid involvement. Sporadic and genetic forms of prion diseases occur worldwide, of which genetic forms are associated with mutations in PRNP. Human to human transmission of these diseases has occurred due to iatrogenic exposure, and zoonotic forms of prion diseases are linked to bovine disease. Significant progress has been made in the diagnosis of these disorders. Clinical tools for diagnosis comprise brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid tests. Aggregation assays for detection of the abnormally folded prion protein have a clear potential to diagnose the disease in peripherally accessible biofluids. After decades of therapeutic nihilism, new treatment strategies and clinical trials are on the horizon. Although prion diseases are relatively rare disorders, understanding their pathogenesis and mechanisms of prion protein misfolding has significantly enhanced the field in research of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Zerr
- National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Anna Ladogana
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simon Mead
- MRC Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, London, UK
| | - Peter Hermann
- National Reference Center for CJD Surveillance, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Brian S Appleby
- Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
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2
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Gentile JE, Corridon TL, Mortberg MA, D'Souza EN, Whiffin N, Minikel EV, Vallabh SM. Modulation of prion protein expression through cryptic splice site manipulation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.19.572439. [PMID: 38187635 PMCID: PMC10769280 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.19.572439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Lowering expression of prion protein (PrP) is a well-validated therapeutic strategy in prion disease, but additional modalities are urgently needed. In other diseases, small molecules have proven capable of modulating pre-mRNA splicing, sometimes by forcing inclusion of cryptic exons that reduce gene expression. Here, we characterize a cryptic exon located in human PRNP's sole intron and evaluate its potential to reduce PrP expression through incorporation into the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR). This exon is homologous to exon 2 in non-primate species, but contains a start codon that would yield an upstream open reading frame (uORF) with a stop codon prior to a splice site if included in PRNP mRNA, potentially downregulating PrP expression through translational repression or nonsense-mediated decay. We establish a minigene transfection system and test a panel of splice site alterations, identifying mutants that reduce PrP expression by as much as 78%. Our findings nominate a new therapeutic target for lowering PrP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana E Gentile
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Taylor L Corridon
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Meredith A Mortberg
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Elston Neil D'Souza
- Big Data Institute and Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Nicola Whiffin
- Big Data Institute and Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF, UK
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- McCance Center for Brain Health and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142
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3
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Masone A, Zucchelli C, Caruso E, Lavigna G, Eraña H, Giachin G, Tapella L, Comerio L, Restelli E, Raimondi I, Elezgarai SR, De Leo F, Quilici G, Taiarol L, Oldrati M, Lorenzo NL, García-Martínez S, Cagnotto A, Lucchetti J, Gobbi M, Vanni I, Nonno R, Di Bari MA, Tully MD, Cecatiello V, Ciossani G, Pasqualato S, Van Anken E, Salmona M, Castilla J, Requena JR, Banfi S, Musco G, Chiesa R. A tetracationic porphyrin with dual anti-prion activity. iScience 2023; 26:107480. [PMID: 37636075 PMCID: PMC10448035 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prions are deadly infectious agents made of PrPSc, a misfolded variant of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) which self-propagates by inducing misfolding of native PrPC. PrPSc can adopt different pathogenic conformations (prion strains), which can be resistant to potential drugs, or acquire drug resistance, hampering the development of effective therapies. We identified Zn(II)-BnPyP, a tetracationic porphyrin that binds to distinct domains of native PrPC, eliciting a dual anti-prion effect. Zn(II)-BnPyP binding to a C-terminal pocket destabilizes the native PrPC fold, hindering conversion to PrPSc; Zn(II)-BnPyP binding to the flexible N-terminal tail disrupts N- to C-terminal interactions, triggering PrPC endocytosis and lysosomal degradation, thus reducing the substrate for PrPSc generation. Zn(II)-BnPyP inhibits propagation of different prion strains in vitro, in neuronal cells and organotypic brain cultures. These results identify a PrPC-targeting compound with an unprecedented dual mechanism of action which might be exploited to achieve anti-prion effects without engendering drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Masone
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Zucchelli
- Biomolecular NMR Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Caruso
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Giada Lavigna
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Hasier Eraña
- Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biociencias (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Department of Chemical Sciences (DiSC), University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Tapella
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Liliana Comerio
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Restelli
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Raimondi
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Saioa R. Elezgarai
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Federica De Leo
- Biomolecular NMR Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Quilici
- Biomolecular NMR Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Taiarol
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Marvin Oldrati
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Nuria L. Lorenzo
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Sandra García-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biociencias (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Alfredo Cagnotto
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Jacopo Lucchetti
- Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics, Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Laboratory of Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics, Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Vanni
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Michele A. Di Bari
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Mark D. Tully
- Structural Biology Group, European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Valentina Cecatiello
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ciossani
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Pasqualato
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology (IEO) IRCCS, 20141 Milan, Italy
| | - Eelco Van Anken
- Protein Transport and Secretion Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Salmona
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- Centro de Investigación Cooperativa en Biociencias (CIC BioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Carlos III National Health Institute, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Jesús R. Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute and Department of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela-IDIS, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Stefano Banfi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Giovanna Musco
- Biomolecular NMR Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Roberto Chiesa
- Laboratory of Prion Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
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Baiardi S, Mammana A, Capellari S, Parchi P. Human prion disease: molecular pathogenesis, and possible therapeutic targets and strategies. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:1271-1284. [PMID: 37334903 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2199923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human prion diseases are heterogeneous, and often rapidly progressive, transmissible neurodegenerative disorders associated with misfolded prion protein (PrP) aggregation and self-propagation. Despite their rarity, prion diseases comprise a broad spectrum of phenotypic variants determined at the molecular level by different conformers of misfolded PrP and host genotype variability. Moreover, they uniquely occur in idiopathic, genetically determined, and acquired forms with distinct etiologies. AREA COVERED This review provides an up-to-date overview of potential therapeutic targets in prion diseases and the main results obtained in cell and animal models and human trials. The open issues and challenges associated with developing effective therapies and informative clinical trials are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Currently tested therapeutic strategies target the cellular PrP to prevent the formation of misfolded PrP or to favor its elimination. Among them, passive immunization and gene therapy with antisense oligonucleotides against prion protein mRNA are the most promising. However, the disease's rarity, heterogeneity, and rapid progression profoundly frustrate the successful undertaking of well-powered therapeutic trials and patient identification in the asymptomatic or early stage before the development of significant brain damage. Thus, the most promising therapeutic goal to date is preventing or delaying phenoconversion in carriers of pathogenic mutations by lowering prion protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Baiardi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela Mammana
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sabina Capellari
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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5
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Identification of a Cardiac Glycoside Exhibiting Favorable Brain Bioavailability and Potency for Reducing Levels of the Cellular Prion Protein. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314823. [PMID: 36499150 PMCID: PMC9736291 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Several strands of investigation have established that a reduction in the levels of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a promising avenue for the treatment of prion diseases. We recently described an indirect approach for reducing PrPC levels that targets Na,K-ATPases (NKAs) with cardiac glycosides (CGs), causing cells to respond with the degradation of these pumps and nearby molecules, including PrPC. Because the therapeutic window of widely used CGs is narrow and their brain bioavailability is low, we set out to identify a CG with improved pharmacological properties for this indication. Starting with the CG known as oleandrin, we combined in silico modeling of CG binding poses within human NKA folds, CG structure-activity relationship (SAR) data, and predicted blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrance scores to identify CG derivatives with improved characteristics. Focusing on C4'-dehydro-oleandrin as a chemically accessible shortlisted CG derivative, we show that it reaches four times higher levels in the brain than in the heart one day after subcutaneous administration, exhibits promising pharmacological properties, and suppresses steady-state PrPC levels by 84% in immortalized human cells that have been differentiated to acquire neural or astrocytic characteristics. Finally, we validate that the mechanism of action of this approach for reducing cell surface PrPC levels requires C4'-dehydro-oleandrin to engage with its cognate binding pocket within the NKA α subunit. The improved brain bioavailability of C4'-dehydro-oleandrin, combined with its relatively low toxicity, make this compound an attractive lead for brain CG indications and recommends its further exploration for the treatment of prion diseases.
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Grimaldi I, Leser FS, Janeiro JM, da Rosa BG, Campanelli AC, Romão L, Lima FRS. The multiple functions of PrP C in physiological, cancer, and neurodegenerative contexts. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:1405-1425. [PMID: 36056255 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-022-02245-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a highly conserved glycoprotein, present both anchored in the cell membrane and soluble in the extracellular medium. It has a diversity of ligands and is variably expressed in numerous tissues and cell subtypes, most notably in the central nervous system (CNS). Its importance has been brought to light over the years both under physiological conditions, such as embryogenesis and immune system homeostasis, and in pathologies, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. During development, PrPC plays an important role in CNS, participating in axonal growth and guidance and differentiation of glial cells, but also in other organs such as the heart, lung, and digestive system. In diseases, PrPC has been related to several types of tumors, modulating cancer stem cells, enhancing malignant properties, and inducing drug resistance. Also, in non-neoplastic diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, PrPC seems to alter the dynamics of neurotoxic aggregate formation and, consequently, the progression of the disease. In this review, we explore in detail the multiple functions of this protein, which proved to be relevant for understanding the dynamics of organism homeostasis, as well as a promising target in the treatment of both neoplastic and degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabella Grimaldi
- Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Felipe Saceanu Leser
- Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - José Marcos Janeiro
- Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Gomes da Rosa
- Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara Campanelli
- Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luciana Romão
- Cell Morphogenesis Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Flavia Regina Souza Lima
- Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Mehrabian M, Wang X, Eid S, Yan BQ, Grinberg M, Siegner M, Sackmann C, Sulman M, Zhao W, Williams D, Schmitt-Ulms G. Cardiac glycoside-mediated turnover of Na, K-ATPases as a rational approach to reducing cell surface levels of the cellular prion protein. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270915. [PMID: 35776750 PMCID: PMC9249225 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
It is widely anticipated that a reduction of brain levels of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) can prolong survival in a group of neurodegenerative diseases known as prion diseases. To date, efforts to decrease steady-state PrPC levels by targeting this protein directly with small molecule drug-like compounds have largely been unsuccessful. Recently, we reported Na,K-ATPases to reside in immediate proximity to PrPC in the brain, unlocking an opportunity for an indirect PrPC targeting approach that capitalizes on the availability of potent cardiac glycosides (CGs). Here, we report that exposure of human co-cultures of neurons and astrocytes to non-toxic nanomolar levels of CGs causes profound reductions in PrPC levels. The mechanism of action underpinning this outcome relies primarily on a subset of CGs engaging the ATP1A1 isoform, one of three α subunits of Na,K-ATPases expressed in brain cells. Upon CG docking to ATP1A1, the ligand receptor complex, and PrPC along with it, is internalized by the cell. Subsequently, PrPC is channeled to the lysosomal compartment where it is digested in a manner that can be rescued by silencing the cysteine protease cathepsin B. These data signify that the repurposing of CGs may be beneficial for the treatment of prion disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohadeseh Mehrabian
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Xinzhu Wang
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shehab Eid
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bei Qi Yan
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Grinberg
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Murdock Siegner
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher Sackmann
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Muhammad Sulman
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wenda Zhao
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Declan Williams
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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8
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Betancor M, Pérez-Lázaro S, Otero A, Marín B, Martín-Burriel I, Blennow K, Badiola JJ, Zetterberg H, Bolea R. Neurogranin and Neurofilament Light Chain as Preclinical Biomarkers in Scrapie. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7182. [PMID: 35806183 PMCID: PMC9266981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are diagnosed in the symptomatic stage, when the neuronal damage is spread throughout the central nervous system (CNS). The assessment of biological features that allow the detection of asymptomatic cases is needed, and, in this context, scrapie, where pre-symptomatic infected animals can be detected through rectal biopsy, becomes a good study model. Neurogranin (Ng) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) are proteins that reflect synaptic and axonal damage and have been studied as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in different neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we evaluated Ng and NfL both at the protein and transcript levels in the CNS of preclinical and clinical scrapie-affected sheep compared with healthy controls and assessed their levels in ovine CSF. The correlation between these proteins and the main neuropathological events in prion diseases, PrPSc deposition and spongiosis, was also assessed. The results show a decrease in Ng and NfL at the protein and gene expression levels as the disease progresses, and significant changes between the control and preclinical animals. On the contrary, the CSF levels of NfL increased throughout the progression of the disease. Negative correlations between neuropathological markers of prion disease and the concentration of the studied proteins were also found. Although further research is needed, these results suggest that Ng and NfL could act as biomarkers for neurodegeneration onset and intensity in preclinical cases of scrapie.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Betancor
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, Universidad de Zaragoza, IA2, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-L.); (B.M.); (I.M.-B.); (J.J.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Sonia Pérez-Lázaro
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, Universidad de Zaragoza, IA2, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-L.); (B.M.); (I.M.-B.); (J.J.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Alicia Otero
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, Universidad de Zaragoza, IA2, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-L.); (B.M.); (I.M.-B.); (J.J.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Belén Marín
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, Universidad de Zaragoza, IA2, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-L.); (B.M.); (I.M.-B.); (J.J.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Inmaculada Martín-Burriel
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, Universidad de Zaragoza, IA2, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-L.); (B.M.); (I.M.-B.); (J.J.B.); (R.B.)
- Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics (LAGENBIO), Faculty of Veterinary, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto Carlos III, 28220 Madrid, Spain
| | - Kaj Blennow
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Mölndal, Sweden; (K.B.); (H.Z.)
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Juan José Badiola
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, Universidad de Zaragoza, IA2, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-L.); (B.M.); (I.M.-B.); (J.J.B.); (R.B.)
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience & Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Mölndal, Sweden; (K.B.); (H.Z.)
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45 Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College LondonInstitute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rosa Bolea
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes, Universidad de Zaragoza, IA2, IIS Aragon, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain; (M.B.); (S.P.-L.); (B.M.); (I.M.-B.); (J.J.B.); (R.B.)
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9
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Fatola OI, Keller M, Balkema-Buschmann A, Olopade J, Groschup MH, Fast C. Strain Typing of Classical Scrapie and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) by Using Ovine PrP (ARQ/ARQ) Overexpressing Transgenic Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126744. [PMID: 35743187 PMCID: PMC9223460 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), caused by abnormal prion protein (PrPSc), affect many species. The most classical scrapie isolates harbor mixtures of strains in different proportions. While the characterization of isolates has evolved from using wild-type mice to transgenic mice, no standardization is established yet. Here, we investigated the incubation period, lesion profile and PrPSc profile induced by well-defined sheep scrapie isolates, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and ovine BSE after intracerebral inoculation into two lines of ovine PrP (both ARQ/ARQ) overexpressing transgenic mice (Tgshp IX and Tgshp XI). All isolates were transmitted to both mouse models with an attack rate of almost 100%, but genotype-dependent differences became obvious between the ARQ and VRQ isolates. Surprisingly, BSE induced a much longer incubation period in Tgshp XI compared to Tgshp IX. In contrast to the histopathological lesion profiles, the immunohistochemical PrPSc profiles revealed discriminating patterns in certain brain regions in both models with clear differentiation of both BSE isolates from scrapie. These data provide the basis for the use of Tgshp IX and XI mice in the characterization of TSE isolates. Furthermore, the results enable a deeper appreciation of TSE strain diversity using ovine PrP overexpressing transgenic mice as a biological prion strain typing approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olanrewaju I. Fatola
- Neurosience Unit, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria; (O.I.F.); (J.O.)
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Isle of Riems, Germany; (M.K.); (A.B.-B.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Markus Keller
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Isle of Riems, Germany; (M.K.); (A.B.-B.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Anne Balkema-Buschmann
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Isle of Riems, Germany; (M.K.); (A.B.-B.); (M.H.G.)
| | - James Olopade
- Neurosience Unit, Department of Veterinary Anatomy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan 200005, Nigeria; (O.I.F.); (J.O.)
| | - Martin H. Groschup
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Isle of Riems, Germany; (M.K.); (A.B.-B.); (M.H.G.)
| | - Christine Fast
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17493 Isle of Riems, Germany; (M.K.); (A.B.-B.); (M.H.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-38351-7-1274
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10
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Castle AR, Wohlgemuth S, Arce L, Westaway D. Investigating CRISPR/Cas9 gene drive for production of disease-preventing prion gene alleles. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269342. [PMID: 35671288 PMCID: PMC9173614 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders that includes chronic wasting disease, which affects cervids and is highly transmissible. Given that chronic wasting disease prevalence exceeds 30% in some endemic areas of North America, and that eventual transmission to other mammalian species, potentially including humans, cannot be ruled out, novel control strategies beyond population management via hunting and/or culling must be investigated. Prion diseases depend upon post-translational conversion of the cellular prion protein, encoded by the Prnp gene, into a disease-associated conformation; ablation of cellular prion protein expression, which is generally well-tolerated, eliminates prion disease susceptibility entirely. Inspired by demonstrations of gene drive in caged mosquito species, we aimed to test whether a CRISPR/Cas9-based gene drive mechanism could, in principle, promote the spread of a null Prnp allele among mammalian populations. First, we showed that transient co-expression of Cas9 and Prnp-directed guide RNAs in RK13 cells generates indels within the Prnp open-reading frame, indicating that repair of Cas9-induced double-strand breaks by non-homologous end-joining had taken place. Second, we integrated a ~1.2 kb donor DNA sequence into the Prnp open-reading frame in N2a cells by homology-directed repair following Cas9-induced cleavages and confirmed that integration occurred precisely in most cases. Third, we demonstrated that electroporation of Cas9/guide RNA ribonucleoprotein complexes into fertilised mouse oocytes resulted in pups with a variety of disruptions to the Prnp open reading frame, with a new coisogenic line of Prnp-null mice obtained as part of this work. However, a technical challenge in obtaining expression of Cas9 in the male germline prevented implementation of a complete gene drive mechanism in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R. Castle
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Serene Wohlgemuth
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Luis Arce
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David Westaway
- Centre for Prions and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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11
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Silva CJ. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Cervids and the Consequences of a Mutable Protein Conformation. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:12474-12492. [PMID: 35465121 PMCID: PMC9022204 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease of cervids (deer, elk, moose, etc.). It spreads readily from CWD-contaminated environments and among wild cervids. As of 2022, North American CWD has been found in 29 states, four Canadian provinces and South Korea. The Scandinavian form of CWD originated independently. Prions propagate their pathology by inducing a natively expressed prion protein (PrPC) to adopt the prion conformation (PrPSc). PrPC and PrPSc differ solely in their conformation. Like other prion diseases, transmissible CWD prions can arise spontaneously. The CWD prions can respond to selection pressures resulting in the emergence of new strain phenotypes. Annually, 11.5 million Americans hunt and harvest nearly 6 million deer, indicating that CWD is a potential threat to an important American food source. No tested CWD strain has been shown to be zoonotic. However, this may not be true for emerging strains. Should a zoonotic CWD strain emerge, it could adversely impact the hunting economy and game meat consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J. Silva
- Produce Safety & Microbiology
Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research
Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, California 94710, United States of America
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12
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Kovač V, Čurin Šerbec V. Prion Protein: The Molecule of Many Forms and Faces. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031232. [PMID: 35163156 PMCID: PMC8835406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein most abundantly found in the outer membrane of neurons. Due to structural characteristics (a flexible tail and structured core), PrPC interacts with a wide range of partners. Although PrPC has been proposed to be involved in many physiological functions, only peripheral nerve myelination homeostasis has been confirmed as a bona fide function thus far. PrPC misfolding causes prion diseases and PrPC has been shown to mediate β-rich oligomer-induced neurotoxicity in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease as well as neuroprotection in ischemia. Upon proteolytic cleavage, PrPC is transformed into released and attached forms of PrP that can, depending on the contained structural characteristics of PrPC, display protective or toxic properties. In this review, we will outline prion protein and prion protein fragment properties as well as overview their involvement with interacting partners and signal pathways in myelination, neuroprotection and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Membrane Domain Localization and Interaction of the Prion-Family Proteins, Prion and Shadoo with Calnexin. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:membranes11120978. [PMID: 34940479 PMCID: PMC8704586 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11120978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is renowned for its infectious conformational isoform PrPSc, capable of templating subsequent conversions of healthy PrPCs and thus triggering the group of incurable diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Besides this mechanism not being fully uncovered, the protein’s physiological role is also elusive. PrPC and its newest, less understood paralog Shadoo are glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins highly expressed in the central nervous system. While they share some attributes and neuroprotective actions, opposing roles have also been reported for the two; however, the amount of data about their exact functions is lacking. Protein–protein interactions and membrane microdomain localizations are key determinants of protein function. Accurate identification of these functions for a membrane protein, however, can become biased due to interactions occurring during sample processing. To avoid such artifacts, we apply a non-detergent-based membrane-fractionation approach to study the prion protein and Shadoo. We show that the two proteins occupy similarly raft and non-raft membrane fractions when expressed in N2a cells and that both proteins pull down the chaperone calnexin in both rafts and non-rafts. These indicate their possible binding to calnexin in both types of membrane domains, which might be a necessary requisite to aid the inherently unstable native conformation during their lifetime.
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Dexter E, Kong Q. Neuroprotective effect and potential of cellular prion protein and its cleavage products for treatment of neurodegenerative disorders part I. a literature review. Expert Rev Neurother 2021; 21:969-982. [PMID: 34470561 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2021.1965881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is well known for its pathogenic roles in prion diseases, several other neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's disease), and multiple types of cancer, but the beneficial aspects of PrPC and its cleavage products received much less attention. AREAS COVERED Here the authors will systematically review the literatures on the negative as well as protective aspects of PrPC and its derivatives (especially PrP N-terminal N1 peptide and shed PrP). The authors will dissect the current findings on N1 and shed PrP, including evidence for their neuroprotective effects, the categories of PrPC cleavage, and numerous cleavage enzymes involved. The authors will also discuss the protective effects and therapeutic potentials of PrPC-rich exosomes. The cited articles were obtained from extensive PubMed searches of recent literature, including peer-reviewed original articles and review articles. EXPERT OPINION PrP and its N-terminal fragments have strong neuroprotective activities that should be explored for therapeutics and prophylactics development against prion disease, Alzheimer's disease and a few other neurodegenerative diseases. The strategies to develop PrP-based therapeutics and prophylactics for these neurodegenerative diseases will be discussed in a companion article (Part II).
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Dexter
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
| | - Qingzhong Kong
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA.,Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, USA
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15
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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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Genetic Variation in the Prion Protein Gene ( PRNP) of Two Tunisian Goat Populations. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061635. [PMID: 34073078 PMCID: PMC8228439 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Goat production is contributing to the economic and social development of rural areas in arid lands, within harsh conditions of Southern Tunisia. In this geographic zone, there are two caprine populations: the native goat population and the crossed goat population. Genotyping goats for the prion protein gene (PRNP) allows us to estimate their level of genetic susceptibility to scrapie disease. In the present work, the Sanger sequencing method of the entire PRNP coding sequence was used to determine the different PRNP genotypes and haplotypes in two populations (116 animals). This study represents the first investigation on goats’ PRNP genetic variability in Tunisia, and the results are useful in the design of national breeding programs. Abstract Scrapie is a fatal prion disease. It belongs to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), and occurs in sheep and goats. Similarly, to ovine species, the prion protein gene (PRNP) plays a major role in conferring resistance or susceptibility to TSE in goats. This study assesses the variability of PRNP in native and crossed-breed goat populations raised in the Southeast of Tunisia and provides information on the distribution of PRNP haplotypes and genotypes in these goat populations. A total of 116 unrelated goats including 82 native and 34 crossed-breed goats were screened for PRNP polymorphisms using Sanger sequencing. Sequence analysis revealed 10 non-synonymous polymorphisms (G37V, M137I, R139S, I142M, H143R, N146D, R154H, R211Q, Q222K, and S240P), giving rise to 12 haplotypes and 23 genotypes. Moreover, four silent mutations were detected at codons 30, 42, 138, and 179; the former was reported for the first time in goat (nucleotide 60 c→t). Interestingly, the PrP variants associated with resistance (D146 and K222) or with a prolonged incubation time of goat to scrapie (M142, R143, H154, Q211) were absent or detected with low frequencies except for H154 variant, which is present with high frequency (1%, 1%, 4%, 0%, 88%, and 6%, respectively, for native goats, and 0%, 1%, 0%, 1%, 78%, and 1%, respectively, for crossed goats). The analysis of PRNP polymorphisms of goats raised in other regions of the country will be useful in getting a global view of PRNP genetic variability and the feasibility of goat breeding programs in Tunisia.
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17
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Classical and Atypical Scrapie in Sheep and Goats. Review on the Etiology, Genetic Factors, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Control Measures of Both Diseases. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030691. [PMID: 33806658 PMCID: PMC7999988 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases, such as scrapie, are neurodegenerative diseases with a fatal outcome, caused by a conformational change of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), originating with the pathogenic form (PrPSc). Classical scrapie in small ruminants is the paradigm of prion diseases, as it was the first transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) described and is the most studied. It is necessary to understand the etiological properties, the relevance of the transmission pathways, the infectivity of the tissues, and how we can improve the detection of the prion protein to encourage detection of the disease. The aim of this review is to perform an overview of classical and atypical scrapie disease in sheep and goats, detailing those special issues of the disease, such as genetic factors, diagnostic procedures, and surveillance approaches carried out in the European Union with the objective of controlling the dissemination of scrapie disease.
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18
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Skedsmo FS, Espenes A, Tranulis MA. Prion protein in myelin maintenance: what does the goat say? Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:1216-1217. [PMID: 33269783 PMCID: PMC8224112 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.300444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fredrik S Skedsmo
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arild Espenes
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael A Tranulis
- Department of Preclinical Sciences and Pathology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
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Minikel EV, Zhao HT, Le J, O'Moore J, Pitstick R, Graffam S, Carlson GA, Kavanaugh MP, Kriz J, Kim JB, Ma J, Wille H, Aiken J, McKenzie D, Doh-Ura K, Beck M, O'Keefe R, Stathopoulos J, Caron T, Schreiber SL, Carroll JB, Kordasiewicz HB, Cabin DE, Vallabh SM. Prion protein lowering is a disease-modifying therapy across prion disease stages, strains and endpoints. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:10615-10631. [PMID: 32776089 PMCID: PMC7641729 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lowering of prion protein (PrP) expression in the brain is a genetically validated therapeutic hypothesis in prion disease. We recently showed that antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated PrP suppression extends survival and delays disease onset in intracerebrally prion-infected mice in both prophylactic and delayed dosing paradigms. Here, we examine the efficacy of this therapeutic approach across diverse paradigms, varying the dose and dosing regimen, prion strain, treatment timepoint, and examining symptomatic, survival, and biomarker readouts. We recapitulate our previous findings with additional PrP-targeting ASOs, and demonstrate therapeutic benefit against four additional prion strains. We demonstrate that <25% PrP suppression is sufficient to extend survival and delay symptoms in a prophylactic paradigm. Rise in both neuroinflammation and neuronal injury markers can be reversed by a single dose of PrP-lowering ASO administered after the detection of pathological change. Chronic ASO-mediated suppression of PrP beginning at any time up to early signs of neuropathology confers benefit similar to constitutive heterozygous PrP knockout. Remarkably, even after emergence of frank symptoms including weight loss, a single treatment prolongs survival by months in a subset of animals. These results support ASO-mediated PrP lowering, and PrP-lowering therapeutics in general, as a promising path forward against prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Hien T Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Jason Le
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jill O'Moore
- McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, MT 59405, USA
| | - Rose Pitstick
- McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, MT 59405, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jasna Kriz
- Cervo Brain Research Center, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1J 2G3, Canada
| | | | - Jiyan Ma
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Holger Wille
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| | - Judd Aiken
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2M8, Canada
| | | | - Katsumi Doh-Ura
- Department of Neurochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Matthew Beck
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rhonda O'Keefe
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Tyler Caron
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Stuart L Schreiber
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | | | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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20
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Mabbott NA, Bradford BM, Pal R, Young R, Donaldson DS. The Effects of Immune System Modulation on Prion Disease Susceptibility and Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7299. [PMID: 33023255 PMCID: PMC7582561 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a unique group of infectious chronic neurodegenerative disorders to which there are no cures. Although prion infections do not stimulate adaptive immune responses in infected individuals, the actions of certain immune cell populations can have a significant impact on disease pathogenesis. After infection, the targeting of peripherally-acquired prions to specific immune cells in the secondary lymphoid organs (SLO), such as the lymph nodes and spleen, is essential for the efficient transmission of disease to the brain. Once the prions reach the brain, interactions with other immune cell populations can provide either host protection or accelerate the neurodegeneration. In this review, we provide a detailed account of how factors such as inflammation, ageing and pathogen co-infection can affect prion disease pathogenesis and susceptibility. For example, we discuss how changes to the abundance, function and activation status of specific immune cell populations can affect the transmission of prion diseases by peripheral routes. We also describe how the effects of systemic inflammation on certain glial cell subsets in the brains of infected individuals can accelerate the neurodegeneration. A detailed understanding of the factors that affect prion disease transmission and pathogenesis is essential for the development of novel intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil A. Mabbott
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK; (B.M.B.); (R.P.); (R.Y.); (D.S.D.)
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21
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Colini Baldeschi A, Vanni S, Zattoni M, Legname G. Novel regulators of PrP C expression as potential therapeutic targets in prion diseases. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:759-776. [PMID: 32631090 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1782384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Prion diseases are rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorders. The key molecular event in these disorders is the misfolding of the physiological form of the cellular prion protein, PrPC, leading to the accumulation of a pathological isoform, PrPSc, with unique features. Both isoforms share the same primary sequence, lacking detectable differences in posttranslational modification, a major hurdle for their biochemical or biophysical independent characterization. The mechanism underlying the conversion of PrPC to PrPSc is not completely understood, so finding an effective therapy to cure prion disorders is extremely challenging. AREAS COVERED This review discusses the strategies for decreasing prion replication and throws a spotlight on the relevance of PrPC in the prion accumulation process. EXPERT OPINION PrPC is the key substrate for prion pathology; hence, the most promising therapeutic approach appears to be the targeting of PrPC to block the production of the infectious isoform. The use of RNA interference and antisense oligonucleotide technologies may offer opportunities for treatment because of their success in clinical trials for other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Colini Baldeschi
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Vanni
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per Lo Studio E La Cura Dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS , Meldola, Italy
| | - Marco Zattoni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , Trieste, Italy
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22
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Abstract
In sheep, scrapie is a fatal neurologic disease that is caused by a misfolded protein called a prion (designated PrPSc). The normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) is encoded by an endogenous gene, PRNP, that is present in high concentrations within the CNS. Although a broad range of functions has been described for PrPC, its entire range of functions has yet to be fully elucidated. Accumulation of PrPSc results in neurodegeneration. The PRNP gene has several naturally occurring polymorphisms, and there is a strong correlation between scrapie susceptibility and PRNP genotype. The cornerstone of scrapie eradication programs is the selection of scrapie-resistant genotypes to eliminate classical scrapie. Transmission of classical scrapie in sheep occurs during the prenatal and periparturient periods when lambs are highly susceptible. Initially, the scrapie agent is disseminated throughout the lymphoid system and into the CNS. Shedding of the scrapie agent occurs before the onset of clinical signs. In contrast to classical scrapie, atypical scrapie is believed to be a spontaneous disease that occurs in isolated instances in older animals within a flock. The agent that causes atypical scrapie is not considered to be naturally transmissible. Transmission of the scrapie agent to species other than sheep, including deer, has been experimentally demonstrated as has the transmission of nonscrapie prion agents to sheep. The purpose of this review is to outline the current methods for diagnosing scrapie in sheep and the techniques used for studying the pathogenesis and host range of the scrapie agent. Also discussed is the US scrapie eradication program including recent updates.
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23
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Daude N, Kim C, Kang SG, Eskandari-Sedighi G, Haldiman T, Yang J, Fleck SC, Gomez-Cardona E, Han ZZ, Borrego-Ecija S, Wohlgemuth S, Julien O, Wille H, Molina-Porcel L, Gelpi E, Safar JG, Westaway D. Diverse, evolving conformer populations drive distinct phenotypes in frontotemporal lobar degeneration caused by the same MAPT-P301L mutation. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 139:1045-1070. [PMID: 32219515 PMCID: PMC7244472 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02148-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Tau protein accumulation is a common denominator of major dementias, but this process is inhomogeneous, even when triggered by the same germline mutation. We considered stochastic misfolding of human tau conformers followed by templated conversion of native monomers as an underlying mechanism and derived sensitive conformational assays to test this concept. Assessments of brains from aged TgTauP301L transgenic mice revealed a prodromal state and three distinct signatures for misfolded tau. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)-MAPT-P301L patients with different clinical phenotypes also displayed three signatures, two resembling those found in TgTauP301L mice. As physicochemical and cell bioassays confirmed diverse tau strains in the mouse and human brain series, we conclude that evolution of diverse tau conformers is intrinsic to the pathogenesis of this uni-allelic form of tauopathy. In turn, effective therapeutic interventions in FTLD will need to address evolving repertoires of misfolded tau species rather than singular, static molecular targets.
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24
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Passet B, Castille J, Makhzami S, Truchet S, Vaiman A, Floriot S, Moazami-Goudarzi K, Vilotte M, Gaillard AL, Helary L, Bertaud M, Andréoletti O, Vaiman D, Calvel P, Daniel-Carlier N, Moudjou M, Beauvallet C, Benharouga M, Laloé D, Mouillet-Richard S, Duchesne A, Béringue V, Vilotte JL. The Prion-like protein Shadoo is involved in mouse embryonic and mammary development and differentiation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6765. [PMID: 32317725 PMCID: PMC7174383 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63805-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Shadoo belongs to the prion protein family, an evolutionary conserved and extensively studied family due to the implication of PrP in Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies. However, the biological function of these genes remains poorly understood. While Sprn-knockdown experiments suggested an involvement of Shadoo during mouse embryonic development, Sprn-knockout experiments in 129Pas/C57BL/6J or 129Pas/FVB/NCr mice did not confirm it. In the present study, we analyzed the impact of Sprn gene invalidation in a pure FVB/NJ genetic background, using a zinc finger nuclease approach. The in-depth analysis of the derived knockout transgenic mice revealed a significant increase in embryonic lethality at early post-implantation stages, a growth retardation of young Sprn-knockout pups fed by wild type mice and a lactation defect of Sprn-knockout females. Histological and transcriptional analyses of knockout E7.5 embryos, E14.5 placentas and G7.5 mammary glands revealed specific roles of the Shadoo protein in mouse early embryogenesis, tissue development and differentiation with a potential antagonist action between PrP and Shadoo. This study thus highlights the entanglement between the proteins of the prion family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Passet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Johan Castille
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Samira Makhzami
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sandrine Truchet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UVSQ, VIM, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Anne Vaiman
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sandrine Floriot
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Marthe Vilotte
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Anne-Laure Gaillard
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Louise Helary
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Maud Bertaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Daniel Vaiman
- Institut Cochin, U1016, INSERM, UMR 8504 CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Calvel
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Mohammed Moudjou
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UVSQ, VIM, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Christian Beauvallet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Denis Laloé
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sophie Mouillet-Richard
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, F-75006, Paris, France
| | - Amandine Duchesne
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Vincent Béringue
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UVSQ, VIM, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Jean-Luc Vilotte
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, UMR1313-GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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25
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Towards a treatment for genetic prion disease: trials and biomarkers. Lancet Neurol 2020; 19:361-368. [PMID: 32199098 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(19)30403-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Prion disease is a rare, fatal, and exceptionally rapid neurodegenerative disease. Although incurable, prion disease follows a clear pathogenic mechanism, in which a single gene gives rise to a single prion protein (PrP) capable of converting into the sole causal disease agent, the misfolded prion. As efforts progress to leverage this mechanistic knowledge toward rational therapies, a principal challenge will be the design of clinical trials. Previous trials in prion disease have been done in symptomatic patients who are often profoundly debilitated at enrolment. About 15% of prion disease cases are genetic, creating an opportunity for early therapeutic intervention to delay or prevent disease. Highly variable age of onset and absence of established prodromal biomarkers might render infeasible existing models for testing drugs before disease onset. Advancement of near-term targeted therapeutics could crucially depend on thoughtful design of rigorous presymptomatic trials.
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26
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Krance SH, Luke R, Shenouda M, Israwi AR, Colpitts SJ, Darwish L, Strauss M, Watts JC. Cellular models for discovering prion disease therapeutics: Progress and challenges. J Neurochem 2020; 153:150-172. [PMID: 31943194 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Prions, which cause fatal neurodegenerative disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, are misfolded and infectious protein aggregates. Currently, there are no treatments available to halt or even delay the progression of prion disease in the brain. The infectious nature of prions has resulted in animal paradigms that accurately recapitulate all aspects of prion disease, and these have proven to be instrumental for testing the efficacy of candidate therapeutics. Nonetheless, infection of cultured cells with prions provides a much more powerful system for identifying molecules capable of interfering with prion propagation. Certain lines of cultured cells can be chronically infected with various types of mouse prions, and these models have been used to unearth candidate anti-prion drugs that are at least partially efficacious when administered to prion-infected rodents. However, these studies have also revealed that not all types of prions are equal, and that drugs active against mouse prions are not necessarily effective against prions from other species. Despite some recent progress, the number of cellular models available for studying non-mouse prions remains limited. In particular, human prions have proven to be particularly challenging to propagate in cultured cells, which has severely hindered the discovery of drugs for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In this review, we summarize the cellular models that are presently available for discovering and testing drugs capable of blocking the propagation of prions and highlight challenges that remain on the path towards developing therapies for prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saffire H Krance
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Russell Luke
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marc Shenouda
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ahmad R Israwi
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah J Colpitts
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lina Darwish
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maximilian Strauss
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joel C Watts
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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27
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Salvesen Ø, Espenes A, Reiten MR, Vuong TT, Malachin G, Tran L, Andréoletti O, Olsaker I, Benestad SL, Tranulis MA, Ersdal C. Goats naturally devoid of PrP C are resistant to scrapie. Vet Res 2020; 51:1. [PMID: 31924264 PMCID: PMC6954626 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-019-0731-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are progressive and fatal, neurodegenerative disorders described in humans and animals. According to the "protein-only" hypothesis, the normal host-encoded prion protein (PrPC) is converted into a pathological and infectious form (PrPSc) in these diseases. Transgenic knockout models have shown that PrPC is a prerequisite for the development of prion disease. In Norwegian dairy goats, a mutation (Ter) in the prion protein gene (PRNP) effectively blocks PrPC synthesis. We inoculated 12 goats (4 PRNP+/+, 4 PRNP+/Ter, and 4 PRNPTer/Ter) intracerebrally with goat scrapie prions. The mean incubation time until clinical signs of prion disease was 601 days post-inoculation (dpi) in PRNP+/+ goats and 773 dpi in PRNP+/Ter goats. PrPSc and vacuolation were similarly distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) of both groups and observed in all brain regions and segments of the spinal cord. Generally, accumulation of PrPSc was limited in peripheral organs, but all PRNP+/+ goats and 1 of 4 PRNP+/Ter goats were positive in head lymph nodes. The four PRNPTer/Ter goats remained healthy, without clinical signs of prion disease, and were euthanized 1260 dpi. As expected, no accumulation of PrPSc was observed in the CNS or peripheral tissues of this group, as assessed by immunohistochemistry, enzyme immunoassay, and real-time quaking-induced conversion. Our study shows for the first time that animals devoid of PrPC due to a natural mutation do not propagate prions and are resistant to scrapie. Clinical onset of disease is delayed in heterozygous goats expressing about 50% of PrPC levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Øyvind Salvesen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - Arild Espenes
- Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Malin R. Reiten
- Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Giulia Malachin
- Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Linh Tran
- Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Ingrid Olsaker
- 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
| | - Cecilie Ersdal
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
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28
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Ke J, Wu G, Zhang J, Li H, Gao S, Shao M, Gao Z, Sy MS, Cao Y, Yang X, Xu J, Li C. Melanoma migration is promoted by prion protein via Akt-hsp27 signaling axis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 523:375-381. [PMID: 31870551 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.12.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Patients with metastatic melanoma have a poorer prognosis. Prion protein (PrP) in melanoma is known to play an important role in cancer cell migration and invasion by interacting with filamin A (FLNa), a cytolinker protein. To investigate if PrP may contribute to cancer cell mobility independent of its binding to FLNa, we knocked out PRNP in M2 melanoma cell, which lacked FLNa expression. We found that deletion of PRNP in M2 significantly reduced its motility. When PRNP was deleted, the level of Akt was decreased. As a consequence, phosphorylation of small heat shock protein (hsp27) was also reduced, which resulted in polymerization of F-actin rendering the cells less migratory. Accordingly, when PrP was re-expressed in PRNP null M2 cells, the mobility of the recurred cells was rescued, so were the expression levels of Akt and phosphorylated hsp27, resulting in a decrease in the polymerization of F-actin. These results revealed that PrP can play a FLNa independent role in cytoskeletal organization and tumor cell migration by modulating Akt-hsp27-F-actin axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingru Ke
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China; Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, 78 Hengzhigang Road, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Guiru Wu
- The Joint Laboratory for Translational Precision Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China; Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, 78 Hengzhigang Road, Guangzhou, 510095, China; Department of Stomatology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, No. 107 North 2nd Road, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832008, China
| | - Huan Li
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shanshan Gao
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ming Shao
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhenxing Gao
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, 78 Hengzhigang Road, Guangzhou, 510095, China
| | - Man-Sun Sy
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Yuchun Cao
- Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Xiaowen Yang
- Department of the First Abdominal Surgery, Jiangxi Tumor Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330029, China.
| | - Jiang Xu
- Department of Stomatology, First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, No. 107 North 2nd Road, Shihezi, Xinjiang, 832008, China.
| | - Chaoyang Li
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, 78 Hengzhigang Road, Guangzhou, 510095, China.
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29
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Abstract
Mammalian prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative conditions caused by infection of the central nervous system with proteinaceous agents called prions, including sporadic, variant, and iatrogenic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; kuru; inherited prion disease; sheep scrapie; bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and chronic wasting disease. Prions are composed of misfolded and multimeric forms of the normal cellular prion protein (PrP). Prion diseases require host expression of the prion protein gene (PRNP) and a range of other cellular functions to support their propagation and toxicity. Inherited forms of prion disease are caused by mutation of PRNP, whereas acquired and sporadically occurring mammalian prion diseases are controlled by powerful genetic risk and modifying factors. Whereas some PrP amino acid variants cause the disease, others confer protection, dramatically altered incubation times, or changes in the clinical phenotype. Multiple mechanisms, including interference with homotypic protein interactions and the selection of the permissible prion strains in a host, play a role. Several non-PRNP factors have now been uncovered that provide insights into pathways of disease susceptibility or neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Mead
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London W1W 7FF, United Kingdom;
| | - Sarah Lloyd
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London W1W 7FF, United Kingdom;
| | - John Collinge
- Medical Research Council Prion Unit at UCL, Institute of Prion Diseases, University College London, London W1W 7FF, United Kingdom;
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30
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Raymond GJ, Zhao HT, Race B, Raymond LD, Williams K, Swayze EE, Graffam S, Le J, Caron T, Stathopoulos J, O'Keefe R, Lubke LL, Reidenbach AG, Kraus A, Schreiber SL, Mazur C, Cabin DE, Carroll JB, Minikel EV, Kordasiewicz H, Caughey B, Vallabh SM. Antisense oligonucleotides extend survival of prion-infected mice. JCI Insight 2019; 5:131175. [PMID: 31361599 PMCID: PMC6777807 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.131175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion disease is a fatal, incurable neurodegenerative disease of humans and other mammals caused by conversion of cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a self-propagating neurotoxic conformer (prions; PrPSc). Strong genetic proofs of concept support lowering PrP expression as a therapeutic strategy. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) can provide a practical route to lowering 1 target mRNA in the brain, but their development for prion disease has been hindered by 3 unresolved issues from prior work: uncertainty about mechanism of action, unclear potential for efficacy against established prion infection, and poor tolerability of drug delivery by osmotic pumps. Here, we test ASOs delivered by bolus intracerebroventricular injection to intracerebrally prion-infected WT mice. Prophylactic treatments given every 2–3 months extended survival times 61%–98%, and a single injection at 120 days after infection, near the onset of clinical signs, extended survival 55% (87 days). In contrast, a nontargeting control ASO was ineffective. Thus, PrP lowering is the mechanism of action of ASOs effective against prion disease in vivo, and infrequent — or even single — bolus injections of ASOs can slow prion neuropathogenesis and markedly extend survival, even when initiated near clinical signs. These findings should empower development of PrP-lowering therapy for prion disease. ASO-mediated prion protein suppression delays disease and extends survival, even in mice with established prion infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory J Raymond
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | | | - Brent Race
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Lynne D Raymond
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Katie Williams
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Eric E Swayze
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Samantha Graffam
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jason Le
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tyler Caron
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Rhonda O'Keefe
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lori L Lubke
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | | | - Allison Kraus
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | | | - Curt Mazur
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | | | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Byron Caughey
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Hamilton, Montana, USA.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Prion Alliance, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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31
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Prion protein quantification in human cerebrospinal fluid as a tool for prion disease drug development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:7793-7798. [PMID: 30936307 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1901947116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduction of native prion protein (PrP) levels in the brain is an attractive strategy for the treatment or prevention of human prion disease. Clinical development of any PrP-reducing therapeutic will require an appropriate pharmacodynamic biomarker: a practical and robust method for quantifying PrP, and reliably demonstrating its reduction in the central nervous system (CNS) of a living patient. Here we evaluate the potential of ELISA-based quantification of human PrP in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to serve as a biomarker for PrP-reducing therapeutics. We show that CSF PrP is highly sensitive to plastic adsorption during handling and storage, but its loss can be minimized by the addition of detergent. We find that blood contamination does not affect CSF PrP levels, and that CSF PrP and hemoglobin are uncorrelated, together suggesting that CSF PrP is CNS derived, supporting its relevance for monitoring the tissue of interest and in keeping with high PrP abundance in brain relative to blood. In a cohort with controlled sample handling, CSF PrP exhibits good within-subject test-retest reliability (mean coefficient of variation, 13% in samples collected 8-11 wk apart), a sufficiently stable baseline to allow therapeutically meaningful reductions in brain PrP to be readily detected in CSF. Together, these findings supply a method for monitoring the effect of a PrP-reducing drug in the CNS, and will facilitate development of prion disease therapeutics with this mechanism of action.
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32
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33
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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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34
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Leighton PLA, Kanyo R, Neil GJ, Pollock NM, Allison WT. Prion gene paralogs are dispensable for early zebrafish development and have nonadditive roles in seizure susceptibility. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:12576-12592. [PMID: 29903907 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Normally folded prion protein (PrPC) and its functions in healthy brains remain underappreciated compared with the intense study of its misfolded forms ("prions," PrPSc) during the pathobiology of prion diseases. This impedes the development of therapeutic strategies in Alzheimer's and prion diseases. Disrupting the zebrafish homologs of PrPC has provided novel insights; however, mutagenesis of the zebrafish paralog prp2 did not recapitulate previous dramatic developmental phenotypes, suggesting redundancy with the prp1 paralog. Here, we generated zebrafish prp1 loss-of-function mutant alleles and dual prp1-/-;prp2-/- mutants. Zebrafish prp1-/- and dual prp1-/-;prp2-/- mutants resemble mammalian Prnp knockouts insofar as they lack overt phenotypes, which surprisingly contrasts with reports of severe developmental phenotypes when either prp1 or prp2 is knocked down acutely. Previous studies suggest that PrPC participates in neural cell development/adhesion, including in zebrafish where loss of prp2 affects adhesion and deposition patterns of lateral line neuromasts. In contrast with the expectation that prp1's functions would be redundant to prp2, they appear to have opposing functions in lateral line neurodevelopment. Similarly, loss of prp1 blunted the seizure susceptibility phenotypes observed in prp2 mutants, contrasting the expected exacerbation of phenotypes if these prion gene paralogs were serving redundant roles. In summary, prion mutant fish lack the overt phenotypes previously predicted, and instead they have subtle phenotypes similar to mammals. No evidence was found for functional redundancy in the zebrafish prion gene paralogs, and the phenotypes observed when each gene is disrupted individually are consistent with ancient functions of prion proteins in neurodevelopment and modulation of neural activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L A Leighton
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Richard Kanyo
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Gavin J Neil
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Niall M Pollock
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - W Ted Allison
- From the Department of Biological Sciences and the Centre for Prion and Protein Folding Diseases, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada
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35
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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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36
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Reiten MR, Malachin G, Kommisrud E, Østby GC, Waterhouse KE, Krogenæs AK, Kusnierczyk A, Bjørås M, Jalland CMO, Nekså LH, Røed SS, Stenseth EB, Myromslien FD, Zeremichael TT, Bakkebø MK, Espenes A, Tranulis MA. Stress Resilience of Spermatozoa and Blood Mononuclear Cells without Prion Protein. Front Mol Biosci 2018; 5:1. [PMID: 29417049 PMCID: PMC5787566 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2018.00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein PrPC is highly expressed in neurons, but also present in non-neuronal tissues, including the testicles and spermatozoa. Most immune cells and their bone marrow precursors also express PrPC. Clearly, this protein operates in highly diverse cellular contexts. Investigations into putative stress-protective roles for PrPC have resulted in an array of functions, such as inhibition of apoptosis, stimulation of anti-oxidant enzymes, scavenging roles, and a role in nuclear DNA repair. We have studied stress resilience of spermatozoa and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from non-transgenic goats that lack PrPC (PRNPTer/Ter) compared with cells from normal (PRNP+/+) goats. Spermatozoa were analyzed for freeze tolerance, DNA integrity, viability, motility, ATP levels, and acrosome intactness at rest and after acute stress, induced by Cu2+ ions, as well as levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after exposure to FeSO4 and H2O2. Surprisingly, PrPC-negative spermatozoa reacted similarly to normal spermatozoa in all read-outs. Moreover, in vitro exposure of PBMCs to Doxorubicin, H2O2 and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), revealed no effect of PrPC on cellular survival or global accumulation of DNA damage. Similar results were obtained with human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell lines stably expressing varying levels of PrPC. RNA sequencing of PBMCs (n = 8 of PRNP+/+ and PRNPTer/Ter) showed that basal level expression of genes encoding DNA repair enzymes, ROS scavenging, and antioxidant enzymes were unaffected by the absence of PrPC. Data presented here questions the in vitro cytoprotective roles previously attributed to PrPC, although not excluding such functions in other cell types or tissues during inflammatory stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malin R Reiten
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Giulia Malachin
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elisabeth Kommisrud
- Faculty of Education and Natural Sciences, Inland University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway
| | - Gunn C Østby
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Karin E Waterhouse
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.,Spermvital AS Holsetgata, Hamar, Norway
| | - Anette K Krogenæs
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Kusnierczyk
- Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Clara M O Jalland
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Liv Heidi Nekså
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Susan S Røed
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Else-Berit Stenseth
- Faculty of Education and Natural Sciences, Inland University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway
| | - Frøydis D Myromslien
- Faculty of Education and Natural Sciences, Inland University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway
| | - Teklu T Zeremichael
- Faculty of Education and Natural Sciences, Inland University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway
| | - Maren K Bakkebø
- 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
| | - Michael A Tranulis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
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Abstract
Scrapie was the first prion disease to be recognised and the study of this disease in sheep and goats has provided a wealth of information not only for scrapie but also for the other prion diseases. All prion diseases are under strong genetic control of the prion gene PRNP, independent of whether they are typical or atypical scrapie and which of the different prion strains is causing infection. Decades of studies using experimental disease challenges and field surveys have established disease association models, in which species-specific amino acid variations in the prion or PrP protein, encoded by the PRNP gene, can predict disease susceptibility or resistance. PRNP genetics represents an important and successful basis for implementing scrapie eradication strategies in sheep and goats. In general terms these studies have revealed that there appear to be many more amino acid changes in PrP leading to increased resistance than to higher susceptibility. Most changes are in the globular part of PrP protein and three regions appear to have major influence. This knowledge can be transferred into prion diseases of other species to facilitate genetic control strategies. However, an obstacle remains with the lack of fully understanding the underlying molecular mechanism, impeding our ability to deal with the difference in the genetic control between typical and atypical forms of scrapie or to predict association in newly infected species. This chapter will discuss the advances in both typical and atypical scrapie from a genetic perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wilfred Goldmann
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, United Kingdom.
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38
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Lathe R, Darlix JL. Prion Protein PRNP: A New Player in Innate Immunity? The Aβ Connection. J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2017; 1:263-275. [PMID: 30480243 PMCID: PMC6159716 DOI: 10.3233/adr-170037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The prion protein PRNP has been centrally implicated in the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), but its normal physiological role remains obscure. We highlight emerging evidence that PRNP displays antimicrobial activity, inhibiting the replication of multiple viruses, and also interacts directly with Alzheimer's disease (AD) amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide whose own antimicrobial role is now increasingly secure. PRNP and Aβ share share membrane-penetrating, nucleic acid binding, and antiviral properties with classical antimicrobial peptides such as LL-37. We discuss findings that binding of abnormal nucleic acids to PRNP leads to oligomerization of the protein, and suggest that this may be an entrapment and sequestration process that contributes to its antimicrobial activity. Some antimicrobial peptides are known to be exploited by infectious agents, and we cover evidence that PRNP is usurped by herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) that has evolved a virus-encoded 'anti-PRNP'.unction. These findings suggest that PRNP, like LL-37 and Aβ, is likely to be a component of the innate immune system, with implications for the pathoetiology of both AD and TSE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lathe
- Division of Infection and Pathway Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Jean-Luc Darlix
- Faculté de Pharmacie, Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité 7213, Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
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Salvesen Ø, Reiten MR, Kamstra JH, Bakkebø MK, Espenes A, Tranulis MA, Ersdal C. Goats without Prion Protein Display Enhanced Proinflammatory Pulmonary Signaling and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling upon Systemic Lipopolysaccharide Challenge. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1722. [PMID: 29270176 PMCID: PMC5723645 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A naturally occurring mutation in the PRNP gene of Norwegian dairy goats terminates synthesis of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), rendering homozygous goats (PRNPTer/Ter) devoid of the protein. Although PrPC has been extensively studied, particularly in the central nervous system, the biological role of PrPC remains incompletely understood. Here, we examined whether loss of PrPC affects the initial stage of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). Acute pulmonary inflammation was induced by intravenous injection of LPS (Escherichia coli O26:B6) in 16 goats (8 PRNPTer/Ter and 8 PRNP+/+). A control group of 10 goats (5 PRNPTer/Ter and 5 PRNP+/+) received sterile saline. Systemic LPS challenge induced sepsis-like clinical signs including tachypnea and respiratory distress. Microscopic examination of lungs revealed multifocal areas with alveolar hemorrhages, edema, neutrophil infiltration, and higher numbers of alveolar macrophages, with no significant differences between PRNP genotypes. A total of 432 (PRNP+/+) and 596 (PRNPTer/Ter) genes were differentially expressed compared with the saline control of the matching genotype. When assigned to gene ontology categories, biological processes involved in remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), were exclusively enriched in PrPC-deficient goats. These genes included a range of collagen-encoding genes, and proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP1, MMP2, MMP14, ADAM15) and cathepsins. Several proinflammatory upstream regulators (TNF-α, interleukin-1β, IFN-γ) showed increased activation scores in goats devoid of PrPC. In conclusion, LPS challenge induced marked alterations in the lung tissue transcriptome that corresponded with histopathological and clinical findings in both genotypes. The increased activation of upstream inflammatory regulators and enrichment of ECM components could reflect increased inflammation in the absence of PrPC. Further studies are required to elucidate whether these alterations may affect the later reparative phase of ALI.
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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
| | - Malin R Reiten
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jorke H Kamstra
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maren K Bakkebø
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Arild Espenes
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael A Tranulis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences and Aquatic Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Cecilie Ersdal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
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40
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Zhang H, Gao S, Pei R, Chen X, Li C. Hepatitis C virus-induced prion protein expression facilitates hepatitis C virus replication. Virol Sin 2017; 32:503-510. [PMID: 29076011 DOI: 10.1007/s12250-017-4039-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 180 million people worldwide. Significant progress has been made since the establishment of in vitro HCV infection models in cells. However, the replication of HCV is complex and not completely understood. Here, we found that the expression of host prion protein (PrP) was induced in an HCV replication cell model. We then showed that increased PrP expression facilitated HCV genomic replication. Finally, we demonstrated that the KKRPK motif on the N-terminus of PrP bound nucleic acids and facilitated HCV genomic replication. Our results provided important insights into how viruses may harness cellular protein to achieve propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huixia Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Center for Molecular Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Shanshan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Center for Molecular Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100000, China
| | - Rongjuan Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Center for Molecular Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xinwen Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Center for Molecular Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Chaoyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Center for Molecular Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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41
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Wu GR, Mu TC, Gao ZX, Wang J, Sy MS, Li CY. Prion protein is required for tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-triggered nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling and cytokine production. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:18747-18759. [PMID: 28900035 PMCID: PMC5704461 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m117.787283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of normal cellular prion protein (PrP) is required for the pathogenesis of prion diseases. However, the physiological functions of PrP remain ambiguous. Here, we identified PrP as being critical for tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α-triggered signaling in a human melanoma cell line, M2, and a pancreatic ductal cell adenocarcinoma cell line, BxPC-3. In M2 cells, TNFα up-regulates the expression of p-IκB-kinase α/β (p-IKKα/β), p-p65, and p-JNK, but down-regulates the IκBα protein, all of which are downstream signaling intermediates in the TNF receptor signaling cascade. When PRNP is deleted in M2 cells, the effects of TNFα are no longer detectable. More importantly, p-p65 and p-JNK responses are restored when PRNP is reintroduced into the PRNP null cells. TNFα also activates NF-κB and increases TNFα production in wild-type M2 cells, but not in PrP-null M2 cells. Similar results are obtained in the BxPC-3 cells. Moreover, TNFα activation of NF-κB requires ubiquitination of receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 1 (RIP1) and TNF receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2). TNFα treatment increases the binding between PrP and the deubiquitinase tumor suppressor cylindromatosis (CYLD), in these treated cells, binding of CYLD to RIP1 and TRAF2 is reduced. We conclude that PrP traps CYLD, preventing it from binding and deubiquitinating RIP1 and TRAF2. Our findings reveal that PrP enhances the responses to TNFα, promoting proinflammatory cytokine production, which may contribute to inflammation and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gui-Ru Wu
- From the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan 430071, China.,the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China
| | - Tian-Chen Mu
- the Department of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430010, China
| | - Zhen-Xing Gao
- From the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jun Wang
- From the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Man-Sun Sy
- the Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, and
| | - Chao-Yang Li
- From the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Virology, 44 Xiao Hong Shan Zhong Qu, Wuhan 430071, China, .,the Wuhan Brain Hospital, No. 5 Huiji Road, Jiang'an District, Wuhan 430010, China
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42
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Ricci A, Allende A, Bolton D, Chemaly M, Davies R, Fernández Escámez PS, Gironés R, Herman L, Koutsoumanis K, Lindqvist R, Nørrung B, Robertson L, Ru G, Sanaa M, Skandamis P, Speybroeck N, Simmons M, Kuile BT, Threlfall J, Wahlström H, Acutis PL, Andreoletti O, Goldmann W, Langeveld J, Windig JJ, Ortiz Pelaez A, Snary E. Genetic resistance to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) in goats. EFSA J 2017; 15:e04962. [PMID: 32625625 PMCID: PMC7010077 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2017.4962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Breeding programmes to promote resistance to classical scrapie, similar to those for sheep in existing transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) regulations, have not been established in goats. The European Commission requested a scientific opinion from EFSA on the current knowledge of genetic resistance to TSE in goats. An evaluation tool, which considers both the weight of evidence and strength of resistance to classical scrapie of alleles in the goat PRNP gene, was developed and applied to nine selected alleles of interest. Using the tool, the quality and certainty of the field and experimental data are considered robust enough to conclude that the K222, D146 and S146 alleles both confer genetic resistance against classical scrapie strains known to occur naturally in the EU goat population, with which they have been challenged both experimentally and under field conditions. The weight of evidence for K222 is greater than that currently available for the D146 and S146 alleles and for the ARR allele in sheep in 2001. Breeding for resistance can be an effective tool for controlling classical scrapie in goats and it could be an option available to member states, both at herd and population levels. There is insufficient evidence to assess the impact of K222, D146 and S146 alleles on susceptibility to atypical scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or on health and production traits. These alleles are heterogeneously distributed across the EU Member States and goat breeds, but often at low frequencies (< 10%). Given these low frequencies, high selection pressure may have an adverse effect on genetic diversity so any breeding for resistance programmes should be developed at Member States, rather than EU level and their impact monitored, with particular attention to the potential for any negative impact in rare or small population breeds.
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43
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Diack AB, Alibhai JD, Manson JC. Gene Targeted Transgenic Mouse Models in Prion Research. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 150:157-179. [PMID: 28838660 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The production of transgenic mice expressing different forms of the prion protein (PrP) or devoid of PrP has enabled researchers to study the role of PrP in the infectious process of a prion disease and its normal function in the healthy individual. A wide range of transgenic models have been produced ranging from PrP null mice, normal expression levels to overexpression models, models expressing different species of the Prnp gene and different mutations and polymorphisms within the gene. Using this range of transgenic models has allowed us to define the influence of PrP expression on disease susceptibility and transmission, assess zoonotic potential, define strains of human prion diseases, elucidate the function of PrP, and start to unravel the mechanisms involved in chronic neurodegeneration. This chapter focuses mainly on the use of the gene targeted transgenic models and summarizes the ways in which they have allowed us to study the role of PrP in prion disease and the insights they have provided into the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail B Diack
- The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, United Kingdom.
| | - James D Alibhai
- The National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Jean C Manson
- The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, United Kingdom
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44
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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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45
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Salvesen Ø, Reiten MR, Espenes A, Bakkebø MK, Tranulis MA, Ersdal C. LPS-induced systemic inflammation reveals an immunomodulatory role for the prion protein at the blood-brain interface. J Neuroinflammation 2017; 14:106. [PMID: 28532450 PMCID: PMC5441080 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-017-0879-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The cellular prion protein (PrPC) is an evolutionary conserved protein abundantly expressed not only in the central nervous system but also peripherally including the immune system. A line of Norwegian dairy goats naturally devoid of PrPC (PRNPTer/Ter) provides a novel model for studying PrPC physiology. Methods In order to explore putative roles for PrPC in acute inflammatory responses, we performed a lipopolysaccharide (LPS, Escherichia coli O26:B6) challenge of 16 goats (8 PRNP+/+ and 8 PRNPTer/Ter) and included 10 saline-treated controls (5 of each PRNP genotype). Clinical examinations were performed continuously, and blood samples were collected throughout the trial. Genome-wide transcription profiles of the choroid plexus, which is at the blood-brain interface, and the hippocampus were analyzed by RNA sequencing, and the same tissues were histologically evaluated. Results All LPS-treated goats displayed clinical signs of sickness behavior, which were of significantly (p < 0.01) longer duration in animals without PrPC. In the choroid plexus, a substantial alteration of the transcriptome and activation of Iba1-positive cells were observed. This response included genotype-dependent differential expression of several genes associated with the immune response, such as ISG15, CXCL12, CXCL14, and acute phase proteins, among others. Activation of cytokine-responsive genes was skewed towards a more profound type I interferon response, and a less obvious type II response, in PrPC-deficient goats. The magnitude of gene expression in response to LPS was smaller in the hippocampus than in the choroid plexus. Resting state expression profiles revealed a few differences between the PRNP genotypes. Conclusions Our data suggest that PrPC acts as a modulator of certain pathways of innate immunity signaling, particularly downstream of interferons, and probably contributes to protection of vulnerable tissues against inflammatory damage. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-017-0879-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ø Salvesen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - M R Reiten
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - A Espenes
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - M K Bakkebø
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - M A Tranulis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - C Ersdal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Sandnes, Norway.
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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: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [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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Minikel EV, Vallabh SM, Lek M, Estrada K, Samocha KE, Sathirapongsasuti JF, McLean CY, Tung JY, Yu LPC, Gambetti P, Blevins J, Zhang S, Cohen Y, Chen W, Yamada M, Hamaguchi T, Sanjo N, Mizusawa H, Nakamura Y, Kitamoto T, Collins SJ, Boyd A, Will RG, Knight R, Ponto C, Zerr I, Kraus TFJ, Eigenbrod S, Giese A, Calero M, de Pedro-Cuesta J, Haïk S, Laplanche JL, Bouaziz-Amar E, Brandel JP, Capellari S, Parchi P, Poleggi A, Ladogana A, O'Donnell-Luria AH, Karczewski KJ, Marshall JL, Boehnke M, Laakso M, Mohlke KL, Kähler A, Chambert K, McCarroll S, Sullivan PF, Hultman CM, Purcell SM, Sklar P, van der Lee SJ, Rozemuller A, Jansen C, Hofman A, Kraaij R, van Rooij JGJ, Ikram MA, Uitterlinden AG, van Duijn CM, Daly MJ, MacArthur DG. Quantifying prion disease penetrance using large population control cohorts. Sci Transl Med 2016; 8:322ra9. [PMID: 26791950 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aad5169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
More than 100,000 genetic variants are reported to cause Mendelian disease in humans, but the penetrance-the probability that a carrier of the purported disease-causing genotype will indeed develop the disease-is generally unknown. We assess the impact of variants in the prion protein gene (PRNP) on the risk of prion disease by analyzing 16,025 prion disease cases, 60,706 population control exomes, and 531,575 individuals genotyped by 23andMe Inc. We show that missense variants in PRNP previously reported to be pathogenic are at least 30 times more common in the population than expected on the basis of genetic prion disease prevalence. Although some of this excess can be attributed to benign variants falsely assigned as pathogenic, other variants have genuine effects on disease susceptibility but confer lifetime risks ranging from <0.1 to ~100%. We also show that truncating variants in PRNP have position-dependent effects, with true loss-of-function alleles found in healthy older individuals, a finding that supports the safety of therapeutic suppression of prion protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Prion Alliance, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Monkol Lek
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Karol Estrada
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kaitlin E Samocha
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Cory Y McLean
- Research, 23andMe Inc., Mountain View, CA 94041, USA
| | - Joyce Y Tung
- Research, 23andMe Inc., Mountain View, CA 94041, USA
| | - Linda P C Yu
- Research, 23andMe Inc., Mountain View, CA 94041, USA
| | - Pierluigi Gambetti
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Janis Blevins
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shulin Zhang
- University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Yvonne Cohen
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Masahito Yamada
- Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hamaguchi
- Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Nobuo Sanjo
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Hidehiro Mizusawa
- National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo 187-8551, Japan
| | - Yosikazu Nakamura
- Department of Public Health, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke 329-0498, Japan
| | - Tetsuyuki Kitamoto
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575, Japan
| | - Steven J Collins
- Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Registry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Alison Boyd
- Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Registry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Robert G Will
- National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Research & Surveillance Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Richard Knight
- National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Research & Surveillance Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Claudia Ponto
- National Reference Center for the Surveillance of Human Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Georg-August-University, Goettingen 37073, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- National Reference Center for the Surveillance of Human Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies, Georg-August-University, Goettingen 37073, Germany
| | - Theo F J Kraus
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research (ZNP), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Sabina Eigenbrod
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research (ZNP), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Armin Giese
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research (ZNP), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Miguel Calero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Jesús de Pedro-Cuesta
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28031, Spain
| | - Stéphane Haïk
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, Pierre and Marie Curie University Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, 75013 Paris, France. Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Cellule Nationale de Référence des Maladies de Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Laplanche
- AP-HP, Service de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Lariboisière, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Elodie Bouaziz-Amar
- AP-HP, Service de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Lariboisière, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Brandel
- INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, Pierre and Marie Curie University Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, 75013 Paris, France. Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Cellule Nationale de Référence des Maladies de Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Sabina Capellari
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna 40123, Italy. Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna 40123, Italy. Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy
| | - Anna Poleggi
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Anna Ladogana
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Anne H O'Donnell-Luria
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Konrad J Karczewski
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jamie L Marshall
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Michael Boehnke
- Department of Biostatistics and Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Markku Laakso
- Department of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio 70210, Finland
| | - Karen L Mohlke
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Anna Kähler
- Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
| | - Kimberly Chambert
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Steven McCarroll
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Patrick F Sullivan
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
| | | | - Shaun M Purcell
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Pamela Sklar
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sven J van der Lee
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Rozemuller
- Dutch Surveillance Centre for Prion Diseases, Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Utrecht 3584 CX, Netherlands
| | - Casper Jansen
- Dutch Surveillance Centre for Prion Diseases, Department of Pathology, University Medical Center, Utrecht 3584 CX, Netherlands
| | - Albert Hofman
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Robert Kraaij
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | | | - M Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - André G Uitterlinden
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands. Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Cornelia M van Duijn
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center (MC), Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | | | - Mark J Daly
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Daniel G MacArthur
- Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA. Analytical and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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49
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Prion 2016 Poster Abstracts. Prion 2016; 10 Suppl 1:S37-S127. [PMID: 27088811 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2016.1162644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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50
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Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, are fatal neurodegenerative disorders characterised by long incubation period, short clinical duration, and transmissibility to susceptible species. Neuronal loss, spongiform changes, gliosis and the accumulation in the brain of the misfolded version of a membrane-bound cellular prion protein (PrP(C)), termed PrP(TSE), are diagnostic markers of these diseases. Compelling evidence links protein misfolding and its accumulation with neurodegenerative changes. Accordingly, several mechanisms of prion-mediated neurotoxicity have been proposed. In this paper, we provide an overview of the recent knowledge on the mechanisms of neuropathogenesis, the neurotoxic PrP species and the possible therapeutic approaches to treat these devastating disorders.
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