NR AIPN
AU Moser,M.; Colello,R.J.; Pott,U.; Oesch,B.
TI Developmental expression of the prion protein gene in glial cells
QU Neuron 1995 Mar; 14(3): 509-17
PT journal article
AB Replication of prions is dependent on the presence of the host protein PrPc. During the course of disease, PrPc is converted into an abnormal isoform, PrPsc, which accumulates in the brain. Attempts to identify the cell type(s) in which prion replication and PrP conversion occur have reached conflicting results. Although PrP mRNA is present in high amounts in neurons throughout the life of the animal, PrPsc initially accumulates in astrocytes and possibly other glial cells and, later in the course of the disease, spreads diffusely in the tissue, often in white matter. We report here that PrP mRNA is expressed not only in neurons but also in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes throughout the brain of postnatal hamsters and rats. The level of glial Prp mRNA expression in neonatal animals was comparable to that of neurons and increased two-fold during postnatal development. A substantial portion of brain PrP mRNA is therefore contributed by glial cells. Our results provide an explanation for the accumulation of PrPsc in white matter tissue and in the cytoplasm of glial cells and argue for a direct involvement of glia in prion propagation.
IN Die Expression des zellulären Prionproteins ist in Gliazellen und Neuronen vergleichbar stark. Die infektiösen Prionproteine akkumulieren zunächst in Astrozyten und verteilt sich später im Gewebe, häufig in den weißen Bereichen. Die mRNA des normalen Prionproteins wurde in Astrozyten und Oligodendrozyten im gesamten Gehirn neugeborener Hamster und Ratten etwa im gleichen Ausmaß wie in Neuronen gefunden. Während der Entwicklung der neugeborenen verdoppelt sich die Konzentration der mRNA des Prionproteins.
ZR 64
MH Aging/*metabolism; Animal; Astrocytes/metabolism; Brain/growth & development/*metabolism; Corpus Callosum/growth & development/*metabolism; *Gene Expression; Hamsters; In Situ Hybridization; Mesocricetus; Neuroglia/metabolism/*physiology; Oligodendroglia/metabolism; Optic Nerve/growth & development/*metabolism; Prions/*biosynthesis; RNA Probes; RNA, Messenger/analysis/biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; X-Rays
AD Brain Research Institute, University of Zürich, Switzerland.
SP englisch
PO USA