NR AOSG
AU Fagge,T.J.; Barclay,G.R.
TI Analysis of PrP expression in blood of CJD patients by DELFIA and flow cytometry
QU International Conference - Prion diseases: from basic research to intervention concepts - TSE-Forum, 08.10.-10.10.2003, Gasteig, München - Poster session - DG-19
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB
No previous studies have quantified the expression of PrP in whole blood or blood components of patients with variant CJD. In this study PrP in whole blood and separated blood components was measured using DELFIA. In addition flow cytometry was carried out on fresh whole blood samples to characterise cell surface PrP expression on different blood cell types before and following treatment with proteinase K.
The levels of PrP in whole blood, platelet poor plasma, and red blood cell components from patients with sporadic CJD, variant CJD, and healthy adults (blood donors) were measured by DELFIA. We found a reduction in the expression of PrP in the whole blood of CJD patients which was significant (p=0.005) comparing vCJD with healthy adults. No correlation was found between age and the expression of PrP. Screening of a group of neurological controls is underway to further explore the significance of this finding. Data suggests that a reduced expression of PrP in the whole blood of patients with vCJD may be useful as a surrogate marker for vCJD.
Blood cell expression of PrP was characterised by flow cytometry in similar patients and controls. No difference was found between any groups in PrP expression on lymphocytes or red cells. Platelet PrP was significantly raised in all clinical groups, including neurological controls, compared with the healthy adults (numbers of vCJD are too low to date for statistical analyses). All sample groups showed the removal of cell surface prion protein with proteinase K treatment. Studies of PrP cell surface expression in patients with vCJD are ongoing.
AD T.J. Fagge, National CJD Surveillance Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK; G.R. Barclay, Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
SP englisch
PO Deutschland