NR AWGQ
AU Heikenwalder,M.; Federau,C.; von Boehmer,L.; Zeller,N.; Schwarz,P.; Becher,B.; Aguzzi,A.
TI Germinal center B-cells are dispensable for peripheral prion replication and neuroinvasion
QU International Conference - Prion 2006: Strategies, advances and trends towards protection of society - 3.10.-6.10.2006, Torino, Italy, Lingotto Conference Centre - Poster sessions PA-23
PT Konferenz-Poster
AB Prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are fatal neurodegenerative diseases. In most cases TSEs are initiated or else accompanied by replication of the infectious moiety, the prion, in the lymphoreticular system (LRS) of the host. The neuroimmunological synapse in the LRS was demonstrated as the entry point for prions and the relative distance between germinal center associated follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) and peripheral nerves was shown to control neuroinvasion. However, the exact mode of prion migration from the sites of prion replication to peripheral nerve endings as well as the role of other germinal center associated cells in peripheral prion pathogenesis remains elusive. Here, we investigated whether the absence of germinal center B cells (GCBs) influences the efficiency of peripheral prion replication or transport from prion replication sites to hot spots of innervation in the LRS. Mice conditionally depleted for GCBs were challenged intraperitoneally with various dosages of prions (RML). Kinetics of peripheral and central prion replication, distribution of the prion agent in the periphery and the CNS as well as terminal prion disease were analyzed. Interestingly, no differences as far as efficiency of prion replication, distribution and terminal disease were detected. Our results exclude GCBs as candidates influencing peripheral prion replication efficiency or neuroinvasion and point to other cells or paradigms of active or passive transport from the hot spots of prion replication to peripheral nerves.
AD M. Heikenwalder, C. Federau, L. von Boehmer, N. Zeller, P. Schwarz, A. Aguzzi: Institute of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Zürich, Schmelzbergstrasse 12, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland; B. Becher: University Hospital/University of Zürich, Department of Neurology/Neuroimmunology Unit, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland
SP englisch
PO Italien