1
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Kopycka K, Maddison BC, Gough KC. Recombinant ovine prion protein can be mutated at position 136 to improve its efficacy as an inhibitor of prion propagation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3452. [PMID: 36859422 PMCID: PMC9978027 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30202-0] [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: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are progressive neurodegenerative disorders with no effective therapeutics. The central event leading to the pathology in the diseases is the conversion of PrPC into PrPSc and its accumulation in the central nervous system. Previous studies demonstrated that recombinant PrP (rPrP) and PrP peptides can inhibit the formation of PrPSc. Here, the effectiveness of ovine rPrP mutants at codon 136 and peptides derived from this region were assessed for their ability to inhibit PrPSc replication, using protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). Based on a rPrP VRQ (rVRQ) genotype background (positions 136, 154 and 171) and mutations at position 136, the most effective inhibitors were V136R, V136K and V136P mutants, with IC50 values of 1 to 2 nM; activities much more potent than rVRQ (114 nM). rRRQ and rKRQ were also shown to effectively inhibit multiple ruminant prion amplification reactions that used distinct prion strain seeds and substrate PRNP genotypes. rRRQ, rKRQ and rPRQ were also shown to effectively protect Rov9 cells from scrapie infection when applied at 250 nM. The study demonstrates for the first time that the rPrP sequence can be mutated at sites known to be involved in prion disease susceptibility, to produce inhibitors with improved efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kopycka
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, College Rd., Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD Leicestershire UK
| | - Ben C. Maddison
- ADAS Biotechnology, Unit 27, Beeston Business Park, Technology Drive, Beeston, NG9 1LA Nottinghamshire UK
| | - Kevin C. Gough
- grid.4563.40000 0004 1936 8868School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, The University of Nottingham, College Rd., Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, LE12 5RD Leicestershire UK
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2
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Mortberg MA, Zhao HT, Reidenbach AG, Gentile JE, Kuhn E, O'Moore J, Dooley PM, Connors TR, Mazur C, Allen SW, Trombetta BA, McManus AJ, Moore MR, Liu J, Cabin DE, Kordasiewicz HB, Mathews J, Arnold SE, Vallabh SM, Minikel EV. PrP concentration in the central nervous system: regional variability, genotypic effects, and pharmacodynamic impact. JCI Insight 2022; 7:156532. [PMID: 35133987 PMCID: PMC8986079 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.156532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion protein (PrP) concentration controls the kinetics of prion replication and is a genetically and pharmacologically validated therapeutic target for prion disease. In order to evaluate PrP concentration as a pharmacodynamic biomarker and assess its contribution to known prion disease risk factors, we developed and validated a plate-based immunoassay reactive for PrP across six species of interest and applicable to brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). PrP concentration varies dramatically between different brain regions in mice, cynomolgus macaques, and humans. PrP expression does not appear to contribute to the known risk factors of age, sex, or common PRNP genetic variants. CSF PrP is lowered in the presence of rare pathogenic PRNP variants, with heterozygous carriers of P102L displaying 55% and of D178N just 31% the CSF PrP concentration of mutation-negative controls. In rodents, pharmacologic reduction of brain Prnp RNA is reflected in brain parenchyma PrP, and in turn in CSF PrP, validating CSF as a sampling compartment for the effect of PrP-lowering therapy. Our findings support the use of CSF PrP as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for PrP-lowering drugs, and suggest that relative reduction from individual baseline CSF PrP concentration may be an appropriate marker for target engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Mortberg
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Hien T Zhao
- Neuroscience, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, United States of America
| | - Andrew G Reidenbach
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Juliana E Gentile
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Eric Kuhn
- Proteomics Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Jill O'Moore
- Comparative Medicine, McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, United States of America
| | - Patrick M Dooley
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Theresa R Connors
- Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Curt Mazur
- Neuroscience, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, United States of America
| | - Shona W Allen
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Bianca A Trombetta
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Alison J McManus
- McCance Center for Brain Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | | | - Jiewu Liu
- Bioagilytix, Bioagilytix, Boston, United States of America
| | - Deborah E Cabin
- Comparative Medicine, McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, United States of America
| | | | - Joel Mathews
- Neuroscience, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, United States of America
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Sonia M Vallabh
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
| | - Eric Vallabh Minikel
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard & MIT, Cambridge, United States of America
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3
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Panes JD, Saavedra P, Pineda B, Escobar K, Cuevas ME, Moraga-Cid G, Fuentealba J, Rivas CI, Rezaei H, Muñoz-Montesino C. PrP C as a Transducer of Physiological and Pathological Signals. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:762918. [PMID: 34880726 PMCID: PMC8648500 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.762918] [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: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
After the discovery of prion phenomenon, the physiological role of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) remained elusive. In the past decades, molecular and cellular analysis has shed some light regarding interactions and functions of PrP C in health and disease. PrP C , which is located mainly at the plasma membrane of neuronal cells attached by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, can act as a receptor or transducer from external signaling. Although the precise role of PrP C remains elusive, a variety of functions have been proposed for this protein, namely, neuronal excitability and viability. Although many issues must be solved to clearly define the role of PrP C , its connection to the central nervous system (CNS) and to several misfolding-associated diseases makes PrP C an interesting pharmacological target. In a physiological context, several reports have proposed that PrP C modulates synaptic transmission, interacting with various proteins, namely, ion pumps, channels, and metabotropic receptors. PrP C has also been implicated in the pathophysiological cell signaling induced by β-amyloid peptide that leads to synaptic dysfunction in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as a mediator of Aβ-induced cell toxicity. Additionally, it has been implicated in other proteinopathies as well. In this review, we aimed to analyze the role of PrP C as a transducer of physiological and pathological signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D Panes
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Paulina Saavedra
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Benjamin Pineda
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Kathleen Escobar
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile.,Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Magdalena E Cuevas
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Gustavo Moraga-Cid
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Jorge Fuentealba
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Coralia I Rivas
- Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Human Rezaei
- Virologie et Immunologie Moléculaires (VIM), Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (INRAE), Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), Versailles, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Carola Muñoz-Montesino
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
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4
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Adhikari UK, Sakiz E, Habiba U, Mikhael M, Senesi M, David MA, Guillemin GJ, Ooi L, Karl T, Collins S, Tayebi M. Treatment of microglia with Anti-PrP monoclonal antibodies induces neuronal apoptosis in vitro. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08644. [PMID: 35005289 PMCID: PMC8715334 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous reports highlighted the neurotoxic effects caused by some motif-specific anti-PrPC antibodies in vivo and in vitro. In the current study, we investigated the detailed alterations of the proteome with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry following direct application of anti-PrPC antibodies on mouse neuroblastoma cells (N2a) and mouse primary neuronal (MPN) cells or by cross-linking microglial PrPC with anti-PrPC antibodies prior to co-culture with the N2a/MPN cells. Here, we identified 4 (3 upregulated and 1 downregulated) and 17 (11 upregulated and 6 downregulated) neuronal apoptosis-related proteins following treatment of the N2a and N11 cell lines respectively when compared with untreated cells. In contrast, we identified 1 (upregulated) and 4 (2 upregulated and 2 downregulated) neuronal apoptosis-related proteins following treatment of MPN cells and N11 when compared with untreated cells. Furthermore, we also identified 3 (2 upregulated and 1 downregulated) and 2 (1 upregulated and 1 downregulated) neuronal apoptosis-related related proteins following treatment of MPN cells and N11 when compared to treatment with an anti-PrP antibody that lacks binding specificity for mouse PrP. The apoptotic effect of the anti-PrP antibodies was confirmed with flow cytometry following labelling of Annexin V-FITC. The toxic effects of the anti-PrP antibodies was more intense when antibody-treated N11 were co-cultured with the N2a and the identified apoptosis proteome was shown to be part of the PrPC-interactome. Our observations provide a new insight into the prominent role played by microglia in causing neurotoxic effects following treatment with anti-PrPC antibodies and might be relevant to explain the antibody mediated toxicity observed in other related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer. Antibody cross-linking neuronal PrPC induces apoptosis. Antibody cross-linking microglial PrPC induces neuronal apoptosis. Different apoptotic pathways were triggered by specific anti-PrP antibody treatments.
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5
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Adhikari UK, Tayebi M. Epitope-specific anti-PrP antibody toxicity: a comparative in-silico study of human and mouse prion proteins. Prion 2021; 15:155-176. [PMID: 34632945 PMCID: PMC8900626 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2021.1964326] [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] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite having therapeutic potential, anti-PrP antibodies caused a major controversy due to their neurotoxic effects. For instance, treating mice with ICSM antibodies delayed prion disease onset, but both were found to be either toxic or innocuous to neurons by researchers following cross-linking PrPC. In order to elucidate and understand the reasons that led to these contradictory outcomes, we conducted a comprehensive in silico study to assess the antibody-specific toxicity. Since most therapeutic anti-PrP antibodies were generated against human truncated recombinant PrP91-231 or full-length mouse PrP23-231, we reasoned that host specificity (human vs murine) of PrPC might influence the nature of the specific epitopes recognized by these antibodies at the structural level possibly explaining the 'toxicity' discrepancies reported previously. Initially, molecular dynamics simulation and pro-motif analysis of full-length human (hu)PrP and mouse (mo)PrP 3D structure displayed conspicuous structural differences between huPrP and moPrP. We identified 10 huPrP and 6 moPrP linear B-cell epitopes from the prion protein 3D structure where 5 out of 10 huPrP and 3 out of 6 moPrP B-cell epitopes were predicted to be potentially toxic in immunoinformatics approaches. Herein, we demonstrate that some of the predicted potentially 'toxic' epitopes identified by the in silico analysis were similar to the epitopes recognized by the toxic antibodies such as ICSM18 (146-159), POM1 (138-147), D18 (133-157), ICSM35 (91-110), D13 (95-103) and POM3 (95-100). This in silico study reveals the role of host specificity of PrPC in epitope-specific anti-PrP antibody toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
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6
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Adhikari UK, Sakiz E, Zhou X, Habiba U, Kumar S, Mikhael M, Senesi M, Guang Li C, Guillemin GJ, Ooi L, David MA, Collins S, Karl T, Tayebi M. Cross-Linking Cellular Prion Protein Induces Neuronal Type 2-Like Hypersensitivity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:639008. [PMID: 34394070 PMCID: PMC8361482 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.639008] [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: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous reports identified proteins associated with ‘apoptosis’ following cross-linking PrPC with motif-specific anti-PrP antibodies in vivo and in vitro. The molecular mechanisms underlying this IgG-mediated neurotoxicity and the role of the activated proteins in the apoptotic pathways leading to neuronal death has not been properly defined. Previous reports implicated a number of proteins, including apolipoprotein E, cytoplasmic phospholipase A2, prostaglandin and calpain with anti-PrP antibody-mediated ‘apoptosis’, however, these proteins are also known to play an important role in allergy. In this study, we investigated whether cross-linking PrPC with anti-PrP antibodies stimulates a neuronal allergenic response. Methods Initially, we predicted the allergenicity of the epitope sequences associated with ‘neurotoxic’ anti-PrP antibodies using allergenicity prediction servers. We then investigated whether anti-PrP antibody treatment of mouse primary neurons (MPN), neuroblastoma cells (N2a) and microglia (N11) cell lines lead to a neuronal allergenic response. Results In-Silico studies showed that both tail- and globular-epitopes were allergenic. Specifically, binding regions that contain epitopes for previously reported ‘neurotoxic’ antibodies such as ICSM18 (146-159), ICSM35 (91-110), POM 1 (138-147) and POM 3 (95-100) lead to activation of allergenic related proteins. Following direct application of anti-PrPC antibodies on N2a cells, we identified 4 neuronal allergenic-related proteins when compared with untreated cells. Furthermore, we identified 8 neuronal allergenic-related proteins following treatment of N11 cells with anti-PrPC antibodies prior to co-culture with N2a cells when compared with untreated cells. Antibody treatment of MPN or MPN co-cultured with antibody-treated N11 led to identifying 10 and 7 allergenic-related proteins when compared with untreated cells. However, comparison with 3F4 antibody treatment revealed 5 and 4 allergenic-related proteins respectively. Of importance, we showed that the allergenic effects triggered by the anti-PrP antibodies were more potent when antibody-treated microglia were co-cultured with the neuroblastoma cell line. Finally, co-culture of N2a or MPN with N11-treated with anti-PrP antibodies resulted in significant accumulation of NO and IL6 but not TNF-α in the cell culture media supernatant. Conclusions This study showed for the first time that anti-PrP antibody binding to PrPC triggers a neuronal hypersensitivity response and highlights the important role of microglia in triggering an IgG-mediated neuronal hypersensitivity response. Moreover, this study provides an important impetus for including allergenic assessment of therapeutic antibodies for neurodegenerative disorders to derive safe and targeted biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elif Sakiz
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Xian Zhou
- National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Umma Habiba
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Sachin Kumar
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Meena Mikhael
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Matteo Senesi
- Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Registry, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Chun Guang Li
- National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Lezanne Ooi
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.,School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Steven Collins
- Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Registry, The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Tim Karl
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mourad Tayebi
- School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia
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7
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Cuttler K, Bignoux MJ, Otgaar TC, Chigumba S, Ferreira E, Weiss SFT. LRP::FLAG Reduces Phosphorylated Tau Levels in Alzheimer's Disease Cell Culture Models. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 76:753-768. [PMID: 32568204 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque and neurofibrillary tangle formation, respectively. Neurofibrillary tangles form as a result of the intracellular accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau. Telomerase activity and levels of the human reverse transcriptase (hTERT) subunit of telomerase are significantly decreased in AD. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the 37 kDa/67 kDa laminin receptor (LRP/LR) interacts with telomerase and is implicated in Aβ pathology. Since both LRP/LR and telomerase are known to play a role in the Aβ facet of AD, we hypothesized that they might also play a role in tauopathy. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to determine if LRP/LR has a relationship with tau and whether overexpression of LRP::FLAG has an effect on tauopathy-related proteins. METHODS We employed confocal microscopy and FRET to determine whether LRP/LR and tau co-localize and interact. LRP::FLAG overexpression in HEK-293 and SH-SY5Y cells as well as analysis of tauopathy-related proteins was assessed by western blotting. RESULTS We demonstrate that LRP/LR co-localizes with tau in the perinuclear cell compartment and confirmed a direct interaction between LRP/LR and tau in HEK-293 cells. Overexpression of LRP::FLAG in HEK-293 and SH-SY5Y cells decreased total and phosphorylated tau levels with a concomitant decrease in PrPc levels, a tauopathy-related protein. LRP::FLAG overexpression also resulted in increased hTERT levels. CONCLUSION This data suggest that LRP/LR extends its role in AD through a direct interaction with tau, and recommend LRP::FLAG as a possible alternative AD therapeutic via decreasing phosphorylated tau levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn Cuttler
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.,Present Address: Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, Republic of South Africa
| | - Monique J Bignoux
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Tyrone C Otgaar
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Stephanie Chigumba
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Eloise Ferreira
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Stefan F T Weiss
- School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
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8
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Nakić N, Tran TH, Novokmet M, Andreoletti O, Lauc G, Legname G. Site-specific analysis of N-glycans from different sheep prion strains. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009232. [PMID: 33600485 PMCID: PMC7891774 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative diseases affecting a wide range of mammalian species, including humans. During the course of the disease, the abnormally folded scrapie prion protein (PrPSc) accumulates in the central nervous system where it causes neurodegeneration. In prion disorders, the diverse spectrum of illnesses exists because of the presence of different isoforms of PrPSc where they occupy distinct conformational states called strains. Strains are biochemically distinguished by a characteristic three-band immunoblot pattern, defined by differences in the occupancy of two glycosylation sites on the prion protein (PrP). Characterization of the exact N-glycan structures attached on either PrPC or PrPSc is lacking. Here we report the characterization and comparison of N-glycans from two different sheep prion strains. PrPSc from both strains was isolated from brain tissue and enzymatically digested with trypsin. By using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray mass spectrometry, a site-specific analysis was performed. A total of 100 structures were detected on both glycosylation sites. The N-glycan profile was shown to be similar to the one on mouse PrP, however, with additional 40 structures reported. The results presented here show no major differences in glycan composition, suggesting that glycans may not be responsible for the differences in the two analyzed prion strains. To date, prion diseases remain a controversy amongst scientists. Although we know now it is the abnormal form of the prion protein (PrPSc) that causes the disease, many questions are still left unanswered. To understand the cellular mechanism of these diseases, we should first and foremost try to fully understand the prion protein itself. Even though many findings have been made regarding the structure of the protein, a large part of it is still unknown. Since the prion protein is actually a glycoprotein, to resolve its structure we need to put our focus not only on the protein part of the glycoprotein but also on the glycan structures as well. Here we compared two different sheep prion strains and although no major differences have been found between the glycan structures, this analysis may help the understanding of the role glycans have in prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natali Nakić
- Genos Glycoscience Research Laboratory, Zagreb, Croatia.,Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Thanh Hoa Tran
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,VNUK Institute for Research and Executive Education, The University of Danang, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | | | - Olivier Andreoletti
- UMR INRA ENVT 1225-IHAP, École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Gordan Lauc
- Genos Glycoscience Research Laboratory, Zagreb, Croatia.,Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,ELETTRA Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Basovizza, Trieste, Italy
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9
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Abstract
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) cases are currently classified according to the methionine/valine polymorphism at codon 129 of the PRNP gene and the proteinase K-digested abnormal prion protein (PrPres) isoform identified by Western blotting (type 1 or type 2). Converging evidence led to the view that MM/MV1, VV/MV2, and VV1 and MM2 sCJD cases are caused by distinct prion strains. However, in a significant proportion of sCJD patients, both type 1 and type 2 PrPres were reported to accumulate in the brain, which raised questions about the diversity of sCJD prion strains and the coexistence of two prion strains in the same patient. In this study, a panel of sCJD brain isolates (n = 29) that displayed either a single or mixed type 1/type 2 PrPres were transmitted into human-PrP-expressing mice (tgHu). These bioassays demonstrated that two distinct prion strains (M1CJD and V2CJD) were associated with the development of sCJD in MM1/MV1 and VV2/MV2 patients. However, in about 35% of the investigated VV and MV cases, transmission results were consistent with the presence of both M1CJD and V2CJD strains, including in patients who displayed a "pure" type 1 or type 2 PrPres The use of a highly sensitive prion in vitro amplification technique that specifically probes the V2CJD strain revealed the presence of the V2CJD prion in more than 80% of the investigated isolates, including isolates that propagated as a pure M1CJD strain in tgHu. These results demonstrate that at least two sCJD prion strains can be present in a single patient.IMPORTANCE sCJD occurrence is currently assumed to result from spontaneous and stochastic formation of a misfolded PrP nucleus in the brains of affected patients. This original nucleus then recruits and converts nascent PrPC into PrPSc, leading to the propagation of prions in the patient's brain. Our study demonstrates the coexistence of two prion strains in the brains of a majority of the 23 sCJD patients investigated. The relative proportion of these sCJD strains varied both between patients and between brain areas in a single patient. These findings strongly support the view that the replication of an sCJD prion strain in the brain of a patient can result in the propagation of different prion strain subpopulations. Beyond its conceptual importance for our understanding of prion strain properties and evolution, the sCJD strain mixture phenomenon and its frequency among patients have important implications for the development of therapeutic strategies for prion diseases.
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10
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Freeze B, Maia P, Pandya S, Raj A. Network mediation of pathology pattern in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa060. [PMID: 32954308 PMCID: PMC7425363 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease is a rare fatal rapidly progressive dementia caused by the accumulation and spread of pathologically misfolded prions. Evidence from animal models and in vitro experiments suggests that prion pathology propagates along neural connectivity pathways, with the transmission of misfolded prions initiating a corruptive templating process in newly encountered brain regions. Although particular regional patterns of disease have been recognized in humans, the underlying mechanistic basis of these patterns remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the spatial pattern of disease derived from publicly available human diffusion-weighted MRI data demonstrates stereotypical features across patient cohorts and can be largely explained by intrinsic connectivity properties of the human structural brain network. Regional diffusion-weighted MRI signal abnormalities are predicted by graph theoretical measures of centrality, with highly affected regions such as cingulate gyrus demonstrating strong structural connectivity to other brain regions. We employ network diffusion modelling to demonstrate that the spatial pattern of disease can be predicted by a diffusion process originating from a single regional pathology seed and operating on the structural connectome. The most likely seeds correspond to the most highly affected brain regions, suggesting that pathological prions could originate in a single brain region and spread throughout the brain to produce the regional distribution of pathology observed on MRI. Further investigation of top seed regions and associated connectivity pathways may be a useful strategy for developing therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Freeze
- Department of Radiology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Pedro Maia
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Sneha Pandya
- Department of Radiology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ashish Raj
- Department of Radiology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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11
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Burke CM, Walsh DJ, Mark KMK, Deleault NR, Nishina KA, Agrimi U, Di Bari MA, Supattapone S. Cofactor and glycosylation preferences for in vitro prion conversion are predominantly determined by strain conformation. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008495. [PMID: 32294141 PMCID: PMC7185723 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are caused by the misfolding of a host-encoded glycoprotein, PrPC, into a pathogenic conformer, PrPSc. Infectious prions can exist as different strains, composed of unique conformations of PrPSc that generate strain-specific biological traits, including distinctive patterns of PrPSc accumulation throughout the brain. Prion strains from different animal species display different cofactor and PrPC glycoform preferences to propagate efficiently in vitro, but it is unknown whether these molecular preferences are specified by the amino acid sequence of PrPC substrate or by the conformation of PrPSc seed. To distinguish between these two possibilities, we used bank vole PrPC to propagate both hamster or mouse prions (which have distinct cofactor and glycosylation preferences) with a single, common substrate. We performed reconstituted sPMCA reactions using either (1) phospholipid or RNA cofactor molecules, or (2) di- or un-glycosylated bank vole PrPC substrate. We found that prion strains from either species are capable of propagating efficiently using bank vole PrPC substrates when reactions contained the same PrPC glycoform or cofactor molecule preferred by the PrPSc seed in its host species. Thus, we conclude that it is the conformation of the input PrPSc seed, not the amino acid sequence of the PrPC substrate, that primarily determines species-specific cofactor and glycosylation preferences. These results support the hypothesis that strain-specific patterns of prion neurotropism are generated by selection of differentially distributed cofactors molecules and/or PrPC glycoforms during prion replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra M. Burke
- Departments of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Walsh
- Departments of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Kenneth M. K. Mark
- Departments of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Nathan R. Deleault
- Departments of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Koren A. Nishina
- Departments of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Umberto Agrimi
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele A. Di Bari
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Surachai Supattapone
- Departments of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, United States of America
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Thüne K, Schmitz M, Villar-Piqué A, Altmeppen HC, Schlomm M, Zafar S, Glatzel M, Llorens F, Zerr I. The cellular prion protein and its derived fragments in human prion diseases and their role as potential biomarkers. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2019; 19:1007-1018. [PMID: 31512940 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2019.1667231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Human prion diseases are a heterogeneous group of incurable and debilitating conditions characterized by a progressive degeneration of the central nervous system. The conformational changes of the cellular prion protein and its formation into an abnormal isoform, spongiform degeneration, neuronal loss, and neuroinflammation are central to prion disease pathogenesis. It has been postulated that truncated variants of aggregation-prone proteins are implicated in neurodegenerative mechanisms. An increasing body of evidence indicates that proteolytic fragments and truncated variants of the prion protein are formed and accumulated in the brain of prion disease patients. These prion protein variants provide a high degree of relevance to disease pathology and diagnosis. Areas covered: In the present review, we summarize the current knowledge on the occurrence of truncated prion protein species and their potential roles in pathophysiological states during prion diseases progression. In addition, we discuss their usability as a diagnostic biomarker in prion diseases. Expert opinion: Either as a primary factor in the formation of prion diseases or as a consequence from neuropathological affection, abnormal prion protein variants and fragments may provide independent information about mechanisms of prion conversion, pathological states, or disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Thüne
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
| | - Matthias Schmitz
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
| | - Anna Villar-Piqué
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute Carlos III, Ministry of Health, CIBERNED, Hospitalet de Llobregat , Spain
| | | | - Markus Schlomm
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
| | - Saima Zafar
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center HH-Eppendorf (UKE) , Hamburg , Germany
| | - Franc Llorens
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany.,Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute Carlos III, Ministry of Health, CIBERNED, Hospitalet de Llobregat , Spain.,Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - site Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany
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13
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Heterogeneity and Architecture of Pathological Prion Protein Assemblies: Time to Revisit the Molecular Basis of the Prion Replication Process? Viruses 2019; 11:v11050429. [PMID: 31083283 PMCID: PMC6563208 DOI: 10.3390/v11050429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Prions are proteinaceous infectious agents responsible for a range of neurodegenerative diseases in animals and humans. Prion particles are assemblies formed from a misfolded, β-sheet rich, aggregation-prone isoform (PrPSc) of the host-encoded cellular prion protein (PrPC). Prions replicate by recruiting and converting PrPC into PrPSc, by an autocatalytic process. PrPSc is a pleiomorphic protein as different conformations can dictate different disease phenotypes in the same host species. This is the basis of the strain phenomenon in prion diseases. Recent experimental evidence suggests further structural heterogeneity in PrPSc assemblies within specific prion populations and strains. Still, this diversity is rather seen as a size continuum of assemblies with the same core structure, while analysis of the available experimental data points to the existence of structurally distinct arrangements. The atomic structure of PrPSc has not been elucidated so far, making the prion replication process difficult to understand. All currently available models suggest that PrPSc assemblies exhibit a PrPSc subunit as core constituent, which was recently identified. This review summarizes our current knowledge on prion assembly heterogeneity down to the subunit level and will discuss its importance with regard to the current molecular principles of the prion replication process.
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14
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Rey NL, Wesson DW, Brundin P. The olfactory bulb as the entry site for prion-like propagation in neurodegenerative diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 109:226-248. [PMID: 28011307 PMCID: PMC5972535 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Revised: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Olfactory deficits are present in numerous neurodegenerative disorders and are accompanied by pathology in related brain regions. In several of these disorders, olfactory disturbances appear early and are considered as prodromal symptoms of the disease. In addition, pathological protein aggregates affect olfactory regions prior to other regions, suggesting that the olfactory system might be particularly vulnerable to neurodegenerative diseases. Exposed to the external environment, the olfactory epithelium and olfactory bulb allow pathogen and toxin penetration into the brain, a process that has been proposed to play a role in neurodegenerative diseases. Determining whether the olfactory bulb could be a starting point of pathology and of pathology spread is crucial to understanding how neurodegenerative diseases evolve. We argue that pathological changes following environmental insults contribute to the initiation of protein aggregation in the olfactory bulb, which then triggers the spread of the pathology within the brain by a templating mechanism in a prion-like manner. We review the evidence for the early involvement of olfactory structures in neurodegenerative diseases and the relationship between neuropathology and olfactory function. We discuss the vulnerability and putative underlying mechanisms by which pathology could be initiated in the olfactory bulb, from the entry of pathogens (promoted by increased permeability of the olfactory epithelium with aging or inflammation) to the sensitivity of the olfactory system to oxidative stress and inflammation. Finally, we review changes in protein expression and neural excitability triggered by pathogenic proteins that can promote pathogenesis in the olfactory bulb and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nolwen L Rey
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
| | - Daniel W Wesson
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Patrik Brundin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
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15
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Katorcha E, Makarava N, Lee YJ, Lindberg I, Monteiro MJ, Kovacs GG, Baskakov IV. Cross-seeding of prions by aggregated α-synuclein leads to transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. PLoS Pathog 2017; 13:e1006563. [PMID: 28797122 PMCID: PMC5567908 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of misfolded proteins or peptides is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, prion and other diseases. Recent years have witnessed a growing number of reports of overlap in neuropathological features that were once thought to be unique to only one neurodegenerative disorder. However, the origin for the overlap remains unclear. One possibility is that diseases with mixed brain pathologies might arise from cross-seeding of one amyloidogenic protein by aggregated states of unrelated proteins. In the current study we examined whether prion replication can be induced by cross-seeding by α-synuclein or Aβ peptide. We found that α-synuclein aggregates formed in cultured cells or in vitro display cross-seeding activity and trigger misfolding of the prion protein (PrPC) in serial Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification reactions, producing self-replicating PrP states characterized by a short C-terminal proteinase K (PK)-resistant region referred to as PrPres. Non-fibrillar α-synuclein or fibrillar Aβ failed to cross-seed misfolding of PrPC. Remarkably, PrPres triggered by aggregated α-synuclein in vitro propagated in animals and, upon serial transmission, produced PrPSc and clinical prion disease characterized by spongiosis and astrocytic gliosis. The current study demonstrates that aggregated α-synuclein is potent in cross-seeding of prion protein misfolding and aggregation in vitro, producing self-replicating states that can lead to transmissible prion diseases upon serial passaging in wild type animals. In summary, the current work documents direct cross-seeding between unrelated amyloidogenic proteins associated with different neurodegenerative diseases. This study suggests that early interaction between unrelated amyloidogenic proteins might underlie the etiology of mixed neurodegenerative proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta Katorcha
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Young Jin Lee
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Iris Lindberg
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Mervyn J. Monteiro
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Gabor G. Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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16
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Ragagnin A, Ezpeleta J, Guillemain A, Boudet-Devaud F, Haeberlé AM, Demais V, Vidal C, Demuth S, Béringue V, Kellermann O, Schneider B, Grant NJ, Bailly Y. Cerebellar compartmentation of prion pathogenesis. Brain Pathol 2017; 28:240-263. [PMID: 28268246 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In prion diseases, the brain lesion profile is influenced by the prion "strain" properties, the invasion route to the brain, and still unknown host cell-specific parameters. To gain insight into those endogenous factors, we analyzed the histopathological alterations induced by distinct prion strains in the mouse cerebellum. We show that 22L and ME7 scrapie prion proteins (PrP22L , PrPME7 ), but not bovine spongiform encephalopathy PrP6PB1 , accumulate in a reproducible parasagittal banding pattern in the cerebellar cortex of infected mice. Such banding pattern of PrP22L aggregation did not depend on the neuroinvasion route, but coincided with the parasagittal compartmentation of the cerebellum mostly defined by the expression of zebrins, such as aldolase C and the excitatory amino acid transporter 4, in Purkinje cells. We provide evidence that Purkinje cells display a differential, subtype-specific vulnerability to 22L prions with zebrin-expressing Purkinje cells being more resistant to prion toxicity, while in stripes where PrP22L accumulated most zebrin-deficient Purkinje cells are lost and spongiosis accentuated. In addition, in PrP22L stripes, enhanced reactive astrocyte processes associated with microglia activation support interdependent events between the topographic pattern of Purkinje cell death, reactive gliosis and PrP22L accumulation. Finally, we find that in preclinically-ill mice prion infection promotes at the membrane of astrocytes enveloping Purkinje cell excitatory synapses, upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-α receptor type 1 (TNFR1), a key mediator of the neuroinflammation process. These overall data show that Purkinje cell sensitivity to prion insult is locally restricted by the parasagittal compartmentation of the cerebellum, and that perisynaptic astrocytes may contribute to prion pathogenesis through prion-induced TNFR1 upregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Ragagnin
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Juliette Ezpeleta
- INSERM UMR-S1124, Cellules Souches, Signalisation et Prions, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Guillemain
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - François Boudet-Devaud
- INSERM UMR-S1124, Cellules Souches, Signalisation et Prions, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marie Haeberlé
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valérie Demais
- Plateforme Imagerie In Vitro, CNRS UPS-3156, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Stanislas Demuth
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Odile Kellermann
- INSERM UMR-S1124, Cellules Souches, Signalisation et Prions, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Benoit Schneider
- INSERM UMR-S1124, Cellules Souches, Signalisation et Prions, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Nancy J Grant
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yannick Bailly
- Cytologie et Cytopathologie Neuronales, Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires & Intégratives, CNRS UPR 3212, Strasbourg, France
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17
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Divergent prion strain evolution driven by PrP C expression level in transgenic mice. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14170. [PMID: 28112164 PMCID: PMC5264111 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions induce a fatal neurodegenerative disease in infected host brain based on the refolding and aggregation of the host-encoded prion protein PrPC into PrPSc. Structurally distinct PrPSc conformers can give rise to multiple prion strains. Constrained interactions between PrPC and different PrPSc strains can in turn lead to certain PrPSc (sub)populations being selected for cross-species transmission, or even produce mutation-like events. By contrast, prion strains are generally conserved when transmitted within the same species, or to transgenic mice expressing homologous PrPC. Here, we compare the strain properties of a representative sheep scrapie isolate transmitted to a panel of transgenic mouse lines expressing varying levels of homologous PrPC. While breeding true in mice expressing PrPC at near physiological levels, scrapie prions evolve consistently towards different strain components in mice beyond a certain threshold of PrPC overexpression. Our results support the view that PrPC gene dosage can influence prion evolution on homotypic transmission. PrPC protein plays a key role in prion transmission across species. Here, the authors compare transmission of a representative scrapie isolate to transgenic mice expressing variable levels of the same Prnp allele as the donor sheep, and find divergent strain propagation regulated by PrPC gene dosage.
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18
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Moudjou M, Chapuis J, Mekrouti M, Reine F, Herzog L, Sibille P, Laude H, Vilette D, Andréoletti O, Rezaei H, Dron M, Béringue V. Glycoform-independent prion conversion by highly efficient, cell-based, protein misfolding cyclic amplification. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29116. [PMID: 27384922 PMCID: PMC4935985 DOI: 10.1038/srep29116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prions are formed of misfolded assemblies (PrPSc) of the variably N-glycosylated cellular prion protein (PrPC). In infected species, prions replicate by seeding the conversion and polymerization of host PrPC. Distinct prion strains can be recognized, exhibiting defined PrPSc biochemical properties such as the glycotype and specific biological traits. While strain information is encoded within the conformation of PrPSc assemblies, the storage of the structural information and the molecular requirements for self-perpetuation remain uncertain. Here, we investigated the specific role of PrPC glycosylation status. First, we developed an efficient protein misfolding cyclic amplification method using cells expressing the PrPC species of interest as substrate. Applying the technique to PrPC glycosylation mutants expressing cells revealed that neither PrPC nor PrPSc glycoform stoichiometry was instrumental to PrPSc formation and strainness perpetuation. Our study supports the view that strain properties, including PrPSc glycotype are enciphered within PrPSc structural backbone, not in the attached glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Moudjou
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Jérôme Chapuis
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Mériem Mekrouti
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Fabienne Reine
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Laetitia Herzog
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Pierre Sibille
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Hubert Laude
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Didier Vilette
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,IHAP, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Andréoletti
- IHAP, INRA, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, 31000, Toulouse, France
| | - Human Rezaei
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Michel Dron
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Vincent Béringue
- VIM, INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
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19
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Reimann RR, Sonati T, Hornemann S, Herrmann US, Arand M, Hawke S, Aguzzi A. Differential Toxicity of Antibodies to the Prion Protein. PLoS Pathog 2016; 12:e1005401. [PMID: 26821311 PMCID: PMC4731068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibodies against the prion protein PrPC can antagonize prion replication and neuroinvasion, and therefore hold promise as possible therapeutics against prion diseases. However, the safety profile of such antibodies is controversial. It was originally reported that the monoclonal antibody D13 exhibits strong target-related toxicity, yet a subsequent study contradicted these findings. We have reported that several antibodies against certain epitopes of PrPC, including antibody POM1, are profoundly neurotoxic, yet antibody ICSM18, with an epitope that overlaps with POM1, was reported to be innocuous when injected into mouse brains. In order to clarify this confusing situation, we assessed the neurotoxicity of antibodies D13 and ICSM18 with dose-escalation studies using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and various histological techniques. We report that both D13 and ICSM18 induce rapid, dose-dependent, on-target neurotoxicity. We conclude that antibodies directed to this region may not be suitable as therapeutics. No such toxicity was found when antibodies against the flexible tail of PrPC were administered. Any attempt at immunotherapy or immunoprophylaxis of prion diseases should account for these potential untoward effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina R. Reimann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tiziana Sonati
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simone Hornemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Uli S. Herrmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Michael Arand
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Hawke
- Vascular Immunology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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20
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Mutated but Not Deleted Ovine PrP(C) N-Terminal Polybasic Region Strongly Interferes with Prion Propagation in Transgenic Mice. J Virol 2015; 90:1638-46. [PMID: 26608316 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02805-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Mammalian prions are proteinaceous infectious agents composed of misfolded assemblies of the host-encoded, cellular prion protein (PrP). Physiologically, the N-terminal polybasic region of residues 23 to 31 of PrP has been shown to be involved in its endocytic trafficking and interactions with glycosaminoglycans or putative ectodomains of membrane-associated proteins. Several recent reports also describe this PrP region as important for the toxicity of mutant prion proteins and the efficiency of prion propagation, both in vitro and in vivo. The question remains as to whether the latter observations made with mouse PrP and mouse prions would be relevant to other PrP species/prion strain combinations given the dramatic impact on prion susceptibility of minimal amino acid substitutions and structural variations in PrP. Here, we report that transgenic mouse lines expressing ovine PrP with a deletion of residues 23 to 26 (KKRP) or mutated in this N-terminal region (KQHPH instead of KKRPK) exhibited a variable, strain-dependent susceptibility to prion infection with regard to the proportion of affected mice and disease tempo relative to findings in their wild-type counterparts. Deletion has no major effect on 127S scrapie prion pathogenesis, whereas mutation increased by almost 3-fold the survival time of the mice. Deletion marginally affected the incubation time of scrapie LA19K and ovine bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) prions, whereas mutation caused apparent resistance to disease. IMPORTANCE Recent reports suggested that the N-terminal polybasic region of the prion protein could be a therapeutic target to prevent prion propagation or toxic signaling associated with more common neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Mutating or deleting this region in ovine PrP completes the data previously obtained with the mouse protein by identifying the key amino acid residues involved.
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Katorcha E, Klimova N, Makarava N, Savtchenko R, Pan X, Annunziata I, Takahashi K, Miyagi T, Pshezhetsky AV, d’Azzo A, Baskakov IV. Loss of Cellular Sialidases Does Not Affect the Sialylation Status of the Prion Protein but Increases the Amounts of Its Proteolytic Fragment C1. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143218. [PMID: 26569607 PMCID: PMC4646690 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The central molecular event underlying prion diseases involves conformational change of the cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC), which is a sialoglycoprotein, into the disease-associated, transmissible form denoted PrPSc. Recent studies revealed a correlation between the sialylation status of PrPSc and incubation time to disease and introduced a new hypothesis that progression of prion diseases could be controlled or reversed by altering the sialylation level of PrPC. Of the four known mammalian sialidases, the enzymes that cleave off sialic acid residues, only NEU1, NEU3 and NEU4 are expressed in the brain. To test whether cellular sialidases control the steady-state sialylation level of PrPC and to identify the putative sialidase responsible for desialylating PrPC, we analyzed brain-derived PrPC from knockout mice deficient in Neu1, Neu3, Neu4, or from Neu3/Neu4 double knockouts. Surprisingly, no differences in the sialylation of PrPC or its proteolytic product C1 were noticed in any of the knockout mice tested as compared to the age-matched controls. However, significantly higher amounts of the C1 fragment relative to full-length PrPC were detected in the brains of Neu1 knockout mice as compared to WT mice or to the other knockout mice. Additional experiments revealed that in neuroblastoma cell line the sialylation pattern of C1 could be changed by an inhibitor of sialylatransferases. In summary, this study suggests that targeting cellular sialidases is apparently not the correct strategy for altering the sialylation levels of PrPC, whereas modulating the activity of sialylatransferases might offer a more promising approach. Our findings also suggest that catabolism of PrPC involves its α-cleavage followed by desialylation of the resulting C1 fragments by NEU1 and consequent fast degradation of the desialylated products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta Katorcha
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Nina Klimova
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Regina Savtchenko
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Xuefang Pan
- Division of Medical Genetics, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ida Annunziata
- Department of Genetics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Kohta Takahashi
- Institute of Molecular Biomembrane and Glycobiology, Tohoku Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Taeko Miyagi
- Institute of Molecular Biomembrane and Glycobiology, Tohoku Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Alexey V. Pshezhetsky
- Division of Medical Genetics, Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alessandra d’Azzo
- Department of Genetics, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Ilia V. Baskakov
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Aguilar-Calvo P, Fast C, Tauscher K, Espinosa JC, Groschup MH, Nadeem M, Goldmann W, Langeveld J, Bossers A, Andreoletti O, Torres JM. Effect of Q211 and K222 PRNP Polymorphic Variants in the Susceptibility of Goats to Oral Infection With Goat Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy. J Infect Dis 2015; 212:664-72. [PMID: 25722297 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiv112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prion protein-encoding gene (PRNP) is one of the major determinants for scrapie occurrence in sheep and goats. However, its effect on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) transmission to goats is not clear. METHODS Goats harboring wild-type, R/Q211 or Q/K222 PRNP genotypes were orally inoculated with a goat-BSE isolate to assess their relative susceptibility to BSE infection. Goats were killed at different time points during the incubation period and after the onset of clinical signs, and their brains as well as several peripheral tissues were analyzed for the accumulation of pathological prion protein (PrP(Sc)) and prion infectivity by mouse bioassay. RESULTS R/Q211 goats displayed delayed clinical signs compared with wild-type goats. Deposits of PrP(Sc) were detected only in brain, whereas infectivity was present in peripheral tissues too. In contrast, none of the Q/K222 goats showed any evidence of clinical prion disease. No PrP(Sc) accumulation was observed in their brains or peripheral tissues, but very low infectivity was detected in some tissues very long after inoculation (44-45 months). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that transmission of goat BSE is genotype dependent, and they highlight the pivotal protective effect of the K222 PRNP variant in the oral susceptibility of goats to BSE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine Fast
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer, Greifswald-InselRiems
| | - Kerstin Tauscher
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer, Greifswald-InselRiems
| | | | - Martin H Groschup
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer, Greifswald-InselRiems
| | - Muhammad Nadeem
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Germany
| | - Wilfred Goldmann
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Langeveld
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Alex Bossers
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen UR, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Olivier Andreoletti
- UMR INRA-ENVT 1225, Interactions Hôte Agent Pathogène, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, France
| | - Juan-María Torres
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain
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The glycosylation status of PrPC is a key factor in determining transmissible spongiform encephalopathy transmission between species. J Virol 2015; 89:4738-47. [PMID: 25673720 PMCID: PMC4403468 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02296-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED The risk of transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) between different species has been notoriously unpredictable because the mechanisms of transmission are not fully understood. A transmission barrier between species often prevents infection of a new host with a TSE agent. Nonetheless, some TSE agents are able to cross this barrier and infect new species, with devastating consequences. The host PrP(C) misfolds during disease pathogenesis and has a major role in controlling the transmission of agents between species, but sequence compatibility between host and agent PrP(C) does not fully explain host susceptibility. PrP(C) is posttranslationally modified by the addition of glycan moieties which have an important role in the infectious process. Here, we show in vivo that glycosylation of the host PrP(C) has a significant impact on the transmission of TSE between different host species. We infected mice carrying different glycosylated forms of PrP(C) with two human agents (sCJDMM2 and vCJD) and one hamster strain (263K). The absence of glycosylation at both or the first PrP(C) glycosylation site in the host results in almost complete resistance to disease. The absence of the second site of N-glycan has a dramatic effect on the barrier to transmission between host species, facilitating the transmission of sCJDMM2 to a host normally resistant to this agent. These results highlight glycosylation of PrP(C) as a key factor in determining the transmission efficiency of TSEs between different species. IMPORTANCE The risks of transmission of TSE between different species are difficult to predict due to a lack of knowledge over the mechanisms of disease transmission; some strains of TSE are able to cross a species barrier, while others do not. The host protein, PrP(C), plays a major role in disease transmission. PrP(C) undergoes posttranslational glycosylation, and the addition of these glycans may play a role in disease transmission. We infected mice that express different forms of glycosylated PrP(C) with three different TSE agents. We demonstrate that changing the glycosylation status of the host can have profound effects on disease transmission, changing host susceptibility and incubation times. Our results show that PrP(C) glycosylation is a key factor in determining risks of TSE transmission between species.
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Sakudo A, Onodera T. Prion protein (PrP) gene-knockout cell lines: insight into functions of the PrP. Front Cell Dev Biol 2015; 2:75. [PMID: 25642423 PMCID: PMC4295555 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2014.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidation of prion protein (PrP) functions is crucial to fully understand prion diseases. A major approach to studying PrP functions is the use of PrP gene-knockout (Prnp (-/-)) mice. So far, six types of Prnp (-/-) mice have been generated, demonstrating the promiscuous functions of PrP. Recently, other PrP family members, such as Doppel and Shadoo, have been found. However, information obtained from comparative studies of structural and functional analyses of these PrP family proteins do not fully reveal PrP functions. Recently, varieties of Prnp (-/-) cell lines established from Prnp (-/-) mice have contributed to the analysis of PrP functions. In this mini-review, we focus on Prnp (-/-) cell lines and summarize currently available Prnp (-/-) cell lines and their characterizations. In addition, we introduce the recent advances in the methodology of cell line generation with knockout or knockdown of the PrP gene. We also discuss how these cell lines have provided valuable insights into PrP functions and show future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akikazu Sakudo
- Laboratory of Biometabolic Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of the Ryukyus Nishihara, Japan
| | - Takashi Onodera
- Research Center for Food Safety, School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo Tokyo, Japan
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25
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Sialylation of prion protein controls the rate of prion amplification, the cross-species barrier, the ratio of PrPSc glycoform and prion infectivity. PLoS Pathog 2014; 10:e1004366. [PMID: 25211026 PMCID: PMC4161476 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The central event underlying prion diseases involves conformational change of the cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) into the disease-associated, transmissible form (PrPSc). PrPC is a sialoglycoprotein that contains two conserved N-glycosylation sites. Among the key parameters that control prion replication identified over the years are amino acid sequence of host PrPC and the strain-specific structure of PrPSc. The current work highlights the previously unappreciated role of sialylation of PrPC glycans in prion pathogenesis, including its role in controlling prion replication rate, infectivity, cross-species barrier and PrPSc glycoform ratio. The current study demonstrates that undersialylated PrPC is selected during prion amplification in Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCAb) at the expense of oversialylated PrPC. As a result, PMCAb-derived PrPSc was less sialylated than brain-derived PrPSc. A decrease in PrPSc sialylation correlated with a drop in infectivity of PMCAb-derived material. Nevertheless, enzymatic de-sialylation of PrPC using sialidase was found to increase the rate of PrPSc amplification in PMCAb from 10- to 10,000-fold in a strain-dependent manner. Moreover, de-sialylation of PrPC reduced or eliminated a species barrier of for prion amplification in PMCAb. These results suggest that the negative charge of sialic acid controls the energy barrier of homologous and heterologous prion replication. Surprisingly, the sialylation status of PrPC was also found to control PrPSc glycoform ratio. A decrease in PrPC sialylation levels resulted in a higher percentage of the diglycosylated glycoform in PrPSc. 2D analysis of charge distribution revealed that the sialylation status of brain-derived PrPC differed from that of spleen-derived PrPC. Knocking out lysosomal sialidase Neu1 did not change the sialylation status of brain-derived PrPC, suggesting that Neu1 is not responsible for desialylation of PrPC. The current work highlights previously unappreciated role of PrPC sialylation in prion diseases and opens multiple new research directions, including development of new therapeutic approaches. The central event underlying prion diseases involves conformational change of the cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) into disease-associated, transmissible form (PrPSc). The amino acid sequence of PrPC and strain-specific structure of PrPSc are among the key parameters that control prion replication and transmission. The current study showed that PrPC posttranslational modification, specifically sialylation of N-linked glycans, plays a key role in regulating prion replication rate, infectivity, cross-species barrier and PrPSc glycoform ratio. A decrease in PrPC sialylation level increased the rate of prion replication in a strain-specific manner and reduced or eliminated a species barrier when prion replication was seeded by heterologous seeds. At the same time, a decrease in sialylation correlated with a drop in infectivity of PrPSc material produced in vitro. The current study also demonstrated that the PrPSc glycoform ratio, which is an important feature used for strain typing, is not only controlled by prion strain or host but also the sialylation status of PrPC. This study opens multiple new directions in prion research, including development of new therapeutic approaches.
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David MA, Jones DR, Tayebi M. Potential candidate camelid antibodies for the treatment of protein-misfolding diseases. J Neuroimmunol 2014; 272:76-85. [PMID: 24864011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2014.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2013] [Revised: 04/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Protein-misfolding diseases (PMDs), including Alzheimer's disease would potentially reach epidemic proportion if effective ways to diagnose and treat them were not developed. The quest for effective therapy for PMDs has been ongoing for decades and some of the technologies developed so far show great promise. We report here the development of antibodies by immunization of camelids with prion (PrioV3) and Alzheimer's (PrioAD12, 13 & 120) disease-derived brain material. We show that anti-PrP antibody transmigration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was inhibited with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC). Our camelid anti-prion antibody was also shown to permanently abrogate prion replication in a prion-permissive cell line after crossing the artificial BBB. Furthermore, anti-Aβ/tau antibodies were able to bind their specific immunogens with ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Finally, both PrioV3 and PrioAD12 were shown to co-localize with Lamp-1, a marker of late endosomal/lysosomal compartments. These antibodies could prove to be a valuable tool for the neutralization/clearance of PrP(Sc), Aβ and tau proteins in cellular compartments of affected neurons and could potentially have wider applicability for the treatment of PMDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Antoinette David
- Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, Houston, TX, USA; Antibody Discovery Laboratory, PrioCam LLC, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Mourad Tayebi
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Disease, School of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK; Mitchell Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Brain Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Texas Houston Medical School, Houston, TX, USA.
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27
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Kuczius T, Kelsch R. Effects of metal binding on solubility and resistance of physiological prions depend on tissues and glycotypes. J Cell Biochem 2014; 114:2690-8. [PMID: 23794222 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2013] [Accepted: 06/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases entail the conversion of a normal host-encoded prion protein (PrP(C)) into an infectious isoform (PrP(Sc)). Various PrP(C) types differing in banding profiles and detergent solubility are present in different tissues, but only few PrP(Sc) types have been generated although PrP(C) acts as substrate. We hypothesize that distinct PrP(C) subtypes may be converted more efficiently to PrP(Sc) than others. One prerequisite for the analysis is the identification of the PrP(C) subtypes present in the protein complexes. Metal binding to PrP(C) is one of the most prominent features of the protein which induces increased proteolysis resistance and structural changes which might play an important role in the conversion process. Here we analyzed the metal-induced structural PrP(C) transformation of two different Triton X-100 soluble PrP(C) types derived from human platelets and brains by changes in protein solubility. We found that zinc and copper rendered approximately half of total PrP(C) and mainly un- and low-glycosylated PrP(C) to the Triton insoluble fraction. Our results indicate the presence of at least two distinct PrP(C) subtypes by metal interactions. The differentiation of high and low soluble metal bound PrP(C) offers precious information about PrP(C) protein composition and provides approaches for analyzing the transformation efficiency to PrP(Sc).
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Kuczius
- Institute for Hygiene, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität and University Hospital Münster, Robert Koch-Strasse 41, 48149, Münster, Germany
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Walsh KP, Minamide LS, Kane SJ, Shaw AE, Brown DR, Pulford B, Zabel MD, Lambeth JD, Kuhn TB, Bamburg JR. Amyloid-β and proinflammatory cytokines utilize a prion protein-dependent pathway to activate NADPH oxidase and induce cofilin-actin rods in hippocampal neurons. PLoS One 2014; 9:e95995. [PMID: 24760020 PMCID: PMC3997518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0095995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurites of neurons under acute or chronic stress form bundles of filaments (rods) containing 1∶1 cofilin∶actin, which impair transport and synaptic function. Rods contain disulfide cross-linked cofilin and are induced by treatments resulting in oxidative stress. Rods form rapidly (5-30 min) in >80% of cultured hippocampal or cortical neurons treated with excitotoxic levels of glutamate or energy depleted (hypoxia/ischemia or mitochondrial inhibitors). In contrast, slow rod formation (50% of maximum response in ∼6 h) occurs in a subpopulation (∼20%) of hippocampal neurons upon exposure to soluble human amyloid-β dimer/trimer (Aβd/t) at subnanomolar concentrations. Here we show that proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6) also induce rods at the same rate and within the same neuronal population as Aβd/t. Neurons from prion (PrP(C))-null mice form rods in response to glutamate or antimycin A, but not in response to proinflammatory cytokines or Aβd/t. Two pathways inducing rod formation were confirmed by demonstrating that NADPH-oxidase (NOX) activity is required for prion-dependent rod formation, but not for rods induced by glutamate or energy depletion. Surprisingly, overexpression of PrP(C) is by itself sufficient to induce rods in over 40% of hippocampal neurons through the NOX-dependent pathway. Persistence of PrP(C)-dependent rods requires the continuous activity of NOX. Removing inducers or inhibiting NOX activity in cells containing PrP(C)-dependent rods causes rod disappearance with a half-life of about 36 min. Cofilin-actin rods provide a mechanism for synapse loss bridging the amyloid and cytokine hypotheses for Alzheimer disease, and may explain how functionally diverse Aβ-binding membrane proteins induce synaptic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keifer P. Walsh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Laurie S. Minamide
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Sarah J. Kane
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Alisa E. Shaw
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - David R. Brown
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Bruce Pulford
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Mark D. Zabel
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
- Prion Research Center, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - J. David Lambeth
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Thomas B. Kuhn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, United States of America
| | - James R. Bamburg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
- Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
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McCutcheon S, Langeveld JPM, Tan BC, Gill AC, de Wolf C, Martin S, Gonzalez L, Alibhai J, Blanco ARA, Campbell L, Hunter N, Houston EF. Prion protein-specific antibodies that detect multiple TSE agents with high sensitivity. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91143. [PMID: 24608105 PMCID: PMC3946747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper describes the generation, characterisation and potential applications of a panel of novel anti-prion protein monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). The mAbs were generated by immunising PRNP null mice, using a variety of regimes, with a truncated form of recombinant ovine prion protein spanning residues 94-233. Epitopes of specific antibodies were mapped using solid-phase Pepscan analysis and clustered to four distinct regions within the PrP molecule. We have demonstrated the utility of these antibodies by use of Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in tissues from a range of different species affected by transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). In comparative tests against extensively-used and widely-published, commercially available antibodies, similar or improved results can be obtained using these new mAbs, specifically in terms of sensitivity of detection. Since many of these antibodies recognise native PrPC, they could also be applied to a broad range of immunoassays such as flow cytometry, DELFIA analysis or immunoprecipitation. We are using these reagents to increase our understanding of TSE pathogenesis and for use in potential diagnostic screening assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra McCutcheon
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Boon Chin Tan
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew C. Gill
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher de Wolf
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart Martin
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Lasswade Laboratory, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Gonzalez
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Lasswade Laboratory, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - James Alibhai
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - A. Richard Alejo Blanco
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Lauren Campbell
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Nora Hunter
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - E. Fiona Houston
- Neurobiology Division, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, Easter Bush, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
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Schmitz M, Lüllmann K, Zafar S, Ebert E, Wohlhage M, Oikonomou P, Schlomm M, Mitrova E, Beekes M, Zerr I. Association of prion protein genotype and scrapie prion protein type with cellular prion protein charge isoform profiles in cerebrospinal fluid of humans with sporadic or familial prion diseases. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 35:1177-88. [PMID: 24360565 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Revised: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/10/2013] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The present study investigates whether posttranslational modifications of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of humans with prion diseases are associated with methionine (M) and/or valine (V) polymorphism at codon 129 of the prion protein gene (PRNP), scrapie prion protein (PrP(Sc)) type in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), or PRNP mutations in familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (fCJD/E200K), and fatal familial insomnia (FFI). We performed comparative 2-dimensional immunoblotting of PrP(C) charge isoforms in CSF samples from cohorts of diseased and control donors. Mean levels of total PrP(C) were significantly lower in the CSF from fCJD patients than from those with sCJD or FFI. Of the 12 most abundant PrP(C) isoforms in the examined CSF, one (IF12) was relatively decreased in (1) sCJD with VV (vs. MM or MV) at PRNP codon 129; (2) in sCJD with PrP(Sc) type 2 (vs. PrP(Sc) type 1); and (3) in FFI versus sCJD or fCJD. Furthermore, truncated PrP(C) species were detected in sCJD and control samples without discernible differences. Finally, serine 43 of PrP(C) in the CSF and brain tissue from CJD patients showed more pronounced phosphorylation than in control donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schmitz
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Dementia Center and DZNE Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Katharina Lüllmann
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Dementia Center and DZNE Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Saima Zafar
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Dementia Center and DZNE Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Ebert
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Dementia Center and DZNE Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marie Wohlhage
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Dementia Center and DZNE Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Panteleimon Oikonomou
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Dementia Center and DZNE Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Schlomm
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Dementia Center and DZNE Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva Mitrova
- Slovak Medical University, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Michael Beekes
- Robert Koch-Institute, FG 14 - AG 5: Work Group Unconventional Pathogens and Their Inactivation, Division of Applied Infection Control and Nosocomial Hygiene, Berlin, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Dementia Center and DZNE Georg-August University, Göttingen, Germany
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Atypical and classical forms of the disease-associated state of the prion protein exhibit distinct neuronal tropism, deposition patterns, and lesion profiles. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2013; 183:1539-1547. [PMID: 24012784 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2013.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2013] [Revised: 06/13/2013] [Accepted: 07/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A number of disease-associated PrP forms characterized by abnormally short proteinase K-resistant fragments (atypical PrPres) were recently described in prion diseases. The relationship between atypical PrPres and PrP(Sc), and their role in etiology of prion diseases, remains unknown. We examined the relationship between PrP(Sc) and atypical PrPres, a form characterized by short C-terminal proteinase K-resistant fragments, in a prion strain of synthetic origin. We found that the two forms exhibit distinct neuronal tropism, deposition patterns, and degree of pathological lesions. Immunostaining of brain regions demonstrated a partial overlap in anatomic involvement of the two forms and revealed the sites of their selective deposition. The experiments on amplification in vitro suggested that distinct neuronal tropism is attributed to differences in replication requirements, such as preferences for different cellular cofactors and PrP(C) glycoforms. Remarkably, deposition of atypical PrPres alone was not associated with notable pathological lesions, suggesting that it was not neurotoxic, but yet transmissible. Unlike PrP(Sc), atypical PrPres did not show significant perineuronal, vascular, or perivascular immunoreactivity. However, both forms showed substantial synaptic immunoreactivity. Considering that atypical PrPres is not associated with substantial lesions, this result suggests that not all synaptic disease-related PrP states are neurotoxic. The current work provides important new insight into our understanding of the structure-pathogenicity relationships of transmissible PrP states.
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Kuczius T, Groschup MH. Regional phenotypes of cellular prion proteins in human brains identified by differential detergent solubility. Brain Res 2013; 1507:19-27. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2013.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2012] [Revised: 02/04/2013] [Accepted: 02/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Makarava N, Savtchenko R, Baskakov IV. Selective amplification of classical and atypical prions using modified protein misfolding cyclic amplification. J Biol Chem 2012; 288:33-41. [PMID: 23168413 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.419531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
With the development of protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), the topic of faithful propagation of prion strain-specific structures has been constantly debated. Here we show that by subjecting brain material of a synthetic strain consisting of a mixture of self-replicating states to PMCAb, selective amplification of PrP(Sc) could be achieved, and that PMCAb mimicked the evolutionary trend observed during serial transmission in animals. On the other hand, using modified PMCAb conditions that employ partially deglycosylated PrP(C) (dgPMCAb), an alternative transmissible state referred to as atypical protease-resistant form of the prion protein (atypical PrPres) was selectively amplified from a mixture. Surprisingly, when hamster-adapted strains (263K and Hyper) were subjected to dgPMCAb, their proteinase K digestion profile underwent a dramatic transformation, suggesting that a mixture of atypical PrPres and PrP(Sc) might be present in brain-derived materials. However, detailed analysis revealed that the proteinase K-resistant profile of PrP(Sc) changed in response to dgPMCAb. Despite these changes, the 263K strain-specific disease phenotype was preserved after passage through dgPMCAb. This study revealed that the change in PrP(Sc) biochemical phenotype does not always represent an irreversible transformation of a strain, but rather demonstrated the existence of a wide range of variation for strain-specific physical features in response to a change in prion replication environment. The current work introduced a new PMCA technique for amplification of atypical PrPres and raised a number of questions about the need for a clever distinction between actual strain mutation and variation of strain-specific features in response to a change in the replication environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Makarava
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology and Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA
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Mahal SP, Jablonski J, Suponitsky-Kroyter I, Oelschlegel AM, Herva ME, Oldstone M, Weissmann C. Propagation of RML prions in mice expressing PrP devoid of GPI anchor leads to formation of a novel, stable prion strain. PLoS Pathog 2012; 8:e1002746. [PMID: 22685404 PMCID: PMC3369955 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1002746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Accepted: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
PrP(C), a host protein which in prion-infected animals is converted to PrP(Sc), is linked to the cell membrane by a GPI anchor. Mice expressing PrP(C) without GPI anchor (tgGPI⁻ mice), are susceptible to prion infection but accumulate anchorless PrP(Sc) extra-, rather than intracellularly. We investigated whether tgGPI⁻ mice could faithfully propagate prion strains despite the deviant structure and location of anchorless PrP(Sc). We found that RML and ME7, but not 22L prions propagated in tgGPI⁻ brain developed novel cell tropisms, as determined by the Cell Panel Assay (CPA). Surprisingly, the levels of proteinase K-resistant PrP(Sc) (PrP(res)) in RML- or ME7-infected tgGPI⁻ brain were 25-50 times higher than in wild-type brain. When returned to wild-type brain, ME7 prions recovered their original properties, however RML prions had given rise to a novel prion strain, designated SFL, which remained unchanged even after three passages in wild-type mice. Because both RML PrP(Sc) and SFL PrP(Sc) are stably propagated in wild-type mice we propose that the two conformations are separated by a high activation energy barrier which is abrogated in tgGPI⁻ mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhvir Paul Mahal
- Department of Infectology, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
| | - Joseph Jablonski
- Department of Infectology, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
| | | | | | - Maria Eugenia Herva
- Department of Infectology, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
| | - Michael Oldstone
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Charles Weissmann
- Department of Infectology, Scripps Florida, Jupiter, Florida, United States of America
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Linden R, Cordeiro Y, Lima LMTR. Allosteric function and dysfunction of the prion protein. Cell Mol Life Sci 2012; 69:1105-24. [PMID: 21984610 PMCID: PMC11114699 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-011-0847-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2011] [Revised: 09/16/2011] [Accepted: 09/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are neurodegenerative diseases associated with progressive oligo- and multimerization of the prion protein (PrP(C)), its conformational conversion, aggregation and precipitation. We recently proposed that PrP(C) serves as a cell surface scaffold protein for a variety of signaling modules, the effects of which translate into wide-range functional consequences. Here we review evidence for allosteric functions of PrP(C), which constitute a common property of scaffold proteins. The available data suggest that allosteric effects among PrP(C) and its partners are involved in the assembly of multi-component signaling modules at the cell surface, impose upon both physiological and pathological conformational responses of PrP(C), and that allosteric dysfunction of PrP(C) has the potential to entail progressive signal corruption. These properties may be germane both to physiological roles of PrP(C), as well as to the pathogenesis of the TSEs and other degenerative/non-communicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Linden
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, UFRJ, CCS, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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Perrott MR, Sigurdson CJ, Mason GL, Hoover EA. Evidence for distinct chronic wasting disease (CWD) strains in experimental CWD in ferrets. J Gen Virol 2011; 93:212-221. [PMID: 21918005 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.035006-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is an evolving prion disease of cervids (deer, elk and moose) that has been recognized in North America and Korea. Infection of non-cervid reservoir or transport species in nature is not reported. However, the ferret (Mustela putorius furo) is susceptible to CWD after experimental inoculation. Here, we report that infection of ferrets with either of two ferret CWD isolates by various routes of exposure has revealed biologically distinct strain-like properties distinguished by different clinical progression and survival period. The isolates of ferret CWD were also differentiated by the distribution of the infectious prion protein (PrP(CWD)) in the brain and periphery, and by the proteinase K sensitivity of PrP(CWD). These findings suggest that diversity in prion conformers exists in CWD-infected cervids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Perrott
- Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand
| | - Christina J Sigurdson
- Dept Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Gary L Mason
- Dept Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Edward A Hoover
- Dept Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
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Puig B, Altmeppen HC, Thurm D, Geissen M, Conrad C, Braulke T, Glatzel M. N-glycans and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor act on polarized sorting of mouse PrP(C) in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24624. [PMID: 21931781 PMCID: PMC3169634 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2011] [Accepted: 08/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) plays a fundamental role in prion disease. PrP(C) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein with two variably occupied N-glycosylation sites. In general, GPI-anchor and N-glycosylation direct proteins to apical membranes in polarized cells whereas the majority of mouse PrP(C) is found in basolateral membranes in polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. In this study we have mutated the first, the second, and both N-glycosylation sites of PrP(C) and also replaced the GPI-anchor of PrP(C) by the Thy-1 GPI-anchor in order to investigate the role of these signals in sorting of PrP(C) in MDCK cells. Cell surface biotinylation experiments and confocal microscopy showed that lack of one N-linked oligosaccharide leads to loss of polarized sorting of PrP(C). Exchange of the PrP(C) GPI-anchor for the one of Thy-1 redirects PrP(C) to the apical membrane. In conclusion, both N-glycosylation and GPI-anchor act on polarized sorting of PrP(C), with the GPI-anchor being dominant over N-glycans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berta Puig
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hermann C. Altmeppen
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dana Thurm
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Geissen
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Catharina Conrad
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Braulke
- Department of Biochemistry, Children's Hospital University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Zou WQ, Zhou X, Yuan J, Xiao X. Insoluble cellular prion protein and its association with prion and Alzheimer diseases. Prion 2011; 5:172-8. [PMID: 21847014 DOI: 10.4161/pri.5.3.16894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The soluble cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is best known for its association with prion disease (PrD) through its conversion to a pathogenic insoluble isoform (PrP(Sc)). However, its deleterious effects independent of PrP(Sc) have recently been observed not only in PrD but also in Alzheimer disease (AD), two diseases which mainly affect cognition. At the same time, PrP(C) itself seems to have broad physiologic functions including involvement in cognitive processes. The PrP(C) that is believed to be soluble and monomeric has so far been the only PrP conformer observed in the uninfected brain. In 2006, we identified an insoluble PrP(C) conformer (termed iPrP(C) ) in uninfected human and animal brains. Remarkably, the PrP(Sc) -like iPrPC shares the immunoreactivity behavior and fragmentation with a newly-identified PrP(Sc) species in a novel human PrD termed variably protease-sensitive prionopathy. Moreover, iPrP(C) has been observed as the major PrP species that interacts with amyloid β (Aβ) in AD. This article highlights evidence of PrP involvement in two putatively beneficial and deleterious PrP-implicated pathways in cognition, and hypothesizes first, that beneficial and deleterious effects of PrP(C) are attributable to the chameleon-like conformation of the protein and second, that the iPrP(C) conformer is associated with PrD and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Quan Zou
- Department of Pathology, National Prion Disease Pathology Surveillance Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Agrawal N, Leaman DP, Rowcliffe E, Kinkead H, Nohria R, Akagi J, Bauer K, Du SX, Whalen RG, Burton DR, Zwick MB. Functional stability of unliganded envelope glycoprotein spikes among isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). PLoS One 2011; 6:e21339. [PMID: 21738637 PMCID: PMC3124497 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2011] [Accepted: 05/26/2011] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike is challenging to study at the molecular level, due in part to its genetic variability, structural heterogeneity and lability. However, the extent of lability in Env function, particularly for primary isolates across clades, has not been explored. Here, we probe stability of function for variant Envs of a range of isolates from chronic and acute infection, and from clades A, B and C, all on a constant virus backbone. Stability is elucidated in terms of the sensitivity of isolate infectivity to destabilizing conditions. A heat-gradient assay was used to determine T90 values, the temperature at which HIV-1 infectivity is decreased by 90% in 1 h, which ranged between ∼40 to 49°C (n = 34). For select Envs (n = 10), the half-lives of infectivity decay at 37°C were also determined and these correlated significantly with the T90 (p = 0.029), though two ‘outliers’ were identified. Specificity in functional Env stability was also evident. For example, Env variant HIV-1ADA was found to be labile to heat, 37°C decay, and guanidinium hydrochloride but not to urea or extremes of pH, when compared to its thermostable counterpart, HIV-1JR-CSF. Blue native PAGE analyses revealed that Env-dependent viral inactivation preceded complete dissociation of Env trimers. The viral membrane and membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of gp41 were also shown to be important for maintaining trimer stability at physiological temperature. Overall, our results indicate that primary HIV-1 Envs can have diverse sensitivities to functional inactivation in vitro, including at physiological temperature, and suggest that parameters of functional Env stability may be helpful in the study and optimization of native Env mimetics and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitish Agrawal
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel P. Leaman
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Eric Rowcliffe
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Heather Kinkead
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Raman Nohria
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Junya Akagi
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Katherine Bauer
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Sean X. Du
- AltraVax, Inc., Sunnyvale, California, United States of America
| | | | - Dennis R. Burton
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- IAVI Neutralizing Antibody Center, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Michael B. Zwick
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Science, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Kuczius T, Kleinert J, Karch H, Sibrowski W, Kelsch R. Cellular prion proteins in human platelets show a phenotype different to those in brain tissues. J Cell Biochem 2011; 112:954-62. [PMID: 21328470 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.23012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are characterized by high accumulation of infectious prion proteins (PrP(Sc)) in brains. PrP(Sc) are propagated by the conversion of host-encoded cellular prion proteins (PrP(C)) which are essential for developing the disease but are heterogeneously expressed in brains. The disease can be transmitted to humans and animals through blood and blood products, however, little attention has been given to molecular characterization of PrP(C) in blood cells. In this presented study, we characterized phenotypically PrP(C) of platelets (plt) and characterized the proteins regarding their glycobanding profiles by quantitative immunoblotting using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. The glycosylation patterns of plt and brain PrP(C) were compared using the ratios of di-, mono-, and non-glycosylated prions. The detergent solubility of plt and brain PrP(C) was also analyzed. The distinct banding patterns and detergent solubility of plt PrP(C) differed clearly from the glycosylation profiles and solubility characteristics of brain PrP(C). Plt PrP(C) exhibited single or only few prion protein types, whereas brain PrP(C) showed more extensive banding patterns and lower detergent solubility. Plt PrP(C) are post-translational modified differently from PrP(C) in brain. These findings suggest other or less physiological functions of plt PrP(C) than in brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Kuczius
- Institute for Hygiene, Westfälische Wilhelms-University and University Hospital Münster, Robert Koch-Strasse 41, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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Tayebi M, Jones DR, Taylor WA, Stileman BF, Chapman C, Zhao D, David M. PrP(Sc)-specific antibodies with the ability to immunodetect prion oligomers. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19998. [PMID: 21625515 PMCID: PMC3098279 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2010] [Accepted: 04/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of antibodies with binding capacity towards soluble oligomeric forms of PrPSc recognised in the aggregation process in early stage of the disease would be of paramount importance in diagnosing prion diseases before extensive neuropathology has ensued. As blood transfusion appears to be efficient in the transmission of the infectious prion agent, there is an urgent need to develop reagents that would specifically recognize oligomeric forms of the abnormally folded prion protein, PrPSc. To that end, we show that anti-PrP monoclonal antibodies (called PRIOC mAbs) derived from mice immunised with native PrP-coated microbeads are able to immunodetect oligomers/multimers of PrPSc. Oligomer-specific immunoreactivity displayed by these PRIOC mAbs was demonstrated as large aggregates of immunoreactive deposits in prion-permissive neuroblastoma cell lines but not in equivalent non-infected or prn-p0/0 cell lines. In contrast, an anti-monomer PrP antibody displayed diffuse immunoreactivity restricted to the cell membrane. Furthermore, our PRIOC mAbs did not display any binding with monomeric recombinant and cellular prion proteins but strongly detected PrPSc oligomers as shown by a newly developed sensitive and specific ELISA. Finally, PrioC antibodies were also able to bind soluble oligomers formed of Aβ and α-synuclein. These findings demonstrate the potential use of anti-prion antibodies that bind PrPSc oligomers, recognised in early stage of the disease, for the diagnosis of prion diseases in blood and other body fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mourad Tayebi
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
Infection by prions involves conversion of a host-encoded cell surface protein (PrP(C)) to a disease-related isoform (PrP(Sc)). PrP(C) carries two glycosylation sites variably occupied by complex N-glycans, which have been suggested by previous studies to influence the susceptibility to these diseases and to determine characteristics of prion strains. We used the Rov cell system, which is susceptible to sheep prions, to generate a series of PrP(C) glycosylation mutants with mutations at one or both attachment sites. We examined their subcellular trafficking and ability to convert into PrP(Sc) and to sustain stable prion propagation in the absence of wild-type PrP. The susceptibility to infection of mutants monoglycosylated at either site differed dramatically depending on the amino acid substitution. Aglycosylated double mutants showed overaccumulation in the Golgi compartment and failed to be infected. Introduction of an ectopic glycosylation site near the N terminus fully restored cell surface expression of PrP but not convertibility into PrP(Sc), while PrP(C) with three glycosylation sites conferred cell permissiveness to infection similarly to the wild type. In contrast, predominantly aglycosylated molecules with nonmutated N-glycosylation sequons, produced in cells expressing glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchorless PrP(C), were able to form infectious PrP(Sc). Together our findings suggest that glycosylation is important for efficient trafficking of anchored PrP to the cell surface and sustained prion propagation. However, properly trafficked glycosylation mutants were not necessarily prone to conversion, thus making it difficult in such studies to discern whether the amino acid changes or glycan chain removal most influences the permissiveness to prion infection.
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Kuczius T, Wohlers J, Karch H, Groschup MH. Subtyping of human cellular prion proteins and their differential solubility. Exp Neurol 2010; 227:188-94. [PMID: 21070768 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2010.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2010] [Revised: 09/22/2010] [Accepted: 10/26/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A human form of a prion disorder is the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A hallmark of the disease is the accumulation of misfolded prion proteins (PrP(Sc)), which exist as heterogeneous subtypes. PrP(Sc) is formed by protein conversion from the host-encoded cellular prion (PrP(C)), which is expressed and modified to various isoforms. Little is known about variation in PrP(C); however, it is assumed that PrP(C) types play important roles in the formation of PrP(Sc). In this study, we separated distinct human PrP(C) subtypes on the basis of differential protein solubilities in detergent solutions. Single and sequential application of the detergents Triton X-100, octyl-glucopyranoside and CHAPS facilitated high solubility of glycosylated PrP(C) isoforms, whereas high proportions of nonglycosylated PrP(C) remained non-soluble. Most proteins became highly soluble with laurylsarcosine and sodium dodecyl sulphate. Our findings demonstrate that the solubility characteristics of heterogeneous PrP(C) overlap in human brains and convey distinct solubility subtypes. Differentiation by solubility experiments can therefore provide valuable information on prion protein composition, facilitate the separation of subtypes, and offer new prospects for conversion specificity of distinct isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Kuczius
- Institute for Hygiene, Westfälische Wilhelms-University, University Hospital Münster, Robert Koch-Strasse 41, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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Tayebi M, David M, Bate C, Jones D, Taylor W, Morton R, Pollard J, Hawke S. Epitope-specific anti-prion antibodies upregulate apolipoprotein E and disrupt membrane cholesterol homeostasis. J Gen Virol 2010; 91:3105-15. [DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.023838-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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Tayebi M, Taylor WA, Jones DR, Bate C, David M. PrP-specific camel antibodies with the ability to immunodetect intracellular prion protein. J Gen Virol 2010; 91:2121-2131. [DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.018754-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Although there is currently no effective treatment for prion diseases, significant advances have been made in suppressing its progress, using antibodies that block the conversion of PrPC into PrPSc. In order to be effective in treating individuals that have prion diseases, antibodies must be capable of arresting disease in its late stages. This requires the development of antibodies with higher affinity for PrPSc and systems for effective translocation of antibodies across the blood–brain barrier in order to achieve high concentrations of inhibitor at the site of protein replication. An additional advantage is the ability of these antibodies to access the cytosol of affected cells. To this end, we have generated PrP-specific antibodies (known as PrioV) by immunization of camels with murine scrapie material adsorbed to immunomagnetic beads. The PrioV antibodies display a range of specificities with some recognizing the PrP27–30 proteinase K-resistant fragment, others specific for PrPC and a number with dual binding specificity. Independent of their PrP conformation specificity, one of the PrioV antibodies (PrioV3) was shown to bind PrPC in the cytosol of neuroblastoma cells. In marked contrast, conventional anti-PrP antibodies produced in mouse against similar target antigen were unable to cross the neuronal plasma membrane and instead formed a ring around the cells. The PrioV anti-PrP antibodies could prove to be a valuable tool for the neutralization/clearance of PrPSc in intracellular compartments of affected neurons and could potentially have wider applicability for the treatment of so-called protein-misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mourad Tayebi
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - William Alexander Taylor
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Daryl Rhys Jones
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Clive Bate
- Department of Pathology & Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK
| | - Monique David
- Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York, Inc., 521 West 57th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10019, USA
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Eiden M, Hoffmann C, Balkema-Buschmann A, Müller M, Baumgartner K, Groschup MH. Biochemical and immunohistochemical characterization of feline spongiform encephalopathy in a German captive cheetah. J Gen Virol 2010; 91:2874-83. [PMID: 20660146 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.022103-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that affects domestic cats (Felis catus) and captive wild members of the family Felidae. In this report we describe a case of FSE in a captive cheetah from the zoological garden of Nuremberg. The biochemical examination revealed a BSE-like pattern. Disease-associated scrapie prion protein (PrP(Sc)) was widely distributed in the central and peripheral nervous system, as well as in the lymphoreticular system and in other tissues of the affected animal, as demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and/or immunoblotting. Moreover, we report for the first time the use of the protein misfolding cyclic amplification technique for highly sensitive detection of PrP(Sc) in the family Felidae. The widespread PrP(Sc) deposition suggests a simultaneous lymphatic and neural spread of the FSE agent. The detection of PrP(Sc) in the spleen indicates a potential for prion infectivity of cheetah blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Eiden
- Institute for Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany.
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Schmitz M, Schlomm M, Hasan B, Beekes M, Mitrova E, Korth C, Breil A, Carimalo J, Gawinecka J, Varges D, Zerr I. Codon 129 polymorphism and the E200K mutation do not affect the cellular prion protein isoform composition in the cerebrospinal fluid from patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Eur J Neurosci 2010; 31:2024-31. [PMID: 20529115 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07224.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) is a multifunctional, highly conserved and ubiquitously expressed protein. It undergoes a number of modifications during its post-translational processing, resulting in different PrP(c) glycoforms and truncated PrP(c) fragments. Limited data are available in humans on the expression and cleavage of PrP(c). In this study we investigated the PrP(c) isoform composition in the cerebrospinal fluid from patients with different human prion diseases. The first group of patients was affected by sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease exhibiting different PrP codon 129 genotypes. The second group contained patients with a genetic form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (E200K). The third group consisted of patients with fatal familial insomnia and the last group comprised cases with the Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome. We examined whether the PrP codon 129 polymorphism in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease as well as the type of prion disease in human patients has an impact on the glycosylation and processing of PrP(c). Immunoblotting analyses using different monoclonal PrP(c) antibodies directed against various epitopes of PrP(c) revealed, for all examined groups of patients, a consistent predominance of the glycosylated PrP(c) isoforms as compared with the unglycosylated form. In addition, the antibody SAF70 recognized a variety of PrP(c) fragments with sizes of 21, 18, 13 and 12 kDa. Our findings indicate that the polymorphisms at PrP codon 129, the E200K mutation at codon 200 or the examined types of human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies do not exert a measurable effect on the glycosylation and processing of PrP(c) in human prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schmitz
- National TSE Reference Center, Department of Neurology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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Bate C, Tayebi M, Williams A. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor analogues sequester cholesterol and reduce prion formation. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:22017-26. [PMID: 20427265 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.108548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A hallmark of prion diseases is the conversion of the host-encoded prion protein (PrP(C) where C is cellular) into an alternatively folded, disease-related isoform (PrP(Sc), where Sc is scrapie), the accumulation of which is associated with synapse degeneration and ultimately neuronal death. The formation of PrP(Sc) is dependent upon the presence of PrP(C) in specific, cholesterol-sensitive membrane microdomains, commonly called lipid rafts. PrP(C) is targeted to these lipid rafts because it is attached to membranes via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. Here, we show that treatment of prion-infected neuronal cell lines (ScN2a, ScGT1, or SMB cells) with synthetic glycosylphosphatidylinositol analogues, glucosamine-phosphatidylinositol (glucosamine-PI) or glucosamine 2-O-methyl inositol octadecyl phosphate, reduced the PrP(Sc) content of these cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, ScGT1 cells treated with glucosamine-PI did not transmit infection following intracerebral injection to mice. Treatment with glucosamine-PI increased the cholesterol content of ScGT1 cell membranes and reduced activation of cytoplasmic phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), consistent with the hypothesis that the composition of cell membranes affects key PLA(2)-dependent signaling pathways involved in PrP(Sc) formation. The effect of glucosamine-PI on PrP(Sc) formation was also reversed by the addition of platelet-activating factor. Glucosamine-PI caused the displacement of PrP(C) from lipid rafts and reduced expression of PrP(C) at the cell surface, putative sites for PrP(Sc) formation. We propose that treatment with glucosamine-PI modifies local micro-environments that control PrP(C) expression and activation of PLA(2) and subsequently inhibits PrP(Sc) formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clive Bate
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Herts AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.
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Bate C, Tayebi M, Williams A. A glycosylphosphatidylinositol analogue reduced prion-derived peptide mediated activation of cytoplasmic phospholipase A2, synapse degeneration and neuronal death. Neuropharmacology 2010; 59:93-9. [PMID: 20398681 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2010] [Revised: 03/18/2010] [Accepted: 04/07/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenesis of prion diseases includes synapse degeneration and neuronal death. Here we report that pre-treatment with glucosamine-phosphatidylinositol (glucosamine-PI), a synthetic analogue of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor that attaches the prion protein (PrP(C)) to plasma membranes, increased the resistance of cultured cortical neurones to the toxic effects of the prion-derived peptide PrP82-146. Pre-treatment with glucosamine-PI reduced the PrP82-146 induced activation of cytoplasmic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)), activation of caspase-3 and synapse degeneration. The addition of glucosamine-PI significantly increased the amount of cholesterol within neuronal membranes consistent with the hypothesis that GPI anchors sequester cholesterol. Whereas in untreated neurones PrP82-146 was found within lipid rafts, in glucosamine-PI treated neurones most PrP82-146 was found in the normal cell membrane and was rerouted into the lysosomes. Complex GPI anchors isolated from PrP(C), Thy-1 or CD55 were also protective against PrP82-146. We conclude that glucosamine-PI, or isolated GPI anchors, can modify local membrane micro-environments that are important in the initiation of signalling events that mediate PrP82-146 induced neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clive Bate
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Herts, UK.
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A camelid anti-PrP antibody abrogates PrP replication in prion-permissive neuroblastoma cell lines. PLoS One 2010; 5:e9804. [PMID: 20339552 PMCID: PMC2842437 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2009] [Accepted: 02/26/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of antibodies effective in crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB), capable of accessing the cytosol of affected cells and with higher affinity for PrPSc would be of paramount importance in arresting disease progression in its late stage and treating individuals with prion diseases. Antibody-based therapy appears to be the most promising approach following the exciting report from White and colleagues, establishing the “proof-of-principle” for prion-immunotherapy. After passive transfer, anti-prion antibodies were shown to be very effective in curing peripheral but not central rodent prion disease, due to the fact that these anti-prion antibodies are relatively large molecules and cannot therefore cross the BBB. Here, we show that an anti-prion antibody derived from camel immunised with murine scrapie material adsorbed to immunomagnetic beads is able to prevent infection of susceptible N2a cells and cure chronically scrapie-infected neuroblastoma cultures. This antibody was also shown to transmigrate across the BBB and cross the plasma membrane of neurons to target cytosolic PrPC. In contrast, treatment with a conventional anti-prion antibody derived from mouse immunised with recombinant PrP protein was unable to prevent recurrence of PrPSc replication. Furthermore, our camelid antibody did not display any neurotoxic effects following treatment of susceptible N2a cells as evidenced by TUNEL staining. These findings demonstrate the potential use of anti-prion camelid antibodies for the treatment of prion and other related diseases via non-invasive means.
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