Transmission Characteristics of Variably Protease-Sensitive Prionopathy
نویسندگان
چکیده
Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr), a recently identified and seemingly sporadic human prion disease, is distinct from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) but shares features of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS). However, contrary to exclusively inherited GSS, no prion protein (PrP) gene variations have been detected in VPSPr, suggesting that VPSPr might be the long-sought sporadic form of GSS. The VPSPr atypical features raised the issue of transmissibility, a prototypical property of prion diseases. We inoculated VPSPr brain homogenate into transgenic mice expressing various levels of human PrP (PrPC). On first passage, 54% of challenged mice showed histopathologic lesions, and 34% harbored abnormal PrP similar to that of VPSPr. Surprisingly, no prion disease was detected on second passage. We concluded that VPSPr is transmissible; thus, it is an authentic prion disease. However, we speculate that normal human PrPC is not an efficient conversion substrate (or mouse brain not a favorable environment) and therefore cannot sustain replication beyond the first passage.
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Abbreviations: BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy; CWD, chronic wasting disease; GSS, Gerstman–Str€aussler–Scheinker disease; M, methionine; PPS, pentosan polysulphate; PrP, protease-resistant prion protein; PrP, abnormal prion protein; QuIC, quaking-induced conversion; TSE, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; V, valine; vCJD, variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease; VPSPr, variably protease-...
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