Potential approaches for heterologous prion protein treatment of prion diseases. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Seelig, Davis M.; Goodman, Patricia A.; Skinner, Pamela J.
• Is Part Of: Prion. Volume 10:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 18
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: prion -- treatment -- PrPres -- PrPC -- heterologous prion proteins; Protein folding -- Periodicals; Prions -- Periodicals; Proteins -- Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 572.633
• DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2015.1123372
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1933-6896

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Prion diseases, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are progressive, fatal neurodegenerative diseases with no effective treatment. The pathology of these diseases involves the conversion of a protease sensitive form of the cellular prion protein (PrP C ) into a protease resistant infectious form (PrP res ). The efficiency of this conversion is predicated upon a number of factors, most notably a strong homology between cellular PrP C and PrP res . In our recently published study, we infected mice with the RML-Chandler strain of scrapie and treated them with heterologous hamster prion proteins. This treatment was seen to reduce clinical signs of prion disease, to delay the onset of clinical symptoms and to prolong survival. In this current article we discuss potential mechanisms of action of treatment with heterologous prion proteins. We also discuss potential extensions of these studies using a heterologous rabbit PrP-based treatment strategy or a peptide based strategy, and improvement of treatment delivery including a lentiviral-based system.