Early Host Responses to Prion Infection: Development of in Vivo and in Vitro Assays
Abstract
The first goal is to identify changes in mRNA in blood cells and in serum glycoprotein concentrations that are induced by prion infection in mice. A prion-specific signature would form the basis for a blood-based screen for prion infected individuals. Using DNA microarrays, we have determined that expression profiling can distinguish clinically ill prion-infected mice from their corresponding controls. A novel mass spectrometry-based proteomics technology has been optimized to identify quantitative changes in serum glycoproteins resulting from prion infection. The second goal is to determine whether CNS stem cells can provide an in vitro model for prion infection. CNS stem cell lines have been established from six different lines of mice. These cell lines express prion protein and at least one is capable of replicating the misfolded PrP(exp Sc) isoform. These studies could lead to the development of an in vitro system to assess the infectivity of prions in human cells.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA430643
Entities
People
- George A. Carlson
Organizations
- McLaughlin Research Institute