title: Mechanisms of prionSc- and HIV-1 gp120 induced neuronal cell death.
abstract: In vitro experiments revealed that the scrapie prion protein, PrP(Sc), as well as the PrP fragment PrP106-126, and the HIV-1 coat protein gp120 induce apoptosis of rat cortical neurons. The toxic effect displayed by PrP and gp120 could be blocked by NMDA receptor antagonists. Treatment of neuronal cells with PrP106-126 resulted in a drop of intracellular glutathione level and changes in the level of Bcl-2. Evidence is presented that gp120 causes an activation of phospholipase A2, resulting in the increased release of arachidonic acid, which may in turn sensitize the NMDA receptor.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universität, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perovic
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kavsan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ushijima
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120 / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018620:PrPSc Proteins / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D015699:HIV Envelope Protein gp120; D018620:PrPSc Proteins