The pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy: routes to the brain and the erection of therapeutic barricades.
Classical and modern studies of the pathogenesis of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy are reviewed, with particular attention paid to recent investigations of the routes of neuroinvasion. In various experimental models, a heirarchy of paths to the brain includes direct neural transit from the site of infection, replication in the spleen and neural entry through the spinal cord, and hematogenous spread. Possible modes and sites of therapeutic intervention are suggested.
Brown
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Laboratory of Central Nervous System Studies, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4122, USA. brownp@ninds.nih.gov
D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology