title: Activation of Fas and caspase 3 precedes PrP accumulation in 87V scrapie.
abstract: The sequence of events involved in the neurodegeneration caused by transmissible spongiform encephalopathies is not yet known. Using a murine scrapie model in which neurodegeneration in the hippocampus is restricted to the CA2, we show an up-regulation of the proapoptotic markers Fas and caspase 3 early in the incubation period prior to disease-specific prion protein (PrP) deposition and clinical signs. These results suggest that activation of Fas and caspase 3 are involved in the early pathological sequence of events during murine scrapie, and that these proapoptotic markers may be a specific method for early detection of neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Animal Health, Neuropathogenesis Unit, Ogston Building, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JF, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeffrey
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ironside
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D011328:Prions / Q000378:metabolism*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011328:Prions; D019014:fas Receptor; C505409:Casp3 protein, mouse; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases