Expression of cellular prion-related protein by murine Langerhans cells and keratinocytes.
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are characterized by the accumulation of a proteinase-resistant isoform of the cellular prion-related protein (PrP(c)) within the central nervous system (CNS). The accumulation of scrapie-associated PrP (PrP(Sc)) within cells of the lymphoreticular system prior to its accumulation in the CNS is regarded as important for the development of neurological diseases after peripheral inoculation. Little, however, is known as to which cells are the targets for peripheral inoculation. Here, the presence of PrP(c) on murine Langerhans cells (LC), dendritic cells in the skin and mucosa, and keratinocytes (KC) is demonstrated by immunohistochemical staining, Western-blotting and FACS analysis. The expression of PrP(c) mRNA in freshly purified LC and KC was also detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The expression of PrP(c) on LC was slightly increased during culture. These data suggest that LC and KC may be the targets for peripheral infection with prions.
Sugaya
Makoto
M
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, 113-8655, Tokyo, Japan. sugayam-der@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Nakamura
Koichiro
K
Watanabe
Takahiro
T
Asahina
Akihiko
A
Yasaka
Nami
N
Koyama
Yoh ichi
Yi
Kusubata
Masashi
M
Ushiki
Yuko
Y
Kimura
Kumiko
K
Morooka
Akira
A
Irie
Shinkichi
S
Yokoyama
Takashi
T
Inoue
Keiichi
K
Itohara
Shigeyosi
S
Tamaki
Kunihiko
K
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018621:PrPC Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger