PrP(CWD) lymphoid cell targets in early and advanced chronic wasting disease of mule deer.
Up to 15% of free-ranging mule deer in northeastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming, USA, are afflicted with a prion disease, or transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), known as chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is similar to a subset of TSEs including scrapie and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in which the abnormal prion protein isoform, PrP(CWD), accumulates in lymphoid tissue. Experimental scrapie studies have indicated that this early lymphoid phase is an important constituent of prion replication interposed between mucosal entry and central nervous system accumulation. To identify the lymphoid target cells associated with PrP(CWD), we used triple-label immunofluorescence and high-resolution confocal microscopy on tonsils from naturally infected deer in advanced disease. We detected PrP(CWD) primarily extracellularly in association with follicular dendritic and B cell membranes as determined by frequent co-localization with antibodies against membrane bound immunoglobulin and CD21. There was minimal co-localization with cytoplasmic labels for follicular dendritic cells (FDC). This finding could indicate FDC capture of PrP(CWD), potentially in association with immunoglobulin or complement, or PrP(C) conversion on FDC. In addition, scattered tingible body macrophages in the germinal centre contained coarse intracytoplasmic aggregates of PrP(CWD), reflecting either phagocytosis of PrP(CWD) on FDC processes, apoptotic FDC or B cells, or actual PrP(CWD) replication within tingible body macrophages. To compare lymphoid cell targets in early and advanced disease, we also examined: (i) PrP(CWD) distribution in lymphoid cells of fawns within 3 months of oral CWD exposure and (ii) tonsil biopsies from preclinical deer with naturally acquired CWD. These studies revealed that the early lymphoid cellular distribution of PrP(CWD) was similar to that in advanced disease, i.e. in a pattern suggesting FDC association. We conclude that in deer, PrP(CWD) accumulates primarily extracellularly and associated with FDCs and possibly B cells - a finding which raises questions as to the cells responsible for pathological prion production.
Sigurdson
Christina J
CJ
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1671, USA1.
Barillas-Mury
Carolina
C
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1671, USA1.
Miller
Michael W
MW
Colorado Division of Wildlife, Wildlife Research Center, 317 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526-2097, USA2.
Oesch
Bruno
B
Prionics AG, Wagistrasse 27a, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland3.
van Keulen
Lucien J M
LJM
Institute for Animal Science and Health (ID-Lelystad), Edelhertweg 15, 8219 PH Lelystad, The Netherlands4.
Langeveld
Jan P M
JPM
Institute for Animal Science and Health (ID-Lelystad), Edelhertweg 15, 8219 PH Lelystad, The Netherlands4.
Hoover
Edward A
EA
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1671, USA1.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D003670:Deer; D020566:Dendritic Cells, Follicular / Q000276:immunology; D018858:Germinal Center; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011328:Prions / Q000276:immunology*; D019282:Wasting Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
D011328:Prions