title: Cellular prion protein neuroprotective function: implications in prion diseases.
abstract: Prion protein can display two conformations: a normal cellular conformation (PrP) and a pathological conformation associated with prion diseases (PrP(Sc)). Three complementary strategies are used by researchers investigating how PrP is involved in the pathogenesis of prion diseases: elucidation of the normal function of PrP, determination of how PrP(Sc) is toxic to neurons, and unraveling the mechanism for the conversion of PrP to PrP(Sc). We review the normal function of PrP as an antioxidant and an antiapoptotic protein in vivo and in vitro. This review also addresses contrasting evidence that PrP is cytotoxic. Finally, we discuss the implication of the neuroprotective role of PrP in prion diseases.
authors.affiliation: Bloomfield Center for Research in Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, 3755 Ch. Cote Ste-Catherine, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Roucou
authors.forename: Andréa C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011328:Prions / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein
chemical_list: D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C501125:PRND protein, human; D011328:Prions; C122036:Prnd protein, mouse; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein