Cellular prion protein in the bovine mammary gland is selectively expressed in active lactocytes.
The cellular prion protein (PrP(c)) is a highly conserved glycoprotein with a still enigmatic physiological function. It is mainly expressed in the central nervous system but accumulating data suggest that PrP(c) is also found in a broad spectrum of non-neuronal tissue. Here we investigated the cell-type-related PrP(c) expression in the bovine mammary gland by using immunohistochemistry (IHC), ELISA, Western blot, and real-time RT-PCR. Specific immunostaining of serial sections revealed that PrP(c) is selectively localized in mammary gland epithelial cells. Particularly strong expression was found at the basolateral surface of those cells showing active secretion. Results obtained by RT-PCR and ELISA complemented IHC findings. No correlation was found between the level of PrP(c) expression and other parameters such as age of the animals under study or stage of lactation.
Didier
Andrea
A
Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals, University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstrasse 35 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
Dietrich
Richard
R
Steffl
Martin
M
Gareis
Manfred
M
Groschup
Martin H
MH
Müller-Hellwig
Simone
S
Märtlbauer
Erwin
E
Amselgruber
Werner M
WM
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007774:Lactation; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D018621:PrPC Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D018621:PrPC Proteins