Alteration of iron regulatory proteins (IRP1 and IRP2) and ferritin in the brains of scrapie-infected mice.
Considerable evidence suggests that oxidative stress may be involved in the pathogenesis of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). To investigate the involvement of iron metabolism in TSEs, we examined the expression levels of iron regulatory proteins (IRPs), ferritins, and binding activities of IRPs to iron-responsive element (IRE) in scrapie-infected mice. We found that the IRPs-IRE-binding activities and ferritins were increased in the astrocytes of hippocampus and cerebral cortex in the brains of scrapie-infected mice. These results suggest that alteration of iron metabolism contributes to development of neurodegeneration and that some protective mechanisms against iron-induced oxidative damage may occur during the pathogenesis of TSEs.
Kim
Boe-Hyun
BH
Ilsong Institute of Life Science, Academy of Science, Hallym University, Dongan-gu, Anyang, Kyounggi-do 431-060, South Korea.
Jun
Yong-Chul
YC
Jin
Jae-Kwang
JK
Kim
Jae-Il
JI
Kim
Nam-Ho
NH
Leibold
Elizabeth A
EA
Connor
James R
JR
Choi
Eun-Kyoung
EK
Carp
Richard I
RI
Kim
Yong-Sun
YS
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D035941:Iron Regulatory Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D035942:Iron Regulatory Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012608:Scrapie / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D035941:Iron Regulatory Protein 1; D035942:Iron Regulatory Protein 2