title: Cells expressing anchorless prion protein are resistant to scrapie infection.
abstract: The hallmark of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs or prion diseases) is the accumulation of an abnormally folded, partially protease-resistant form (PrP-res) of the normal protease-sensitive prion protein (PrP-sen). PrP-sen is attached to the cell membrane by a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. In vitro, the anchor and the local membrane environment are important for the conversion of PrP-sen to PrP-res. In vivo, however, the anchor is not necessary because transgenic mice expressing anchorless PrP-sen accumulate PrP-res and replicate infectivity. To clarify the role of the GPI anchor in TSE infection, cells expressing GPI-anchored PrP-sen, anchorless PrP-sen, or both forms of PrP-sen were exposed to the mouse scrapie strain 22L. Cells expressing anchored PrP-sen produced PrP-res after exposure to 22L. Surprisingly, while cells expressing anchorless PrP-sen made anchorless PrP-res in the first 96 h postinfection, no PrP-res was detected at later passes. In contrast, when cells expressing both forms of PrP-sen were exposed to 22L, both anchored and anchorless PrP-res were detected over multiple passes. Consistent with the in vitro data, scrapie-infected cells expressing anchored PrP-sen transmitted disease to mice whereas cells expressing anchorless PrP-sen alone did not. These results demonstrate that the GPI anchor on PrP-sen is important for the persistent infection of cells in vitro. Our data suggest that cells expressing anchorless PrP-sen are not directly infected with scrapie. Thus, PrP-res formation in transgenic mice expressing anchorless PrP-sen may be occurring extracellularly.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Persistent Viral Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, Montana 59840, USA.
authors.forename: Kristin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: McNally
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Suzette A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Priola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011328:Prions / Q000378:metabolism*; D012608:Scrapie / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011328:Prions