title: Establishment of hamster- and human-PRNP transgenic mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To create transgenic mice expressing hamster- and human-PRNP as a model for understanding the physiological function and pathology of prion protein (PrP), as well as the mechanism of cross-species transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hamster and human-PRNP transgenic mice were established by conventional methods. The copy number of integrated PRNP in various mouse lines was mapped by real-time PCR. PRNP mRNA and protein levels were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, real-time RT-PCR, and western blot analysis. Histological analyses of transgenic mice were performed by hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining and immunohistochemical (IHC) methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Integrated PRNP copy number in various mouse lines was 53 (Tg-haPrP1), 18 (Tg-huPrP1), 3 (Tg-huPrP2), and 16 (Tg-huPrP5), respectively. Exogenous PrPs were expressed at both the transcriptional and translational level. Histological assays did not detect any abnormalities in brain or other organs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have established one hamster-PRNP transgenic mouse line and three human-PRNP transgenic mouse lines. These four transgenic mouse lines provide ideal models for additional research.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Han Shi
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Chan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Bao Yun
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhao Yun
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wu Ling
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yuan Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Hui Ying
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006224:Cricetinae; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010957:Plasmids; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D000072002:Prion Proteins; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C512656:PRNP protein, human; D000072002:Prion Proteins; D011328:Prions; D004247:DNA