RGD Reference Report - Microglia from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease-infected brains are infectious and show specific mRNA activation profiles. - Rat Genome Database

Send us a Message



Submit Data |  Help |  Video Tutorials |  News |  Publications |  Download |  REST API |  Citing RGD |  Contact   

Microglia from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease-infected brains are infectious and show specific mRNA activation profiles.

Authors: Baker, CA  Martin, D  Manuelidis, L 
Citation: Baker CA, etal., J Virol. 2002 Nov;76(21):10905-13.
RGD ID: 5686913
Pubmed: PMID:12368333   (View Abstract at PubMed)
PMCID: PMC136595   (View Article at PubMed Central)

Neurons are often assumed to be the principal sites for replication of the infectious agents causing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), scrapie, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy because they express high levels of normal and pathological prion protein (PrP). However, isolated brain cell types have not been evaluated for either infection or gene expression. Microglia purified from CJD-infected mice showed infectivity comparable to that of starting brain homogenate but expressed approximately 50-fold less PrP. CJD-infected microglia also displayed morphological changes indicative of cellular activation. To determine the molecular pathways of activation, we evaluated pertinent transcripts, including those linked to inflammation. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR showed a >4-fold increase in cathepsin S, an enzyme important in antigen presentation, the cytokine interleukin-1beta, and the chemokine B-lymphocyte chemoattractant. The profile of microglial changes induced by the CJD agent differed substantially from activation induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide or by beta-amyloid, a structure comparable to pathological PrP. These microglial studies emphasize migratory hematopoietic cells in the dispersion, and possibly replication, of the CJD agent. The low PrP levels in these highly infectious and activated cells further support the concept that pathological PrP is the result of infection rather than the infectious agent itself. Because microglia develop a specific pattern of responses to the CJD agent, microglial markers may be exploited in the diagnosis of these spongiform encephalopathies.

RGD Manual Disease Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease  ISOCtss (Mus musculus)5686913; 5686913 RGD 
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease  IEP 5686913 RGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Ctss  (cathepsin S)

Genes (Mus musculus)
Ctss  (cathepsin S)

Genes (Homo sapiens)
CTSS  (cathepsin S)


Additional Information