A neuronal cell line that does not express either prion or doppel proteins

Neuroreport. 2005 Apr 4;16(5):425-9. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200504040-00002.

Abstract

Prions have been extensively studied since they represent a new class of infectious agents, the pathogenic prion protein (PrPSc). However, a central question on the physiological function of the normal prion protein (PrPC) remains unresolved. A cell model which was previously established from Rikn mice (PrP-/-) remains problematic because of its ectopic expression of the doppel (Dpl) which may have a neurotoxic effect. Here we established neuronal cell lines from Zürich I (PrP-/-) which do not express Dpl protein and ICR mice (PrP+/+) by transfecting with plasmid encoding for the large T antigen of SV40. The transformed cells have shown neuronal characteristics and, thus, these cell lines may provide a useful model to explore the function of neuronal PrPC.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western / methods
  • Cell Count / methods
  • Cell Cycle / physiology
  • Cell Line, Transformed / metabolism
  • Cell Size
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Embryo, Mammalian
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique / methods
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Hippocampus / cytology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / metabolism
  • PrPC Proteins / genetics
  • PrPC Proteins / metabolism*
  • Prions / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Mtap2 protein, mouse
  • PrPC Proteins
  • Prions
  • Prnd protein, mouse
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase