General intro

Prion proteins are a common part of cell surface proteins in the mammalian nervous system, and they can, upon change of its conformation, become a highly infectious and pathogenic agent. The physiological form (PrPC) is encoded by the PRNP gene on chromosome 20 and when misfolded and aggregated, the pathological form (PrPSc) occurs, lacking any specific nucleic acid and its primary structure being determined by the PrPC form. When accumulated in the central nervous system (CNS) of mammals, PrPSc is known to be responsible for uprise of several untreatable progressive neurodegenerative diseases, generally called as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). These include kuru, fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (CJD) in humans, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle, scrapie in sheep and goats, transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) in mink, feline spongiform encephalopathy (FSE) in cat or chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk ^[1].

Protein structure

The PrPSc differs from PrPC solely in conformation and is its isoform. The mature PrPC consists of approx. 208 amino acids, arranged as a disordered N-terminus and a globular C-terminal domain consisting of three α-helices and a short, antiparallel β-pleated sheet ^[2][3]. There is a GPI membrane anchor at the C-terminus that tethers the protein to cell membranes and proteins that are secreted and lacking the anchor component has been proven to be unaffected by the infectious isoform ^[4]. In contrast to the natural form of prion protein with only about 3 % of β-sheet secondary structure, the PrPSc form has about 47 % of the secondary structure in β-sheets ^[5] that create a core of four-rung β-solenoid fold ^[6]. Accordingly, they also differ in their properties. PrPC is soluble, has a life-span between 2 and 4 hours, and is sensitive to proteolytic cleavage – when exposed to proteases, the protein is degraded completely ^[5]. The two most important cleavage events are the α cleavage which removes the unstructured N-terminal tail and leaves the globular domain attached to the cell membrane, and the cleavage on the C-terminal end (termed PrPC shedding) which releases PrPC into the extracellular space ^[7]. Under the same conditions, PrPSc is hydrolysed by proteases only partially by forming resistant core fragment PrP 27-30 ^[5]. In addition, it is insoluble in detergents and has a very long half-life, therefore accumulates in tissues easily. It has a tendency to form aggregates and fibrillar structures and is generally susceptible to oligomerization, whereas the PrPC form mainly exist as a monomer ^[8]. Monomeric PrPSc has never been isolated.

Misfolding

The fundamental event in propagation of the infectious form lies in the PrPSc template-directed misfolding of the natural form into the pathogenic, β-sheet-rich version of itself ^[5]. This process is now widely accepted as a current prion theory, and the most striking fact is that this action lacks any nucleic acid template ^[7]. However, the replication cycle of PrPSc does need the PRNP gene to direct PrPC synthesis. Also, the interaction between the pathogenic and physiological form must be quite specific to propagate the conversion. The replication process itself can be explained by stochastic fluctuations in the PrPC structure, that would create the intermediate form, PrP*. This partially unfolded monomer can then switch back to the natural conformation, adopt a PrPSc one, or be degraded. Normally, there is an equilibrium between the PrPC and PrP* states which favors the physiological one. Depending on the specific cause of the disease, the PrP* state can adopt a PrPSc conformation either upon contant with a dimer of this infectious form by forming a heteromultimer which is further converted into a homomultimer of PrPSc, or through encounter with another PrP* molecule. This PrP*/PrP* dimer can then form an infectious dimer and initiate the replication cycle ^{[9] [8]}. It has been found that certain host-specific RNAs can assist with the conversion into the pathogenic form ^[10].

Pathogenesis

In the case of infectious/iatrogenic diseases, pathogenic prion proteins enter the body alimentary via ingestion of affected neural tissues, or via infected materials and tissues such as during blood transfusions, corneal transplants or dura mater grafts. In this case, the exogenous PrPSc form would serve as a template to promote the conversion of PrP* and, due to its insolubility, make this exponential conversion process irreversible ^[9].

Genetic, or inherited cause comprise the familial TSEs and comes from DNA mutations in the PRNP gene, which then produces mutant, unstable forms of PrPC with higher tendency of folding into the PrP* form. This further increases the chance of PrPSc forming ^[8]. The mutations in PRNP are autosomal dominant, highly penetrant, and consist of missense mutations, insertions and deletions ^[7]. With higher probability of protein misfolding in the old age, they usually incite disease onset in the late decades of life and ultimately lead to accumulation of prion proteins and rapid development of neurodegenerative disease ^[11].

Concerning sporadic form of prion disease, the concentration of PrPSc may eventually reach a threshold level upon which a positive feedback loop would stimulate the formation of PrPSc. It requires solely a rare molecular event of formation of the PrP*/PrP* complex, or a somatic cell mutation followed by the mechanism of the initiation of inherited disease. Once formed, the replication cycle is primed for subsequent conversion ^{[9] [8]}.

Ultimately, in all cases this leads to PrPSc polymerization, forming a rod-like structures and amyloid plaques.

Prion diseases

Up to this date, many different types of TSEs are known (see General intro), affecting many animal species as well as humans and showing various symptoms. As was mentioned in previous chapters, all prion diseases promote their negative effects through accumulation of PrPSc in the CNS. However, since most of the TSEs are transmitted by peripheral routes, either orally or transcutaneously, events critical for their pathogenesis take place at peripheral parts of the organism, especially in peripheral lymph organs (Aucouturier et al., 2000). In the following text, probably the two most important prion diseases and facts known about their mechanism of infection are described.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy

Commonly known as the mad cow disease, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a type of prion disease that affects cattle. Among major symptoms observed in affected animals are abnormal behavior, anxiety, ataxia, hypersensitivity to touch and noise and poor body condition – from movement and posture problems all the way down up to paralysis. Onset symptoms usually emerge after 4-4.5 years from the infection ^[12]. From that point, the disease is very progressive in degeneration of animal’s nervous system and leads to its death, generally within the time horizon of weeks to months ^[13].

Several types of the disease are distinguished: classic BSE (C-type BSE), L-type BSE and H-type BSE. Latter two types are considered to be sporadic, uncommon and classified as atypical since they arise spontaneously. H and L denotation has its origin in structural features of these two forms. The classic form, on the other hand, is classified as typical and arise most likely from ruminant-derived protein feed supplements (i.e. meat-and-bone meal) as epidemiological analyses of BSE-affected herds implied ^[14]. After oral uptake of infected feed, it was found that PrPSc gather in some intestinal lymphatic tissues (mainly in Peyer’s patches of the distal ileum and also tonsils). Infectivity of BSE subsequently slowly spreads centripetally into the CNS, probably through the peripheral nervous system. However, it still is not clear, how the disease passes from intestinal mucosa to the lymphoid system of the cattle ^[15].

Creutzfeld-Jacob disease

Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (CJD) is the most common human prion disease. It occurs in three distinct forms, based on the source of the disease: sporadic, acquired and inherited ^[16]. Sporadic form of CJD is denoted as sCJD and it predominantly affects middle aged and elderly. Its classical clinical symptoms are rapid cognitive decline, dementia, cerebellar ataxia and myoclonus terminating in an akinetic mute state ^[17]. Due to a very rapid progress of the disease, mean survival of patients is merely six months and more than 90 % die within a year from onset of the first symptoms ^[18]. There are certain speculations about the cause of sCJD, e.g. stochastic protein folding or a somatic mutation in PRNP gene, but the true reasons remain unrevealed ^[16].

Acquired forms of CJD are caused by infection from exogenous source and consist of variant CJD (vCJD) and iatrogenic CJD (iCJD). Latter is caused by accidental transmission of the disease through medical and surgical procedures, mainly by cadaveric-derived human dura mater grafts (e.g. in cases of corneal transplantation ^[19][20] or by treatment with human growth hormone (hGH) originating from sCJD affected pituitary glands ^[21]. Additionally, few cases caused by treatment with infected human gonadotropin were also described ^[22]. Symptoms of iCJD are generally identical with those of sCJD. However, cases caused by infected hGH are more specific, i.e. progressive cerebellar ataxia and lower limb dysaesthesia with other features, including cognitive impairment ^[23].

The vCJD form was described for the first time during the BSE epidemic in the United Kingdom in 1996 and was termed as the “new variant CJD” ^[24]. It is primarily caused by ingestion of food with infectious contamination originating from BSE affected cattle ^[25]. Nonetheless, infection can also arise from transfusion by an infected blood ^[26] or a blood product, i.e. factor VIII important in the pathway of the blood coagulation ^[27]. The BSE epidemic is the main reason for which the vCJD still occurs with highest incidence in the UK and France. Since 1996 till 25.04.2017, total count of 231 definite or probable cases of vCJD was reported ^[16]. Symptoms of vCJD are again mostly identical or very similar to those of other CJD forms, including painful sensory symptoms and involuntary movements ^[28]. In compare with sCJD, mean survival of patients from the onset symptoms is significantly longer, approximately 14 months from the onset symptoms ^[29].

The susceptibility to infection and disease, incubation period and duration of survival in all CJD forms are dependent on several different factors including age of onset and genetic predispositions. So called PRNP-129 polymorphism is related to all CJD forms, but especially to iCJD. Its principle lies in genotype combinations of Met129 and Val129 alleles (MM, MV or VV) and in iCJD, it has substantial impact on susceptibility and incubation period of the disease caused by infection from previously mentioned treatment with hGH ^[30]. It appears that VV and mainly MM homozygotes are more susceptible to infection by CJD and have shorter incubation period than MV heterozygotes ^[30][31]. Furthermore, supporting this hypothesis almost all definite and probable vCJD and sCJD reported cases are of MM genotype ^[31][32].

Diagnosis and treatment

To this date, there are no known treatment approaches for prion diseases, therefore these remain 100% fatal. One approach might be increasing the stability of the natural PrPC protein, but the existing compounds (like quinacrine) have been proven far too toxic ^[11].

References

1. ↑ Imran M, Mahmood S. An overview of animal prion diseases. Virol J. 2011 Nov 1;8:493. doi: 10.1186/1743-422X-8-493. PMID:22044871 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-8-493
2. ↑ Zahn R, Liu A, Luhrs T, Riek R, von Schroetter C, Lopez Garcia F, Billeter M, Calzolai L, Wider G, Wuthrich K. NMR solution structure of the human prion protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Jan 4;97(1):145-50. PMID:10618385
3. ↑ Riek R, Hornemann S, Wider G, Billeter M, Glockshuber R, Wuthrich K. NMR structure of the mouse prion protein domain PrP(121-321). Nature. 1996 Jul 11;382(6587):180-2. PMID:8700211 doi:10.1038/382180a0
4. ↑ Chesebro B, Trifilo M, Race R, Meade-White K, Teng C, LaCasse R, Raymond L, Favara C, Baron G, Priola S, Caughey B, Masliah E, Oldstone M. Anchorless prion protein results in infectious amyloid disease without clinical scrapie. Science. 2005 Jun 3;308(5727):1435-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1110837. PMID:15933194 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1110837
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3} Pan KM, Baldwin M, Nguyen J, Gasset M, Serban A, Groth D, Mehlhorn I, Huang Z, Fletterick RJ, Cohen FE, et al.. Conversion of alpha-helices into beta-sheets features in the formation of the scrapie prion proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Dec 1;90(23):10962-6. PMID:7902575
6. ↑ Wille H, Requena JR. The Structure of PrP(Sc) Prions. Pathogens. 2018 Feb 7;7(1). pii: pathogens7010020. doi: 10.3390/pathogens7010020. PMID:29414853 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens7010020
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Wille H, Requena JR. The Structure of PrP(Sc) Prions. Pathogens. 2018 Feb 7;7(1). pii: pathogens7010020. doi: 10.3390/pathogens7010020. PMID:29414853 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens7010020
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Cohen FE, Prusiner SB. Pathologic conformations of prion proteins. Annu Rev Biochem. 1998;67:793-819. doi: 10.1146/annurev.biochem.67.1.793. PMID:9759504 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.biochem.67.1.793
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.7909169
10. ↑ Deleault NR, Lucassen RW, Supattapone S. RNA molecules stimulate prion protein conversion. Nature. 2003 Oct 16;425(6959):717-20. doi: 10.1038/nature01979. PMID:14562104 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature01979
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1} Khanam H, Ali A, Asif M, Shamsuzzaman. Neurodegenerative diseases linked to misfolded proteins and their therapeutic approaches: A review. Eur J Med Chem. 2016 Nov 29;124:1121-1141. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.08.006., Epub 2016 Aug 6. PMID:27597727 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.08.006
12. ↑ Casalone C, Hope J. Atypical and classic bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Handb Clin Neurol. 2018;153:121-134. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-63945-5.00007-6. PMID:29887132 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63945-5.00007-6
13. ↑ doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.155.21.659
14. ↑ Kimberlin RH, Wilesmith JW. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Epidemiology, low dose exposure and risks. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1994 Jun 6;724:210-20. PMID:8030941
15. ↑ Espinosa JC, Morales M, Castilla J, Rogers M, Torres JM. Progression of prion infectivity in asymptomatic cattle after oral bovine spongiform encephalopathy challenge. J Gen Virol. 2007 Apr;88(Pt 4):1379-83. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.82647-0. PMID:17374785 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.82647-0
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1 16.2} Knight R. Infectious and Sporadic Prion Diseases. Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2017;150:293-318. doi: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.010., Epub 2017 Aug 14. PMID:28838665 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.010
17. ↑ Mackenzie G, Will R. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: recent developments. F1000Res. 2017 Nov 27;6:2053. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.12681.1. eCollection, 2017. PMID:29225787 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.12681.1
18. ↑ Ladogana A, Puopolo M, Croes EA, Budka H, Jarius C, Collins S, Klug GM, Sutcliffe T, Giulivi A, Alperovitch A, Delasnerie-Laupretre N, Brandel JP, Poser S, Kretzschmar H, Rietveld I, Mitrova E, Cuesta Jde P, Martinez-Martin P, Glatzel M, Aguzzi A, Knight R, Ward H, Pocchiari M, van Duijn CM, Will RG, Zerr I. Mortality from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and related disorders in Europe, Australia, and Canada. Neurology. 2005 May 10;64(9):1586-91. doi: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000160117.56690.B2. PMID:15883321 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.WNL.0000160117.56690.B2
19. ↑ Duffy P, Wolf J, Collins G, DeVoe AG, Streeten B, Cowen D. Letter: Possible person-to-person transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. N Engl J Med. 1974 Mar 21;290(12):692-3. PMID:4591849
20. ↑ Maddox RA, Belay ED, Curns AT, Zou WQ, Nowicki S, Lembach RG, Geschwind MD, Haman A, Shinozaki N, Nakamura Y, Borer MJ, Schonberger LB. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in recipients of corneal transplants. Cornea. 2008 Aug;27(7):851-4. doi: 10.1097/ICO.0b013e31816a628d. PMID:18650677 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ICO.0b013e31816a628d
21. ↑ Peden AH, Ritchie DL, Uddin HP, Dean AF, Schiller KA, Head MW, Ironside JW. Abnormal prion protein in the pituitary in sporadic and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. J Gen Virol. 2007 Mar;88(Pt 3):1068-72. doi: 10.1099/vir.0.81913-0. PMID:17325383 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.81913-0
22. ↑ Cochius JI, Hyman N, Esiri MM. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in a recipient of human pituitary-derived gonadotrophin: a second case. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1992 Nov;55(11):1094-5. PMID:1469410
23. ↑ Rudge P, Jaunmuktane Z, Adlard P, Bjurstrom N, Caine D, Lowe J, Norsworthy P, Hummerich H, Druyeh R, Wadsworth JD, Brandner S, Hyare H, Mead S, Collinge J. Iatrogenic CJD due to pituitary-derived growth hormone with genetically determined incubation times of up to 40 years. Brain. 2015 Nov;138(Pt 11):3386-99. doi: 10.1093/brain/awv235. Epub 2015 Aug 11. PMID:26268531 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awv235
24. ↑ Will RG, Ironside JW, Zeidler M, Cousens SN, Estibeiro K, Alperovitch A, Poser S, Pocchiari M, Hofman A, Smith PG. A new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the UK. Lancet. 1996 Apr 6;347(9006):921-5. PMID:8598754
25. ↑ Ward HJ, Everington D, Cousens SN, Smith-Bathgate B, Leitch M, Cooper S, Heath C, Knight RS, Smith PG, Will RG. Risk factors for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a case-control study. Ann Neurol. 2006 Jan;59(1):111-20. doi: 10.1002/ana.20708. PMID:16287153 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.20708
26. ↑ Urwin PJ, Mackenzie JM, Llewelyn CA, Will RG, Hewitt PE. Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and blood transfusion: updated results of the UK Transfusion Medicine Epidemiology Review Study. Vox Sang. 2016 May;110(4):310-6. doi: 10.1111/vox.12371. Epub 2015 Dec 28. PMID:26709606 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/vox.12371
27. ↑ Peden A, McCardle L, Head MW, Love S, Ward HJ, Cousens SN, Keeling DM, Millar CM, Hill FG, Ironside JW. Variant CJD infection in the spleen of a neurologically asymptomatic UK adult patient with haemophilia. Haemophilia. 2010 Mar;16(2):296-304. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2516.2009.02181.x. Epub , 2010 Jan 12. PMID:20070383 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2516.2009.02181.x
28. ↑ Heath CA, Cooper SA, Murray K, Lowman A, Henry C, MacLeod MA, Stewart GE, Zeidler M, MacKenzie JM, Ironside JW, Summers DM, Knight RS, Will RG. Validation of diagnostic criteria for variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Ann Neurol. 2010 Jun;67(6):761-70. doi: 10.1002/ana.21987. PMID:20517937 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ana.21987
29. ↑ Heath CA, Cooper SA, Murray K, Lowman A, Henry C, MacLeod MA, Stewart G, Zeidler M, McKenzie JM, Knight RS, Will RG. Diagnosing variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: a retrospective analysis of the first 150 cases in the UK. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2011 Jun;82(6):646-51. doi:, 10.1136/jnnp.2010.232264. Epub 2010 Dec 15. PMID:21172857 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.2010.232264
30. ↑ ^{30.0 30.1} Brandel JP, Preece M, Brown P, Croes E, Laplanche JL, Agid Y, Will R, Alperovitch A. Distribution of codon 129 genotype in human growth hormone-treated CJD patients in France and the UK. Lancet. 2003 Jul 12;362(9378):128-30. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13867-6. PMID:12867116 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13867-6
31. ↑ ^{31.0 31.1} Parchi P, Giese A, Capellari S, Brown P, Schulz-Schaeffer W, Windl O, Zerr I, Budka H, Kopp N, Piccardo P, Poser S, Rojiani A, Streichemberger N, Julien J, Vital C, Ghetti B, Gambetti P, Kretzschmar H. Classification of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease based on molecular and phenotypic analysis of 300 subjects. Ann Neurol. 1999 Aug;46(2):224-33. PMID:10443888
32. ↑ Kaski D, Mead S, Hyare H, Cooper S, Jampana R, Overell J, Knight R, Collinge J, Rudge P. Variant CJD in an individual heterozygous for PRNP codon 129. Lancet. 2009 Dec 19;374(9707):2128. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61568-3. PMID:20109837 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61568-3