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2001 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Identification of expression cells and elucidation of a function for a novel gene encoding a PrP-like protein newly separated and identified

Research Project

Project/Area Number 12670207
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Experimental pathology
Research InstitutionNagasaki University

Principal Investigator

SHIGEMATSU Kazuto  Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology 2, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 助教授 (20154205)

Project Period (FY) 2000 – 2001
KeywordsDoppel / PrPLP gene / prioa protein-deficient mice / glia cell / prion disease / blood-brain-barrier / endothelial cell
Research Abstract

We identified aberrant mRNA species in the brain of PrP knockout mice (Prnp-/- Nagasaki), which mRNAs were the novel sequence encoding PrP-like protein (Dopple/PrPLP), a putative membrane glycoprotein with 23 % identity to PrpC in the primary amino acid structure. The expression tissues and cells for this gene were identified, and the following knowledge was acquired.
(1) In adult wild-type mice, Dopple/PrPLP mRNA was physiologically expressed at a high level by testis and heart, bat was barely detectable in brain. However, transient expression of Dopple/PrPLP mRNA was detectable by Northern blotting in the brain of neonatal wild-type mice, showing maximal expression around 1 week after birth. In situ hybridization paired with immunohistochemistry Identified brain endothelial cells as expressing the transcripts. Moreover, in the neonatal wild-type mice, the Dopple/PrPLP mRNA localized in capillaries of spleen and lamina propria mucosa of gut. These findings suggested a role of Dopple/PrPLP in angiogenesis, in particular blood-brain barrier maturation.
(2) In a testis of neonatal mice, the expression of mRNA was found in the leaf cells specializing in the lymph vessel in the future. On the other hand, from the 3rd week after birth, the spermatogonia at the stage IV-VI day of the spermatogenic cycle became to strongly express Dopple/PrPLP mRNA. Hence, Dopple/PrPLP may play an important role in the spermatogenesis and blood-testis barrier.
(3) Northern blotting demonstrated unregulated expression of the genes for GFAP and LM in the brains of PrP knockout mice. A transgene for normal mouse PrP^C- successfully rescued PrP knockout mice from the glial activation. Moreover, the glial cell activation was notable well before the onset of the Purkinje cell degeneration. These findings strongly suggest that ectopic Dopple/PrPLP in the absence of Prp^C is actively involved in the glial-cell activation in the brain.

  • Research Products

    (8 results)

All Other

All Publications (8 results)

  • [Publications] Li A et al.: "Identification of a novel gene encoding a PrP-like protein expressed as Chimeric transcripts fused to PrP exon 1/2 in ataxic mouse line with a disrupted PrP gene"Cell Mol Neurobiol. 20. 553-567 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Li A et al.: "Physiological expression of the gene for PrP-like protein, PrPLP/Dpl, by brain endothelial cells and its ectopic expression in Neurons of PrP-deficient mice ataxicdue to Purkinje cell degeneration"Am J Pathol. 157. 1447-1452 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Deli MA et al.: "PrP fragment 106-126 is toxic to cerebral endothelial cells expressing PrP^c"NeuronReport. 11. 3931-3936 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Atarashi R et al.: "Abnormal activation of glial cells In the brains of prion protein-deficient mice ectopically expressing Prion protein-like protein, PrPLP/Dpl"Mol Med. 7. 803-809 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Li A., Sakaguchi S., Atarashi, R., Roy BC., Nakaoke R., Arima K., Okimura N., Kopacek J., Shigematsu K.: "Identification of a novel geae encoding a PrP-like protein expressed as chimeric transcripts fused to PrP exon 1/2 in ataxic mouse line with a disrupted PrP gene"Cell Mol. Neurobiol.. 20. 553-567 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Li A, Sakaguchi S., Shigematsu K., Atarashi R., Roy BC., Nakaoke R., Arima K., Okimura N, Kopacek J., Katamine S.: "Pbysiological expression of the gene for PrP-like protein, PrPLP/Dpl, by brain endothelial cells and its ectopic expression in neurons of PrP-deficient mice ataxic due to Purkinjje cell degeneration"Am. J. Pathol.. 157. 1447-1452 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Deli MA., Sakaguchi S., Nakaoke R., Abraham CS, Takahata H., Kopacek J., Shigematsu K., Katamine S., Niwa M.: "PrP fragment 106-126 is toxic to cerebral endothelial cells expressing PrP^C"Neuroreport. 11. 3931-3936 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Atarashi R., Sakaguchi S., Snigematsu K., Arima K., Okimura N., Yamaguchi N., Li A., Kopacek J., Katamine S.: "Abnormal activation of glial cells in the brains of prion protein deficient mice ectopieally expressing prion protein-like protein, PrPLP/Dpl"Mol. Med.. 7. 803-809 (2001)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2003-09-17  

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