Pr

1
Characterization of bovine and human cellular
prion protein expressed in the central nervous
system and in lymphoid organs
V. Defaweux1, S. Capellari2, S. Stramiello2, N.
Antoine3, G. Dorban1, C. Demonceau1, O. Jolois1,
E. Heinen1 and P. Parchi2. 1Dpt of Morphology
and Immunology, Institute of Human Histology,
Faculty of Medecine, University of Liège,
Belgiumwww.ulg.ac.be/histohum. 2Department of
Neurological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine,
University of Bologna, Italy. 3Laboratoy of
Animal Histology, Department of Morphology and
Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medecine,
University of Liège, Belgium.
Western blot analysis of truncated PrPc forms
expressed in bovine CNS
Western blot analysis to compare the ratio of
PrPc glycoforms expressed in the CNS of bovine
and human

• PrPc glycoform ratios are significantly
  different between cerebellum and medulla in
  bovine and human.
• Only the unglycosylated PrPc is distributed like
  wise in medulla and in the cerebellum of bovine
  and human.

• The expression of truncated forms of PrPc (i.e.
  21 and 18 kDa PrPc) is also significantly
  heterogenous according to the brain region
  investigated.

Western blot analysis to compare the PrPc
glycoform ratios and the truncated PrPc forms
expressed in bovine lymphoid tissues in bovine
lymhpoid cells
Isolation of PrPc expressing follicular dendritic
cells (FDC)
FDC ultrastructure SAF32 FDC

• PrPc is highly glycosylated in spleen and in
  lymphoid follicles isolated from bovine lymphoid
  tissues as well as in their FDC and lymphocytes.
• After deglycosylation, a novel PrPc truncated
  form with a relative molecular mass of about 25
  kDa was detected in bovine lymphoid organs beside
  the typical 18 and 21 kDa forms.

Western blot analysis to compare the PrPc
glycoform ratios and the truncated PrPc forms
expressed in human lymphoid tissues
Our results highlight variation in the profile
expression of PrPc in peripheral and central
tissues of bovine and human. Such differences may
have an implication for PrPc function and may
represent critical factors influencing the
accumulation of the infectious agent in these
areas.

• No difference in WB PrPc profile was seen in
  follicles, lymphocytes and FDC of human tissues
• Immune PrPc is highly glycosylated and, after
  deglycosylation, the 25 kDa is also expressed in
  human lymphoid tissues and cells.

Supported by the EU contract QLG3-CT-2002-81030