Orally administered prion protein is incorporated by m cells and spreads into lymphoid tissues with macrophages in prion protein knockout mice.

ABSTRACT: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are fatal neurodegenerative diseases. Infection by the oral route is assumed to be important, although its pathogenesis is not understood. Using prion protein (PrP) knockout mice, we investigated the sequence of events during the invasion of orally administered PrPs through the intestinal mucosa and the spread into lymphoid tissues and the peripheral nervous system. Orally administered PrPs were incorporated by intestinal epitheliocytes in the follicle-associated epithelium and villi within 1 hour. PrP-positive cells accumulated in the subfollicle region of Peyer's patches a few hours thereafter. PrP-positive cells spread toward the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen after the accumulation of PrPs in the Peyer's patches. The number of PrP molecules

SUBMITTER: Takakura I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3157171 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature