Gene regulatory network analysis supports inflammation as a key neurodegeneration process in prion disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The activation of immune cells in the brain is believed to be one of the earliest events in prion disease development, where misfolded PrionSc protein deposits are thought to act as irritants leading to a series of events that culminate in neuronal cell dysfunction and death. The role of these events in prion disease though is still a matter of debate. To elucidate the mechanisms leading from abnormal protein deposition to neuronal injury, we have performed a detailed network analysis of genes differentially expressed in several mouse prion models.

Results

We found a master regulatory core of genes related to immune response controlling other genes involved in prion protein replication and accumulation, and neuronal cell death. This regulatory core determines the

SUBMITTER: Crespo I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3607922 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature