In silico analysis and theratyping of an ultra-rare CFTR genotype (W57G/A234D) in primary human rectal and nasal epithelial cells.

Mutation targeted therapy in cystic fibrosis (CF) is still not eligible for all CF subjects, especially for cases carrying rare variants such as the CFTR genotype W57G/A234D (c.169T>G/c.701C>A). We performed in silico analysis of the effects of these variants on protein stability, which we functionally characterized using colonoids and reprogrammed nasal epithelial cells. The effect of mutations on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein was analyzed by western blotting, forskolin-induced swelling (FIS), and Ussing chamber analysis. We detected a residual CFTR function that increases following treatment with the CFTR modulators VX661±VX445±VX770, correlates among models, and is associated with increased CFTR protein levels following treatment with CFTR correctors. In vivo treatment with VX770 reduced sweat chloride concentration to non-CF levels, increased the number of CFTR-dependent sweat droplets, and induced a 6% absolute increase in predicted FEV1% after 27 weeks of treatment indicating the relevance of theratyping with patient-derived cells in CF.

CFTR Modulators Rescue the Activity of CFTR in Colonoids Expressing the Complex Allele p.[R74W;V201M;D1270N]/dele22_24.

An Italian, 46-year-old female patient carrying the complex allele p.[R74W;V201M;D1270N] in trans with CFTR dele22_24 was diagnosed at the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center of Verona as being affected by CF-pancreatic sufficient (CF-PS) in 2021. The variant V201M has unknown significance, while both of the other variants of this complex allele have variable clinical consequences, according to the CFTR2 database, with reported clinical benefits for treatment with ivacaftor + tezacaftor and ivacaftor + tezacaftor + elexacaftor in patients carrying the R74W-D1270N complex allele, which are currently approved (in USA, not yet in Italy). She was previously followed up by pneumologists in northern Italy because of frequent bronchitis, hemoptysis, recurrent rhinitis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung colonization, bronchiectasis/atelectasis, bronchial arterial embolization and moderately compromised lung function (FEV1: 62%). Following a sweat test with borderline results, she was referred to the Verona CF Center where she presented abnormal values in both optical beta-adrenergic sweat tests and intestinal current measurement (ICM). These results were consistent with a diagnosis of CF. CFTR function analyses were also performed in vitro by forskolin-induced swelling (FIS) assay and short-circuit currents (Isc) in the monolayers of the rectal organoids. Both of these assays showed significantly increased CFTR activity following treatment with the CFTR modulators. Western-blot analysis revealed increased fully glycosylated CFTR protein after treatment with correctors, in line with the functional analysis. Interestingly, tezacaftor, together with elexacaftor, rescued the total organoid area under steady-state conditions, even in the absence of the CFTR agonist forskolin. In conclusion, in ex vivo and in vitro assays, we measured a residual function that was significantly enhanced by in vitro incubation with CFTR modulators, especially by ivacaftor + tezacaftor + elexacaftor, suggesting this combination as a potentially optimal treatment for this case.

Serum and cerebrospinal neurofilament light chain levels in patients with acquired peripheral neuropathies.

Neurofilament light chain (NFL) levels reflect axonal damage in different inflammatory and neurodegenerative central nervous system conditions, in correlation with disease severity. Our aim was to determine the possible diagnostic and prognostic value of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NFL levels in subjects with different forms of acquired peripheral neuropathies (PN). Paired serum and CSF samples of 25 patients with acquired PN were analysed for NFL using an ultrasensitive technique (Quanterix, Simoa, Lexington, MA, USA) and compared with a group of 25 age-matched healthy subjects. Demographic, clinical, CSF and neurophysiological data were reviewed. Cases with Guillain-Barré syndrome (N = 5), multifocal motor neuropathy (N = 3), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and variants (N = 12), anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) neuropathy (N = 3), both CIDP and anti-MAG neuropathy (N = 1), and non-systemic vasculitic neuropathy (N = 1) were studied. NFL levels were significantly (P < 0.001) increased in patients with PN and were higher in the CSF (median: 1407 pg/mL, range: 140.2-12 661) than in serum (median: 31.52 pg/mL, range: 4.33-1178). A statistically significant correlation was observed between serum and CSF levels in cases with blood-nerve-barrier damage (r = 0.71, P < 0.01), and between serum NFL levels and disease activity at sampling (r = 0.52, P < 0.01) and at last follow-up (r = 0.53, P < 0.01) in all subjects. The increase of NFL values in both serum and CSF of patients with acquired PN and the significant correlation between serum NFL levels, disease severity and final outcome support the possible role of NFL as disease activity and prognostic biomarker also in peripheral nervous system disorders.

Nanovesicles from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells inhibit T lymphocyte trafficking and ameliorate chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Cell based-therapies represent promising strategies for the treatment of neurological diseases. We have previously shown that adipose stem cells (ASC) ameliorate chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Recent evidence indicates that most ASC paracrine effects are mediated by extracellular vesicles, i.e. micro- and nanovesicles (MVs and NVs). We show that preventive intravenous administration of NVs isolated from ASC (ASC-NVs) before disease onset significantly reduces the severity of EAE and decreases spinal cord inflammation and demyelination, whereas therapeutic treatment with ASC-NVs does not ameliorate established EAE. This treatment marginally inhibits antigen-specific T cell activation, while reducing microglial activation and demyelination in the spinal cord. Importantly, ASC-NVs inhibited integrin-dependent adhesion of encephalitogenic T cells in vitro, with no effect on adhesion molecule expression. In addition, intravital microscopy showed that encephalitogenic T cells treated with ASC NVs display a significantly reduced rolling and firm adhesion in inflamed spinal cord vessels compared to untreated cells. Our results show that ASC-NVs ameliorate EAE pathogenesis mainly by inhibiting T cell extravasation in the inflamed CNS, suggesting that NVs may represent a novel therapeutic approach in neuro-inflammatory diseases, enabling the safe administration of ASC effector factors.

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and myelin basic protein specific epitopes are highly recognized by sera from patients with Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the main environmental agent associated to neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Following to studies reporting an increased prevalence of antibodies against peptides derived from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) homologous to EBV and human epitopes (MBP85-98, IRF5424-434) in multiple sclerosis (MS), we investigated whether seroreactivity to these antigens display a NMOSD-specific pattern. The sera of 34 NMOSD patients showed elevated levels of antibodies against MAP and MBP compared to healthy controls (44% vs. 5%, p < 0.0002 and 50% vs. 2%, p < 0.0001, respectively), while, unlike in MS, responsiveness to EBV was similar.

Antibody response against HERV-W env surface peptides differentiates multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Background: A specific humoral immune response against HERV-W envelope surface (env-su) glycoprotein antigens has been reported in serum of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, it has not been evaluated to date in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Objective: The objective of this paper is to investigate whether antibody (Ab) response against HERV-W env-su antigenic peptides differs between NMOSD and MS. Methods: Serum samples were collected from 36 patients with NMOSD, 36 patients with MS and 36 healthy control individuals (HCs). An indirect ELISA was set up to detect specific Abs against HERV-W env-su peptides. Results: Our data showed that two antigenic peptides, particularly HERV-Wenv93-108 and HERV-Wenv248-262, were statistically significantly present only in serum of MS compared to NMOSD and HCs. Thus, the specific humoral immune response against HERV-W env-su glycoprotein antigens found in MS is widely missing in NMOSD. Conclusion: Increased circulating serum levels of these HERV-W Abs may be suitable as additional biomarkers to better differentiate MS from NMOSD.

Clinical spectrum and IgG subclass analysis of anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated syndromes: a multicenter study.

Anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG-Ab) recently emerged as a potential biomarker in patients with inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system. We here compare the clinical and laboratory findings observed in a cohort of MOG-Ab seropositive and seronegative cases and describe IgG subclass analysis results. Consecutive serum samples referred to Verona University Neuropathology Laboratory for aquaporin-4 (AQP4)-Ab and/or MOG-Ab testing were analysed between March 2014 and May 2017. The presence of AQP4-Ab was determined using a cell-based assay. A live cell immunofluorescence assay was used for the detection of MOG-IgG and IgG subclass analysis. Among 454 analysed samples, 29 were excluded due to AQP4-Ab positivity or to the final demonstration of a disorder not compatible with MOG-Ab. We obtained clinical data in 154 out of 425 cases. Of these, 22 subjects resulted MOG-Ab positive. MOG-Ab positive patients were mainly characterised by the involvement of the optic nerve and/or spinal cord. Half of the cases presented relapses and the recovery was usually partial. Brain MRI was heterogeneous while short lesions were the prevalent observation on spinal cord MRI. MOG-Ab titre usually decreased in non-relapsing cases. In all MOG-IgG positive cases, we observed IgG1 antibodies, which were predominant in most subjects. IgG2 (5/22), IgG3 (9/22) and IgG4 (3/22) antibodies were also detectable. We confirm that MOG-Ab-related syndromes have distinct features in the spectrum of demyelinating conditions, and we describe the possible role of the different IgG subclasses in this condition.

Murine adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cell vesicles: in vitro clues for neuroprotective and neuroregenerative approaches.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASC) are known to promote neuroprotection and neuroregeneration in vitro and in vivo. These biological effects are probably mediated by paracrine mechanisms. In recent years, nanovesicles (NV) and microvesicles (MV) have been shown to play a major role in cell-to-cell communication. We tested the efficacy of NV and MV obtained from ASC in mediating neuroprotection and neuroregeneration in vitro. METHODS: We exposed neuronal cells (both cell line and primary cultures) to oxidative stress in the presence or not of NV or MV. RESULTS: In this experimental setting, we found that low doses of NV or MV protected neurons from apoptotic cell death. We then assessed the neuroregenerative effect of NV/MV in cerebellar slice cultures demyelinated with lysophosphatidylcholine. We observed that low but not higher doses of NV and MV increased the process of remyelination and activated nestin-positive oligodendroglial precursors. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data in vitro support the relevance of ASC vesicles as a source of protecting and regenerating factors that might modulate the microenvironment in neuro-inflammatory as well as in neurodegenerative disorders. The present findings may suggest that stromal cell-derived vesicles might represent a potential therapeutic tool, enabling the safe administration of stromal cell effector factors, avoiding the cellular counterpart.

Neurotoxicity and synaptic plasticity impairment of N-acetylglucosamine polymers: implications for Alzheimer's disease.

We assessed whether polymers of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) have any pathogenetic role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). First, by using specific dyes, we found deposits of polymers of GlcNAc in sporadic but not in familial AD. We found that neurons and microglia exposed to GlcNAc and uridine diphosphate (UDP)-GlcNAc are able to form GlcNAc polymers, which display a significant neurotoxicity in vitro. Moreover, the exposure of organotypic hippocampal cultures to the same compounds led to synaptic impairment with decreased levels of syntaxin and synaptophysin. In addition, acute hippocampal slices treated with GlcNAc/UDP-GlcNAc showed a clear reduction of long-term potentiation of excitatory synapses. Finally, we demonstrated that microglial cells are able to phagocytose chitin particles and, when exposed to GlcNAc/UDP-GlcNAc, show cellular activation and intracellular deposition of GlcNAc polymers that are eventually released in the extracellular space. Taken together, our results indicate that both microglia and neurons produce GlcNAc polymers, which trigger neurotoxicity both directly and through microglia activation. GlcNAc polymer-driven neurotoxicity offers novel pathogenic insights in sporadic AD and new therapeutic options.

Allelic origin of protease-sensitive and protease-resistant prion protein isoforms in Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease with the P102L mutation.

Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker (GSS) disease is a dominantly inherited prion disease associated with point mutations in the Prion Protein gene. The most frequent mutation associated with GSS involves a proline-to-leucine substitution at residue 102 of the prion protein, and is characterized by marked variability at clinical, pathological and molecular levels. Previous investigations of GSS P102L have shown that disease-associated pathological prion protein, or PrP(Sc), consists of two main conformers, which under exogenous proteolysis generates a core fragment of 21 kDa and an internal fragment of 8 kDa. Both conformers are detected in subjects with spongiform degeneration, whereas only the 8 kDa fragment is recovered in cases lacking spongiosis. Several studies have reported an exclusive derivation of protease-resistant PrP(Sc) isoforms from the mutated allele; however, more recently, the propagation of protease-resistant wild-type PrP(Sc) has been described. Here we analyze the molecular and pathological phenotype of six GSS P102L cases characterized by the presence of 21 and 8 kDa PrP fragments and two subjects with only the 8 kDa PrP fragment. Using sensitive protein separation techniques and Western blots with antibodies differentially recognizing wild-type and mutant PrP we observed a range of PrP(Sc) allelic conformers, either resistant or sensitive to protease treatment in all investigated subjects. Additionally, tissue deposition of protease-sensitive wild-type PrP(Sc) molecules was seen by conventional PrP immunohistochemistry and paraffin-embedded tissue blot. Our findings enlarge the spectrum of conformational allelic PrP(Sc) quasispecies propagating in GSS P102L thus providing a molecular support to the spectrum of disease phenotypes, and, in addition, impact the diagnostic role of PrP immunohistochemistry in prion diseases.

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells systemically injected promote peripheral nerve regeneration in the mouse model of sciatic crush.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a promising therapeutic approach in nerve tissue engineering. To date, the local implantation of MSC in injured nerves has been the only route of administration used. In case of multiple sites of injury, the systemic administration of cells capable of reaching damaged nerves would be advisable. In this regard, we found that an intravenous administration of adipose-derived MSC (ASC) 1 week after sciatic nerve crush injury, a murine model of acute axonal damage, significantly accelerated the functional recovery. Sciatic nerves from ASC-treated mice showed the presence of a restricted number of undifferentiated ASC together with a significant improvement in fiber sprouting and the reduction of inflammatory infiltrates for up to 3 weeks. Besides the immune modulatory effect, our results show that ASC may contribute to peripheral nerve regeneration because of their ability to produce in culture neuroprotective factors such as insulin-like growth factor I, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or basic fibroblast growth factor. In addition to this production in vitro, we interestingly found that the concentration of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was significantly increased in the sciatic nerves in mice treated with ASC. Since no detectable levels of GDNF were observed in ASC cultures, we hypothesize that ASC induced the local production of GDNF by Schwann cells. In conclusion, we show that systemically injected ASC have a clear therapeutic potential in an acute model of axonal damage. Among the possible mechanisms promoting nerve regeneration, our results rule out a process of trans-differentiation and rather suggest the relevance of a bystander effect, including the production of in situ molecules, which, directly or indirectly through a cross-talk with local glial cells, may modulate the local environment with the down-regulation of inflammation and the promotion of axonal regeneration.

2D immunomic approach for the study of IgG autoantibodies in the experimental model of multiple sclerosis.

2D-immunomics may be useful in the identification of autoantigens in neurological autoimmune diseases, but its application may be limited by denaturation of target proteins. Here we compared the capacity of a single or multiple antigens to elicit autoantibodies targeting multiple neural autoantigens by ELISA and 2D-immunomics. We induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) with MBP peptide(89-104), total MBP or spinal cord homogenate. Both techniques showed anti-MBP IgG only after immunization with total MBP. In addition, 2D-immunomics revealed the presence in EAE mice of autoantibodies targeting other neural proteins, some displaying partial sequence homology with MBP. The present finding by 2D-immunomics of multiple neural proteins targeted by autoantibodies generated by a single antigen may help to explain the complex autoimmune response observed in multiple sclerosis.

Interaction among proteins and peptide libraries in proteome analysis: pH involvement for a larger capture of species.

When capturing proteins via combinatorial peptide ligand libraries, a method well known for drastically reducing the concentration of high-abundance proteins and substantially magnifying the signal of low-abundance species, thus leading to the discovery of a large number of proteins previously undetected in proteomes, we had constantly noticed that there would be a loss of species initially present in the untreated sample, to the tune of 5%, up to 15% in some cases. Such losses are a nuisance and hamper to some extent the unique performance of the method. In order to verify if such losses could be reduced and also to understand some mechanisms of the capture process, we introduce here an important variant to the capture operation, up to the present carried out in physiological saline at pH 7.2. In this novel protocol, the binding step is conducted at three different pH values, namely the standard one at pH 7.2, plus two additional processes, at acidic (pH 4.0) and alkaline (pH 9.3) pH values. Indeed the capture process is more extensive, with a number of additional species captured at the two pH extremes in sera and other proteomes. Interestingly, at pH 4.0 newly detected proteins were mostly acidic, while at the alkaline pH additional protein species were more evenly distributed throughout the pI range towards the alkaline area. The role of pH in the complex mechanism of binding among the hexapeptide library and the various proteomes being analyzed is discussed and evaluated. Due to significant changes in protein patterns with pH, recommendations are thus made to increase the possibility to find additional gene products illustrated by two examples (snake venom and leaf protein extract). Keeping under control the environmental pH when facing reproducibility studies or for comparative proteomics profiling is also a general rule suggested by this study.

En bloc elution of proteomes from combinatorial peptide ligand libraries.

In contrast to the three to four sequential elution steps routinely adopted for recovering proteomes adsorbed onto combinatorial peptide ligand libraries, we report here two en bloc elution systems, which are able to achieve recoveries in the order of 95% in a single step. One consists of TUC (7 M urea, 2 M thiourea, 3% CHAPS) added with 40 mM formic acid, the other of TUC added with 25 mM cysteic acid (Cys-A). Although both systems are almost equally performing, the formic acid eluant has as a drawback, namely the potential to modify proteins by formylation of Ser and Thr residues. On the contrary, the Cys-A system is unreactive towards proteins. Additionally, Cys-A, due to its very low pI value (1.80) does not interfere with subsequent 2D map analyses since, during the first isoelectric focusing step (in general performed in immobilized pH gradients), it migrates to the anodic compartment and thus vacates the gel. Conversely, formic acid would mostly collect around pH 3 and acetic or citric acid, formerly used in the UCA (9 M urea, 50 mM citric acid) eluant, would condense around pH 4 in the focusing step, interfering thus with 2D map analyses. Elution by boiling SDS of the small amount of protein left over after three sequential elution steps in TUC and 25 mM Cys-A and analysis by nanoLC-MS/MS has demonstrated that these residual proteins are indeed a residue left over from proteins already eluted in TUC-Cys-A and not new species absent in the latter eluate.

Chicken egg yolk cytoplasmic proteome, mined via combinatorial peptide ligand libraries.

The use of combinatorial peptide ligand libraries (CPLLs), containing hexapeptides terminating with a primary amine, or modified with a terminal carboxyl group, or with a terminal tertiary amine, allowed discovering and identifying a large number of previously unreported egg yolk proteins. Whereas the most comprehensive list up to date [K. Mann, M. Mann, Proteomics, 8 (2008) 178-191] tabulated about 115 unique gene products in the yolk plasma, our findings have more than doubled this value to 255 unique protein species. From the initial non-treated egg yolk it was possible to find 49 protein species; the difference was generated thanks to the use of the three combined CPLLs. The aberrant behaviour of some proteins, upon treatment via the CPLL method, such as proteins that do not interact with the library, is discussed and evaluated. Simplified elution protocols from the CPLL beads are taken into consideration, of which direct elution in a single step via sodium dodecyl sulphate desorption seems to be quite promising. Alternative methods are suggested. The list of egg yolk components here reported is by far the most comprehensive at present and could serve as a starting point for isolation and functional characterization of proteins possibly having novel pharmaceutical and biomedical applications.

Intraspecies transmission of BASE induces clinical dullness and amyotrophic changes.

The disease phenotype of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and the molecular/ biological properties of its prion strain, including the host range and the characteristics of BSE-related disorders, have been extensively studied since its discovery in 1986. In recent years, systematic testing of the brains of cattle coming to slaughter resulted in the identification of at least two atypical forms of BSE. These emerging disorders are characterized by novel conformers of the bovine pathological prion protein (PrP(TSE)), named high-type (BSE-H) and low-type (BSE-L). We recently reported two Italian atypical cases with a PrP(TSE) type identical to BSE-L, pathologically characterized by PrP amyloid plaques and known as bovine amyloidotic spongiform encephalopathy (BASE). Several lines of evidence suggest that BASE is highly virulent and easily transmissible to a wide host range. Experimental transmission to transgenic mice overexpressing bovine PrP (Tgbov XV) suggested that BASE is caused by a prion strain distinct from the BSE isolate. In the present study, we experimentally infected Friesian and Alpine brown cattle with Italian BSE and BASE isolates via the intracerebral route. BASE-infected cattle developed amyotrophic changes accompanied by mental dullness. The molecular and neuropathological profiles, including PrP deposition pattern, closely matched those observed in the original cases. This study provides clear evidence of BASE as a distinct prion isolate and discloses a novel disease phenotype in cattle.

Novel prion protein conformation and glycotype in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel molecular and pathological phenotype of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Patient A 69-year-old woman with behavioral and personality changes followed by rapidly evolving dementia. RESULTS: Postmortem examination of the brain showed intracellular prion protein deposition and axonal swellings filled with amyloid fibrils. Biochemical analysis of the pathological prion protein disclosed a previously unrecognized PrP(Sc) tertiary structure lacking diglycosylated species. Genetic analysis revealed a wild-type prion protein gene. The prion agent responsible for this atypical phenotype was successfully passaged to bank voles. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, our results define a new human prion disorder characterized by intracellular accumulation of a novel type of pathological prion protein.

Analysis of mammalian scrapie protein by novel monoclonal antibodies recognizing distinct prion protein glycoforms: an immunoblot and immunohistochemical study at the light and electron microscopic levels.

The availability of specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) recognizing the aberrant form (PrP(Sc)) of the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) in different mammalian species is important for molecular diagnostics, PrP(Sc) typing and future immunotherapy. We obtained a panel of anti-PrP monoclonal antibodies in PrP(0/0) knock-out mice immunized with recombinant human PrP(23-231). Two mAbs, recognizing PrP epitopes in the alpha-helix 1 (mAb SA65) and alpha-helix 2 (mAb SA21) regions, immunoreacted with PrP(C) and PrP(Sc) and its proteolytic product, PrP27-30, from human, murine, bovine, caprine and ovine brains by Western blot. Remarkably, mAb SA21 recognized unglycosylated and monoglycosylated PrP with the second site occupied by glycan moieties, but not monoglycosylated PrP with the first consensus site occupied or highly glycosylated species. Immunoblots with mAb SA21 disclosed that PrP glycosylated at the second site accounted for the slower migrating form of the customary monoglycosylated PrP doublet. mAb SA65 immunolabelled all PrP glycoforms by Western blot and was highly efficient in detecting tissue PrP by immunohistochemistry in light microscopy and in immunoelectron microscopy. These novel anti-PrP mAbs provide tools to investigate the subcellular site of PrP deposition in mammalian prion diseases and may also contribute to assess the role of different PrP glycoforms in human and animal prion diseases.

Immunoaffinity reactors for prion protein qualitative analysis.

The cellular prion protein (PrPc) represents the substrate for generation of conformational aberrant PrP isoforms which occur in human and animal prion diseases. The published two-dimensional maps of human PrPc show a vast microheterogeneity of this glycoprotein. The main goal of this project was to develop a highly specific immunoaffinity reactor for qualitative analysis of PrP cellular isoforms isolated from brain homogenate, cerebrospinal fluid and other tissues. New techniques for affinity proteomics, carriers and immobilization chemistry were applied. The choice of matrix (chemical and magnetic properties, particle size and distribution, porosity) was the key factor that influenced the quality of the reactor and the nature of final applications. Mouse anti-prion IgGs directed to N-terminal and C-terminal epitopes (residues 23-40 and 147-165) were grafted in different manners to magnetic micro- and nanoparticles particularly developed for micro-CHIP application. High operational and storage stability of affinity reactors with minimized nonspecific absorption were achieved. The quality of the immunoreactors was confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting and by two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Identification of distinct N-terminal truncated forms of prion protein in different Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease subtypes.

In prion diseases, the cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) is converted to an insoluble and protease-resistant abnormal isoform termed PrP(Sc). In different prion strains, PrP(Sc) shows distinct sites of endogenous or exogenous proteolysis generating a core fragment named PrP27-30. Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), the most frequent human prion disease, clinically presents with a variety of neurological signs. As yet, the clinical variability observed in sCJD has not been fully explained by molecular studies relating two major types of PrP27-30 with unglycosylated peptides of 21 (type 1) and 19 kDa (type 2) and the amino acid methionine or valine at position 129. Recently, smaller C-terminal fragments migrating at 12 and 13 kDa have been detected in different sCJD phenotypes, but their significance remains unclear. By using two-dimensional immunoblot with anti-PrP antibodies, we identified two novel groups of protease-resistant PrP fragments in sCJD brain tissues. All sCJD cases with type 1 PrP27-30, in addition to MM subjects with type 2 PrP27-30, were characterized by the presence of unglycosylated PrP fragments of 16-17 kDa. Conversely, brain homogenates from patients VV and MV with type 2 PrP27-30 contained fully glycosylated PrP fragments, which after deglycosylation migrated at 17.5-18 kDa. Interestingly, PrP species of 17.5-18 kDa matched deglycosylated forms of the C1 PrP(C) fragment and were associated with tissue PrP deposition as plaque-like aggregates or amyloid plaques. These data show the presence of multiple PrP(Sc) conformations in sCJD and, in addition, shed new light on the correlation between sCJD phenotypes and disease-associated PrP molecules.