transforming-growth-factor-beta and Creutzfeldt-Jakob-Syndrome

We investigated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and other neurological diseases. Concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta 2 were determined in CSF using ELISA. Significant changes were found for IL-8 and TGF-beta 2. IL-8 levels were elevated in the CSF of CJD patients. Of interest, the increase was significant to other dementia and to controls. In contrast, TGF-beta 2 was significantly decreased in CSF of CJD compared to all groups. IL-1beta, IL-12 and TNF-alpha could not be detected in CSF or in case of IL-6 in only low concentrations without significant difference.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Central Nervous System Diseases; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome; Dementia; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Epilepsy; Female; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-8; Male; Middle Aged; Sensitivity and Specificity; Statistics, Nonparametric; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Progressive changes in host mRNA expression can illuminate crucial pathogenetic pathways in infectious disease. We examined general and specific approaches to mRNA expression in three rodent models of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Each of these models displays distinctive neuropathology. Although mRNAs for the chemokine receptor CCR5, the lysosomal protease cathepsin S, and the pleiotropic cytokine transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) were progressively upregulated in rodent CJD, the temporal patterns and peak magnitudes of each of these transcripts varied substantially among models. Cathepsin S and TGF-beta1 were elevated more than 15-fold in mice and rats infected with two different CJD strains, but not in CJD-infected hamsters. In rats, an early activation of microglial transcripts preceded obvious deposits of prion protein (PrP) amyloid. However, in each of the three CJD models, the upregulation of CCR5, cathepsin S, and TGF-beta1 was variable with respect to the onset of PrP pathology. These results show glial cell involvement varies as a consequence of the agent strain and species infected. Although neurons are generally assumed to be the primary sites for agent replication and abnormal PrP formation, microglia may be targeted by some agent strains. In such instances, microglia can both process PrP to become amyloid and can enhance neuronal destruction. Because microglia can participate in agent clearance, they may also act as chronic reservoirs of infectivity. Finally, the results here strongly suggest that TGF-beta1 can be an essential signal for amyloid deposition.

Topics: Animals; Cathepsins; Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome; Cricetinae; Disease Models, Animal; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; Guinea Pigs; Mice; Microglia; Prions; Rats; Receptors, CCR5; RNA, Messenger; Transforming Growth Factor beta

The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) constitute a novel subfamily of the transforming growth factor type beta (TGF-beta) supergene family. Here we demonstrate, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) BMP-4 and BMP-5 messages in RNA isolated from multiple sclerosis (MS) plaque tissue. This is the first demonstration of BMP expression in an inflammatory lesion in general, and in MS in particular. However, BMP-4 and BMP-5 messages could be detected in RNA isolated from a Morbus Creutzfeldt-Jakob (CJD) lesion. Even in normal brain, RNA expression of BMP-4, but not that of BMP-5, was detected. Therefore, BMP-5 gene expression seems to be associated with MS and CJD lesions, whereas the BMP-4 gene appears to be constitutively expressed in the human brain. As TGF-beta s and BMPs are regulators of regenerative processes and contribute to regulation of chemoattraction and local immunoreactivity, BMP-4 and BMP-5 might be involved in aspects of MS lesion formation unknown so far. PCR analysis of human cell lines demonstrate BMP-4 and BMP-5 expression in leukocytic cells, suggesting that infiltrating leukocytes contribute at least in part to BMP-4 and BMP-5 mRNAs of the MS plaque.

Topics: Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome; Gene Expression; Humans; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Proteins; RNA; Transforming Growth Factor beta