Prevention of Scrapie Pathogenesis by Transgenic Expression of Anti-Prion Protein Antibodies

Abstract

Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy are initiated by extracerebral exposure to prions. Although prion transmission from extracerebral sites to the brain represents a potential target for prophylaxis, attempts at vaccination have been limited by the poor immunogenicity of prion proteins. To circumvent this, we expressed an anti-prion protein (anti-PrP) μ chain in Prnp ^o/o mice. Transgenic mice developed sustained anti-PrP titers, which were not suppressed by introduction ofPrnp ⁺ alleles. Transgene expression prevented pathogenesis of prions introduced by intraperitoneal injection in the spleen and brain. Expression of endogenous PrP (PrP^C) in the spleen and brain was unaffected, suggesting that immunity was responsible for protection. This indicates the feasibility of immunological inhibition of prion disease in vivo.