Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy: a novel disease of the prion protein

J Mol Neurosci. 2011 Nov;45(3):422-4. doi: 10.1007/s12031-011-9543-1. Epub 2011 May 17.

Abstract

Variably protease-sensitive prionopathy (VPSPr) is a novel disease involving the prion protein (PrP) that has clinical similarities with non-Alzheimer's dementias especially frontotemporal dementia, diffuse Lewis body disease, and normal pressure hydrocephalus. VPSPr can be distinguished from sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) especially for the characteristics of the abnormal PrP. Furthermore, although VPSPr like sCJD affects patients with the three PrP genotypes as determined by the common methionine/valine polymorphism, the allelic prevalence is very different in the two diseases. These findings suggest that VPSPr is basically different from classical prion diseases such as sCJD being perhaps more akin to other neurodegenerative dementias.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / genetics
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / metabolism
  • Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome / pathology
  • Endopeptidases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Prion Diseases / genetics
  • Prion Diseases / metabolism*
  • Prion Diseases / pathology*
  • Prions / genetics
  • Prions / metabolism*

Substances

  • Prions
  • Endopeptidases