
Cellular prion protein (PrPc) is a GPI–anchored protein, of unknown function, found in a number of cells throughout the body. It is now widely believed that a mis-folded, protease resistant form of this protein is responsible for a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and kuru in humans, scrapie in sheep, chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle. Although the exact function of PrPc is unknown it has been implicated in copper binding, signal transduction and cell adhesion. The pathogenesis of prion diseases is poorly understood, however it is known that PrPc must be present in order for the disease to progress. Platelets have been shown to be the largest reservoir of PrPc in peripheral blood cells and previous studies in animal models have suggested platelets may also be involved in TSE infectivity. In this study, we determine the exact location of PrPc within human platelets, examine the mobilization and release of PrPc from activated platelets on both microvesicles and exosomes and suggest a possible role for platelets in prion infectivity. In addition we examine the role of PrPc within normal platelet functions including aggregation, signal transduction and adhesion.
cellular prion protein, platelets, exosomes, blood cells, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, microvesicles
cellular prion protein, platelets, exosomes, blood cells, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, microvesicles
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
