Miele
Fakultäten » Medizinische Fakultät » Neuropathologie, Institut für » Prof. Dr. Adriano Aguzzi » Miele
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Assessing the role of progenitor cells of the erythroid lineage in prion pathogenesis | ||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | The molecular mechanisms underlying prion pathogenesis, particularly outwith the CNS, are poorly understood. It has recently been described that during prion pathogensis the levels of a transcript, EDRF, are markedly reduced in hematopoietic tissues in which it is normally expressed. To our knowledge, EDRF is expressed specifically in erythroid cells of the hematopoietic hierarchy, from as early as bi-potent cells capable of developing along either megakaryocytic or erythroid lineages. The processes which lead to progressive reduction in EDRF levels during prion disease are not understood although this observation suggests a potential involvement of erythroid pregenitor cells in prion disease. Identification and characterisation of those cells involved in peripheral prion pathogenesis is central to our understanding of these diseases and we are currently investigating whether erythroid cells are involved by generating mice which overexpress PrPC specifically in cells of the erythroid lineage in which EDRF is expressed. | ||||
| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | Erythroid, hematopoietic, EDRF, Prion | ||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Other links to external web pages | http://www.uzh.ch/pathol/neuropathologie/d/index.html | ||||
| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Others UK Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (Gino Miele) |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Nov 2002 to Oct 2005 |