Cellular Prion Protein in the Bovine Mammary Gland Is Selectively Expressed in Active Lactocytes
Andrea Didier 1, Richard Dietrich 1, Martin Steffl 1, Manfred Gareis 1, Martin H. Groschup 1, Simone Müller-Hellwig 1, Erwin Märtlbauer 1 and Werner M. Amselgruber 1*
1 Institute for Hygiene and Technology of Milk, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany (AD,RD,EM); Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany (MS,WMA); Institute for Microbiology and Toxicology, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food, Kulmbach, Germany (MG); Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, FLI, Riems, Germany (MHG); and Unit of Microbiology, ZIEL, TU Munich, Munich, Germany (SM-H)
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: amselgru{at}uni-hohenheim.de.
Submitted on November 13, 2005
Accepted on 23 June 2006
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Abstract |
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The cellular prion protein (PrPc) is a highly conserved glycoprotein with a still enigmatic physiological function. It is mainly expressed in the central nervous system but accumulating data suggest that PrPc is also found in a broad spectrum of nonneuronal tissue. Here we investigated the cell type related PrPc expression in the bovine mammary gland by using immunohistochemistry, ELISA, Western-Blot and real-time RT-PCR. Specific immunostaining of serial sections revealed that PrPc is selectively localized in mammary gland epithelial cells. Particular strong expression was found at the basolateral surface of those cells showing active secretion. Results obtained by RT-PCR and ELISA complemented the immunohistochemical findings. No correlation was found between the level of PrPc expression and other parameters such as age of the animals under study or stage of lactation.
Key Words:
immunohistochemistry, mammary gland, mRNA, prion protein, PrPc expression