Prion-associated increases in Src-family kinases.

The prion diseases result from the generation and propagation of an abnormal conformer of the prion protein. It is unclear how this molecular event disrupts neuronal function and viability. Current evidence argues it is not due to loss of normal prion protein activity or direct toxic effects of the abnormal conformer. Both the normal and abnormal prion proteins are glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked membrane proteins. Conversion to the abnormal isoform results in the formation and accumulation of prion protein aggregates. Because aggregation of glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked proteins activates Src-family kinases, the activation status and levels of the Src-family kinases in prion disease were investigated. Elevations of Src-family kinases were found in a cell culture model and two separate animal models of prion disease. The elevations in Src kinases preceded the onset of symptoms and occurred concurrently with the appearance of detergent-insoluble prion protein. In addition, the total level of kinases phosphorylated at tyrosine residues associated with activation was increased. Similar alterations were not present in brain homogenates from presymptomatic animals early in the disease course, prion protein-ablated animals, or end-stage Tg2576 mice overexpressing mutant amyloid precursor protein. Identification of similar elevations in cell culture and animal model systems suggests the elevations are a specific response to the presence of the disease-associated conformer. Abnormal regulation of these signal transduction cascades may be a key element in the cellular pathology of the prion diseases.