Neural stem cell model for prion propagation.

The study of prion transmission and targeting is a major scientific issue with important consequences for public health. Only a few cell culture systems that are able to convert the cellular isoform of the prion protein into the pathologic scrapie isoform of the prion protein (PrP(Sc)) have been described. We hypothesized that central nervous system neural stem cells (NSCs) could be the basis of a new cell culture model permissive to prion infection. Here, we report that monolayers of differentiated fetal NSCs and adult multipotent progenitor cells isolated from mice were able to propagate prions. We also demonstrated the large influence of neural cell fate on the production of PrP(Sc), allowing the molecular study of prion neuronal targeting in relation with strain differences. This new stem cell-based model, which is applicable to different species and to transgenic mice, will allow thoughtful investigations of the molecular basis of prion diseases, and will open new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic research.