Progress in prion vaccines and immunotherapies

Abstract

The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies have presented a challenge to physicians and scientists attempting to develop immunologically-based treatments. Self-tolerance has been one of the major obstacles to successfully raising antibodies against the prion protein (PrP), the host-encoded protein whose misfolded form (PrP^Sc) is linked to the protein-only infectious agent responsible for these disorders. Recently, it has been shown that antibodies directed against the normal cellular isoform of PrP (PrP^C) can reduce or eliminate PrP isoform conversion in both invitro and invivo model systems. Similar studies with a PrP^Sc-specific epitope target are in progress. There is now rational hope that this devastating group of diseases may soon be amenable to immunotherapy and immunoprophylaxis.