The role of cell adhesion molecule CD44 during prion disease

Prion disease ( transmissible spongiform encephalopathies) are fatal, neurodegenerative disorders. Infection comes from misfolded prion protein (PrPSc) of normal host prion protein (PrPC) which accumulate in the brain.<br/>Characteristic changes include: reactive astrocyte activation with CD44 upregulation, microgliosis, neuronal vacuolation, and loss of neuronal connection through synaptic and dendritic spine depletion.<br/>Cluster of differentiation 44 (CD44) is a cell adhesion molecule and multi-functional protein, indicated to have roles in neurogenesis, synaptic and dendritic spine integrity, and astrocyte activation and morphology. Its role in prion disease, however, was unknown.<br/>We compared wild type and CD44 knockout (CD44-/-) mice to assess role of CD44 in prion neuropathogenesis and effects on astrocyte/microglia activation and morphology.