Preliminary analyses for influence of mutant PrPs with different number of octapeptide

OBJECTIVE: The present study was conducted to understand the effects of PrP in different octapeptide repeats on proliferation of HeLa cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mutant PrPs with octapeptide repeat insertion were transiently expressed in HeLa cells and their results of MTT assay showed stronger cytotoxic effect on the proliferation of cells than wild-type PrP. Annexin V/PI assay also demonstrated that the expression of mutant PrPs was much easier to induce apoptosis than wild-type in HeLa cells. The percentage of both early and late stage apoptosis in mutant groups were significantly higher than that of wild type. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the expression of mutant PrPs associated with familial CJD is much easier to induce apoptosis in cultured cells than expression of wild type PrP.