Distinct patterns of prion strain deposition and toxicity in a novel whole brain organotypic slice culture system.

Prion diseases are fatal transmissible neurodegenerative diseases that affect many mammals, including humans, caused by the templated misfolding of the prion protein. Different conformations of misfolded prions can occur, leading to distinct disease phenotypes or strains and the accumulation of prions in distinct brain regions. How prion structure influences this brain tropism is not clear, but the transmissible nature of prion diseases has allowed for the development of ex vivo brain slice models of disease.

TREM2 expression in the brain and biological fluids in prion diseases.

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is an innate immune cell surface receptor that regulates microglial function and is involved in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative diseases. Its soluble form (sTREM2) results from shedding of the TREM2 ectodomain. The role of TREM2 in prion diseases, a group of rapidly progressive dementias remains to be elucidated.

From Cell Culture to Organoids-Model Systems for Investigating Prion Strain Characteristics.

Prion diseases are the hallmark protein folding neurodegenerative disease. Their transmissible nature has allowed for the development of many different cellular models of disease where prion propagation and sometimes pathology can be induced. This review examines the range of simple cell cultures to more complex neurospheres, organoid, and organotypic slice cultures that have been used to study prion disease pathogenesis and to test therapeutics.

POSCAbilities: The Application of the Prion Organotypic Slice Culture Assay to Neurodegenerative Disease Research.

Prion diseases are fatal, transmissible neurodegenerative disorders whose pathogenesis is driven by the misfolding, self-templating and cell-to-cell spread of the prion protein. Other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington's disease, share some of these prion-like features, with different aggregation-prone proteins. Consequently, researchers have begun to apply prion-specific techniques, like the prion organotypic slice culture assay (POSCA), to these disorders.

Specificity of cognitive and behavioral complaints in post-traumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury.

Characterization of cognitive and behavioral complaints is explored in Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) samples according to the severity of PTSD, depression and general anxiety conditions. Self-reported questionnaires on cognitive and behavioral changes are administered to PTSD, MTBI, MTBI/PTSD and control groups. Confounding variables are controlled.