Effect of Polylysine on Scrapie Prion Protein Propagation in Spleen during Asymptomatic Stage of Experimental Prion Disease in Mice

Abstract

Prion diseases are incurable neurodegenerative disorders. Our previous study demonstrated that polylysine was effective in prolonging the incubation period in a rodent model and in alleviating the scrapie prion protein (PrPSc) burden in the brain at the terminal stage of the disease. Here, we report that intraperitoneal administration of polylysine suppresses the accumulation of prions in the spleen during the early stages of the disease. This study supports the congruence of PrPSc inhibition by polylysine in both the spleen and brain.