A quantitative, highly sensitive cell-based infectivity assay for mouse scrapie prions

PC Klöhn, L Stoltze, E Flechsig… - Proceedings of the …, 2003 - National Acad Sciences
PC Klöhn, L Stoltze, E Flechsig, M Enari, C Weissmann
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2003National Acad Sciences
Prions are usually quantified by bioassays based on intracerebral inoculation of mice that
are slow, imprecise, and costly. We have isolated neuroblastoma N2a sublines highly
susceptible to mouse prions, as evidenced by accumulation of infectivity and the scrapie
form of prion protein (PrPSc), and developed quantitative in vitro assays for prion infectivity.
In the scrapie cell (SC) assay, susceptible N2a cells are exposed to prion-containing
samples for 3 days, grown to confluence, and split 1: 10 three times, and the proportion of …
Prions are usually quantified by bioassays based on intracerebral inoculation of mice that are slow, imprecise, and costly. We have isolated neuroblastoma N2a sublines highly susceptible to mouse prions, as evidenced by accumulation of infectivity and the scrapie form of prion protein (PrPSc), and developed quantitative in vitro assays for prion infectivity. In the scrapie cell (SC) assay, susceptible N2a cells are exposed to prion-containing samples for 3 days, grown to confluence, and split 1:10 three times, and the proportion of PrPSc-containing cells is determined with automated counting equipment. In a log/log plot, the dose–response is linear over two logs of prion concentrations. The SC assay is about as sensitive as the mouse bioassay, 10 times faster, >2 orders of magnitude less expensive, and suitable for robotization. SC assays performed in a more time-consuming end point titration format extend the sensitivity and show that infectivity titers measured in tissue culture and in the mouse are similar.
National Acad Sciences