Studi sull'interrelazione tra vitamina B12 e proteina prionica cellulare nel mantenimento della struttura della mielina nel sistema nervoso centrale del ratto

We have shown that the neuropathologic lesions of the central nervous system (CNS) of



cobalamin(Cbl)-deficient



rats occur as a result of the imbalance of growth factors and cytokines.

We have also shown that the imbalance in the levels of all of these molecules in the spinal cord and/or in the cerebrospinal fluid of Cbl-deficient (totally gastrectomized) rats can be corrected by replacement treatment with Cbl.

Prionopathies have some similarities with Cbl-deficient



neuropathy



and levels of in vitro cellular prion protein (PrPC) are modulated by cytokines and growth factors.

We have recently shown that PrPC is involved in the pathogenesis of myelin



damages



in the peripheral nervous system of Cbl-deficient rats. We will investigate whether any changes in the levels of PrPC may contribute to the pathogenesis of the myelinolytic lesions also in central Cbl-deficient neuropathy

and whether Cbl can regulate the levels of PrPC in the spinal cord and/or in the cerebrospinal fluid of rats.

We will also analyze whether any change of PrPC is directly regulated by Cbl or by changes in the levels of those cytokines and/or of those growth factors that are Cbl regulated in the CNS of rats.