Serological evidence for an inflammatory response in murine scrapie

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are initiated by a novel k ind of agent that produces characteristic degenerative changes in the brain without a detectable systemic inflammatory response or serological changes . A murine scrapie model was evaluated for changes in plasma concentration of serum amyloid P component (SAP), a protein that is up-regulated in infec ted and/or injured mice during the acute phase response (APR). C57BL10 and IRW mice inoculated with scrapie brain developed clinical scrapie 125-150 d ays later. At this time, concentration of plasma SAP increased in most of t hem. The SAP level increased greater than or equal to3-fold in >80% of the scrapie-affected C57BL10 mice and IRW male mice. A similar increase was fou nd in <3% of respective nonscrapie control mice. The up-regulation of mouse SAP during clinical scrapie provides evidence for the activation of a syst emic APR in TSE, a serological change that may be clinically useful.