Among transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), particularly dreadful are the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), because of its epidemic character, and the new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in man, possibly related to BSE prion, through the intake of infected food. To treat TSE, many potentially therapeutic agents have been tested: some of them, among which is Congo Red (CAS 573-58-0, CR), delayed the onset of symptoms in scrapie-infected rodents, and some CR derivatives proved to be effective in vitro. The capacity of a synthesized CR derivative (CR-A) and of the aromatic central benzidine rings of CR (CR-B) to abrogate scrapie-induced disease in experimentally infected hamsters was assayed. CR, used as reference substance, administered i.e. after pre-incubatlon with the scrapie inoculum, was strongly effective in slowing the progression of the infection, while both CR-A and CR-B, administered alone or together, were not effective. Both CR-A and CR, when administered by subcutaneous route in i.e. scrapie-infected animals, prolonged the survival time in comparison to controls; CR-B was not effective. Moreover, both CR and CR-A were very effective in prolonging the survival time of i.p. scrapie-infected hamsters. The hypothesis of possible different mechanisms of interaction between CR or CR-A and the scrapie agent related to the chemical structures of the molecules is discussed.

Evaluation of anti-prion activity of Congo Red and its derivatives in experimentally infected hamsters / G. Poli, P. A. Martino, S. Villa, G. Carcassola, M. L. Giannino, P. Dall’Ara, C. Pollera, S. Iussich, V. M. Tranquillo, S. Bareggi, P. Mantegazza, W. Ponti. - In: ARZNEIMITTEL-FORSCHUNG. - ISSN 0004-4172. - 54:7(2004), pp. 406-415.

Evaluation of anti-prion activity of Congo Red and its derivatives in experimentally infected hamsters

G. Poli
Primo
;
P. A. Martino
Secondo
;
S. Villa;G. Carcassola;P. Dall’Ara;C. Pollera;S. Bareggi;W. Ponti
Ultimo
2004

Abstract

Among transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE), particularly dreadful are the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), because of its epidemic character, and the new variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in man, possibly related to BSE prion, through the intake of infected food. To treat TSE, many potentially therapeutic agents have been tested: some of them, among which is Congo Red (CAS 573-58-0, CR), delayed the onset of symptoms in scrapie-infected rodents, and some CR derivatives proved to be effective in vitro. The capacity of a synthesized CR derivative (CR-A) and of the aromatic central benzidine rings of CR (CR-B) to abrogate scrapie-induced disease in experimentally infected hamsters was assayed. CR, used as reference substance, administered i.e. after pre-incubatlon with the scrapie inoculum, was strongly effective in slowing the progression of the infection, while both CR-A and CR-B, administered alone or together, were not effective. Both CR-A and CR, when administered by subcutaneous route in i.e. scrapie-infected animals, prolonged the survival time in comparison to controls; CR-B was not effective. Moreover, both CR and CR-A were very effective in prolonging the survival time of i.p. scrapie-infected hamsters. The hypothesis of possible different mechanisms of interaction between CR or CR-A and the scrapie agent related to the chemical structures of the molecules is discussed.
Settore CHIM/08 - Chimica Farmaceutica
Settore VET/05 - Malattie Infettive degli Animali Domestici
Settore BIO/14 - Farmacologia
2004
Article (author)
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/33002
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