Expression patterns of antioxidant proteins in brains of patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease

Using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) and Western blot analysis, we were able to identify and quantify six antioxidant proteins, peroxiredoxin (Prx) I, Prx II, Prx III, 1‐Cys Prx, putative peroxisomal antioxidant enzyme (PLP), and mitochondrial Mn superoxide dismutase (Mn‐SOD) in two individual brain regions, cerebellum and frontal cortex of patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt‐Jacob (sCJD). Among six antioxidant proteins, 1‐Cys Prx showed significant increase (P > 0.05) in sCJD frontal cortex whereas Prx I was decreased (P > 0.01). In cerebellum, levels of all antioxidant proteins studied were comparable to those of controls. Our findings provide evidence for the link between aberrant expression of antioxidant proteins, 1‐Cys Prx and Prx I and CJD neuropathogenesis and we discuss the neuropathological meaning of these dysregulated antioxidant proteins in sCJD brain.