Squalestatin cures prion-infected neurons and protects against prion neurotoxicity

A key feature of prion diseases is the conversion of the normal, cellular prion protein (PrPC) into beta-sheet-rich disease-related isoforms (PrPSc), the deposition of which is thought to lead to neurodegeneration. In the present study, the squalene synthase inhibitor squalestatin reduced the cholesterol content of cells and prevented the accumulation of PrPSc in three prion-infected cell lines (ScN2a, SMB, and ScGT1 cells). ScN2a cells treated with squalestatin were also protected against microglia-mediated killing. Treatment of neurons with squalestatin resulted in a redistribution of PrPC away from Triton X-100 insoluble lipid rafts. These effects of squalestatin were dose-dependent, were evident at nanomolar concentrations, and were partially reversed by cholesterol. In addition, uninfected neurons treated with squalestatin became resistant to the otherwise toxic effect of PrP peptides, a synthetic miniprion (sPrP106) or partially purified prion preparations. The protective effect of squalestatin, which was reversed by the addition of water-soluble cholesterol, correlated with a reduction in prostaglandin E-2 production that is associated with neuronal injury in prion disease. These studies indicate a pivotal role for cholesterol-sensitive processes in controlling PrPSc formation, and in the activation of signaling pathways associated with PrP-induced neuronal death.