Cellular prion protein directly interacts with and enhances lactate dehydrogenase expression under hypoxic conditions

While no differences are observed under normoxic conditions, LDH expression is markedly increased after 60-min and 90-min of hypoxia in WT vs. Prnp0/0 primary cortical neurons with concurrent less hypoxia-induced damage in the former group. Likewise, cerebral ischemia significantly increases LDH levels in WT vs. Prnp0/0 mice with accompanying smaller lesions in the WT group. HEK293 cells overexpressing PrPc show significantly higher LDH expression/activity following 90-min of hypoxia as compared to control cells. Moreover, a cytoplasmic co-localization of LDH and PrPc was recorded under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, an expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1, responsible for cellular lactate uptake, increases with PrPc-overexpression under normoxic conditions. Our data suggest LDH as a direct PrPc interactor with possible physiological relevance under low oxygen conditions.