Detection of Prion Protein Seeding Activity in Tear Fluids

This correspondence presents evidence that real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assays can detect misfolded prion protein activity in tear fluids. The study analyzed samples from patients with sporadic and genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), healthy carriers of PRNP mutations, and various controls. Tear fluid yielded prion seeding activity in most symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, with sensitivity comparable to cerebrospinal fluid testing. The findings suggest tear-fluid diagnostics could offer a noninvasive alternative for early detection, particularly in individuals at risk.

This correspondence presents evidence that real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC) assays can detect misfolded prion protein activity in tear fluids. The study analyzed samples from patients with sporadic and genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), healthy carriers of PRNP mutations, and various controls. Tear fluid yielded prion seeding activity in most symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, with sensitivity comparable to cerebrospinal fluid testing. The findings suggest tear-fluid diagnostics could offer a noninvasive alternative for early detection, particularly in individuals at risk.