TSPAN12 and prion disease: CFH and IRAK-1 are believed to be related to neuroinflammation of the nervous system, while TSPAN12 is associated with amyloidogenesis.25, 26 Activation of the microglia and complement system and increases in inflammatory cytokines have been repeatedly observed in human and animal brains with prion diseases.27 More work need to be conducted to clarify the relationship of miR-146a with neuroinflammation in TSEs.