Tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo
Abstract Background Tau is a protein abundantly expressed in neurons where it modulates the stability of axonal microtubules, thus contributing to the regulation of axonal transport of several organelles. Tau aggregates in a group of neurodegenerative diseases named tauopathies, which include fronto...
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crwiley:10.1002/alz.083161 2024-06-02T08:15:11+00:00 Tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo Moretto, Edoardo Panzi, Chiara Stuart, Skye Huff, Emily Rocque, Samantha De La Schiavo, Giampietro 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/alz.083161 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Alzheimer's & Dementia volume 19, issue S24 ISSN 1552-5260 1552-5279 journal-article 2023 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.083161 2024-05-03T11:35:56Z Abstract Background Tau is a protein abundantly expressed in neurons where it modulates the stability of axonal microtubules, thus contributing to the regulation of axonal transport of several organelles. Tau aggregates in a group of neurodegenerative diseases named tauopathies, which include frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease. Recent in vitro work has uncovered the existence of tau “islands”, a microtubule‐bound multimeric state of tau, which is distinct from pathological aggregates. However, whether these structures exist in intact neurons remains unclear. Method We investigated both cultured mouse neurons and mice in vivo , using immunoistochemistry, live imaging and two photon microscopy. Results we found that human tau showed regions of higher density along axons, reminiscent of tau islands. FTD‐linked mutations, known to increase pathological phosphorylation and aggregation of tau, induces larger islands, an effect that is reversed by inhibition of p38 MAPK, known to phosphorylate tau at multiple sites. Functionally, axonal transport of BDNF‐containing secretory granules is affected by FTD‐linked mutant tau as assessed both in vitro and in vivo by using a new assay based on two‐photon microscopy. Interestingly, this impairment occurred very early on, before overt tau aggregation. Inhibition of p38 MAPK was able to partially rescue the defects in axonal transport both in vitro and in vivo . Conclusion Our data suggests that tau island size regulates axonal transport, an effect dependent on tau phosphorylation. Inefficient organelles transport may have severe consequences on the activity and plasticity of neuronal circuits. The evidence that reducing tau phosphorylation by inhibiting p38 MAPK potentiated axonal transport points towards inhibition of p38 MAPK as a promising therapeutic strategy in tauopathies. Article in Journal/Newspaper Tau Islands Wiley Online Library Tau Islands ENVELOPE(-62.917,-62.917,-64.300,-64.300) Alzheimer's & Dementia 19 S24 |
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Abstract Background Tau is a protein abundantly expressed in neurons where it modulates the stability of axonal microtubules, thus contributing to the regulation of axonal transport of several organelles. Tau aggregates in a group of neurodegenerative diseases named tauopathies, which include frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease. Recent in vitro work has uncovered the existence of tau “islands”, a microtubule‐bound multimeric state of tau, which is distinct from pathological aggregates. However, whether these structures exist in intact neurons remains unclear. Method We investigated both cultured mouse neurons and mice in vivo , using immunoistochemistry, live imaging and two photon microscopy. Results we found that human tau showed regions of higher density along axons, reminiscent of tau islands. FTD‐linked mutations, known to increase pathological phosphorylation and aggregation of tau, induces larger islands, an effect that is reversed by inhibition of p38 MAPK, known to phosphorylate tau at multiple sites. Functionally, axonal transport of BDNF‐containing secretory granules is affected by FTD‐linked mutant tau as assessed both in vitro and in vivo by using a new assay based on two‐photon microscopy. Interestingly, this impairment occurred very early on, before overt tau aggregation. Inhibition of p38 MAPK was able to partially rescue the defects in axonal transport both in vitro and in vivo . Conclusion Our data suggests that tau island size regulates axonal transport, an effect dependent on tau phosphorylation. Inefficient organelles transport may have severe consequences on the activity and plasticity of neuronal circuits. The evidence that reducing tau phosphorylation by inhibiting p38 MAPK potentiated axonal transport points towards inhibition of p38 MAPK as a promising therapeutic strategy in tauopathies. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Moretto, Edoardo Panzi, Chiara Stuart, Skye Huff, Emily Rocque, Samantha De La Schiavo, Giampietro |
spellingShingle |
Moretto, Edoardo Panzi, Chiara Stuart, Skye Huff, Emily Rocque, Samantha De La Schiavo, Giampietro Tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo |
author_facet |
Moretto, Edoardo Panzi, Chiara Stuart, Skye Huff, Emily Rocque, Samantha De La Schiavo, Giampietro |
author_sort |
Moretto, Edoardo |
title |
Tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo |
title_short |
Tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo |
title_full |
Tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo |
title_fullStr |
Tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo |
title_full_unstemmed |
Tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo |
title_sort |
tau “islands” affects axonal transport in vitro and in vivo |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/alz.083161 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-62.917,-62.917,-64.300,-64.300) |
geographic |
Tau Islands |
geographic_facet |
Tau Islands |
genre |
Tau Islands |
genre_facet |
Tau Islands |
op_source |
Alzheimer's & Dementia volume 19, issue S24 ISSN 1552-5260 1552-5279 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.083161 |
container_title |
Alzheimer's & Dementia |
container_volume |
19 |
container_issue |
S24 |
_version_ |
1800739283662798848 |