title: Interleukin-1 induces tau phosphorylation and morphological changes in cultured human astrocytes.
abstract: Tau phosphorylation is associated with neurite outgrowth and morphogenesis in neurons. Since inflammatory stimuli induce marked morphological changes in astrocytes, we examined the effect of interleukin 1alpha (IL-1alpha), an inflammatory cytokine, on the expression and phosphorylation of tau protein in cultured human astrocytes. Western blot analysis showed a rapid and transient increase (3-30 min) of tau phosphorylation at the AT8 epitope. The cells began to extend processes from 24 h after IL-1alpha stimulation. It is known that tau phosphorylation at the AT8 epitope reduces its ability to bind to, and stabilize, microtubules. The early tau phosphorylation induced by IL-1alpha might create a plastic environment for morphological changes in astrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki 036-8562, Japan. kunikazu@c.hirosaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kunikazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanji
authors.forename: Fumiaki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Tadaatsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imaizumi
authors.forename: Hidemi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D013997:Time Factors; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016875:tau Proteins; D010770:Phosphotransferases