title: Tau protein phosphorylated at threonine 181 in CSF as a neurochemical biomarker in Alzheimer's disease: original data and review of the literature.
abstract: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of total Tau and Tau phosphorylated at threonine (position 181 [pTau181]) were studied with ELISA in a group of carefully selected patients with a neurochemically supported diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 9; age range, 51-89 yr) and in a group of sex- and age-matched nondemented controls (n = 9; age range, 52-81 yr). The concentration of both biomarkers is increased significantly in the AD group (total Tau, p < 0.0008; pTau181, p < 0.008). A significant correlation between CSF concentrations of both biomarkers is observed (R = 0.897; p < 0.001). Neither total Tau nor pTau181 correlates with age or degree of memory impairment, and only a tendency is observed between the concentrations of total Tau and Abeta42 in the CSF. Our results further confirm a possible role of pTau181 as a diagnostic tool in AD. The current literature regarding the physiological and pathological role of phosphorylated Tau proteins is reviewed, as well as the role of these proteins as promising biomarkers in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lewczuk
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Esselmann
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bibl
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Maler
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornhuber
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiltfang
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000502:physiology; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008875:Middle Aged; D016874:Neurofibrillary Tangles / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013912:Threonine / Q000378:metabolism*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C075222:amyloid beta-protein (1-42); D016875:tau Proteins; D013912:Threonine