Detection of filamentous tau inclusions by the fluorescent Congo red derivative FSB [(trans,trans)-1-fluoro-2,5-bis(3-hydroxycarbonyl-4-hydroxy)styrylbenzene].
Filamentous inclusions made of the microtubule-associated protein tau in a hyperphosphorylated state are a defining feature of a large number of human neurodegenerative diseases. Here we show that (trans,trans)-1-fluoro-2,5-bis(3-hydroxycarbonyl-4-hydroxy)styrylbenzene (FSB), a fluorescent Congo red derivative, labels tau inclusions in tissue sections from a mouse line transgenic for human P301S tau and in cases of familial frontotemporal dementia and sporadic Pick's disease. Labelling by FSB required the presence of tau filaments. More importantly, tau inclusions in the spinal cord of human P301S tau transgenic mice were labelled following a single intravenous injection of FSB. These findings indicate that FSB can be used to detect filamentous tau in vivo.
Velasco
Ana
A
Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK.
Fraser
Graham
G
Delobel
Patrice
P
Ghetti
Bernardino
B
Lavenir
Isabelle
I
Goedert
Michel
M
D000818:Animals; D003224:Congo Red / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000737:chemistry; D013343:Styrenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D024801:Tauopathies / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics
C496440:(E,E)-1-fluoro-2,5-bis-(3-hydroxycarbonyl-4-hydroxy)styrylbenzene; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; C054369:MAPT protein, human; D013343:Styrenes; D016875:tau Proteins; D003224:Congo Red