Converging molecular pathways in human neural development and degeneration.
Animal studies suggest that phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau is a physiological way of destabilizing axons in the developing brain, promoting synaptic plasticity, while in the adult human brain tau phosphorylation is a specific sign of Alzheimer's disease. We here show, for the first time, that newborn human infants have extremely high levels of phosphorylated tau in their cerebrospinal fluid, and that these levels decrease during the first years of life. Tau phosphorylation in Alzheimer's disease may be a physiological response to Alzheimer-associated synaptotoxicity.
Mattsson
Niklas
N
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborg/Mölndal, Sweden. niklas.mattsson@neuro.gu.se
Sävman
Karin
K
Osterlundh
Gustaf
G
Blennow
Kaj
K
Zetterberg
Henrik
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D058255:Protease Nexins; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000235:genetics
D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D015415:Biomarkers; C054369:MAPT protein, human; D058255:Protease Nexins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D016875:tau Proteins