title: Tau as a biomarker of neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: The microtubule-associated protein Tau is mainly expressed in neurons of the CNS and is crucial in axonal maintenance and axonal transport. The rationale for Tau as a biomarker of neurodegenerative diseases is that it is a major component of abnormal intraneuronal aggregates observed in numerous tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. The molecular diversity of Tau is very useful when analyzing it in the brain or in the peripheral fluids. Immunohistochemical and biochemical characterization of Tau aggregates in the brain allows the postmortem classification and differential diagnosis of tauopathies. As peripheral biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease in the cerebrospinal fluid, Tau proteins are now validated for diagnosis and predictive purposes. For the future, the detailed characterization of Tau in the brain and in peripheral fluids will lead to novel promising biomarkers for differential diagnosis of dementia and monitoring of therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Inserm-U837, Jean-Pierre Aubert Research Centre, Place de Verdun, 59045 Lille, France.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schraen-Maschke
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sergeant
authors.forename: Claire-Marie
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dhaenens
authors.forename: Stéphanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bombois
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deramecourt
authors.forename: Marie-Laure
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Caillet-Boudin
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pasquier
authors.forename: Claude-Alain
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Maurage
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sablonnière
authors.forename: Eugeen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vanmechelen
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buée