title: Methylene blue reduced abnormal tau accumulation in P301L tau transgenic mice.
abstract: In neurodegenerative disorders, abnormally hyperphosphorylated and aggregated tau accumulates intracellularly, a mechanism which is thought to induce neuronal cell death. Methylene blue, a type of phenothiazine, has been reported to inhibit tau aggregation in vitro. However, the effect of methylene blue in vivo has remained unknown. Therefore, we examined whether methylene blue suppresses abnormal tau accumulation using P301L tau transgenic mice. At 8 to 11 months of age, these mice were orally administered methylene blue for 5 months. Subsequent results of Western blotting analysis revealed that this agent reduced detergent-insoluble phospho-tau. Methylene blue may have potential as a drug candidate for the treatment of tauopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.forename: Tetsuaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Masami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masuda-Suzukake
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Makiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Haruhiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akiyama
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary; D012521:Sarcosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D012995:Solubility; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050505:Mutant Proteins; D016875:tau Proteins; C025231:sarkosyl; D008751:Methylene Blue; D012521:Sarcosine