Imatinib methanesulfonate reduces hyperphosphorylation of tau following repeated peripheral exposure to lipopolysaccharide.
For years, the prevailing hypothesis for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) has proposed a mechanism by which deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the brain is independent of tau-pathologies and cognitive decline. However, despite extensive research on the disease, the mechanisms underlying the etiology of tau-pathology remain unknown. Previous research in our lab has shown that imatinib methanesulfonate (IM) blocks the peripheral production of Aβ in response to LPS, thereby preventing the buildup of Aβ in the hippocampus, and rescuing the cognitive dysfunction that normally follows. The present study aimed to examine the link between Aβ and tau following inflammation, and to expand our understanding of how IM affects AD pathology. Specifically, we hypothesized that the IM-mediated inhibition of Aβ production following inflammation would successfully protect against the hyperphosphorylation of tau (ptau). Here we show that 7days of LPS treatment in male C57BL/6J mice, which normally produces elevations in peripheral and central Aβ, also produces hyperphosphorylation of tau. However, just as pre-treatment and concurrent treatment with IM blocks Aβ production, it also blocks the phosphorylation of tau. In addition, 7days of LPS-induced inflammation and Aβ production also leads to elevated total tau protein expression. Our results may provide support for the hypothesis that enhanced expression of tau following LPS administration is a protective measure by hippocampal neurons to compensate for the loss of the microtubule-stabilizing protein due to phosphorylation. More importantly, our results support the hypothesis that blocking the production of Aβ that follows inflammation also leads to reduced tau phosphorylation, lending credence to a model in which Aβ initiates tau phosphorylation.
Department of Biology, Neurobiology of Aging Collaborative, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA.
L E
LE
Gardner
Department of Psychology, Neurobiology of Aging Collaborative, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA.
J D
JD
White
Department of Psychology, Neurobiology of Aging Collaborative, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA.
M J
MJ
Eimerbrink
Department of Psychology, Neurobiology of Aging Collaborative, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA.
G W
GW
Boehm
Department of Biology, Neurobiology of Aging Collaborative, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA. Electronic address: m.chumley@tcu.edu.
M J
MJ
Chumley
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology*; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C558298:Mapt protein, mouse; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D016875:tau Proteins; D000068877:Imatinib Mesylate
Alzheimer’s Disease; amyloid-beta; hyperphosphorylated tau; imatinib methane sulfonate; lipopolysaccharide