journal articles
CEREBRAL PHOSPHO-TAU ACTS SYNERGISTICALLY WITH SOLUBLE AΒ42 LEADING TO MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN AAV-AD RATS
B. Souchet, M. Audrain, Y. Gu, M.F. Lindberg, N.S. Orefice, E. Rey, N. Cartier, N. Janel, L. Meijer, J. Braudeau
J Prev Alz Dis 2022;3(9):480-490
BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a continuum of events beginning with an increase in brain soluble Aβ42 followed by the appearance of hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau, asymptomatic stage). Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) then appears (prodromal stage). However, the individual contribution of these two soluble proteins in the onset of the first cognitive symptoms remains unclear.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to understand the specific impact of p-tau on the development of MCI in the AAV-AD rat model, a model of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) predementia.
METHODS: We specifically reduced the phosphorylation level of tau while leaving Aβ42 levels unchanged using a DYRK1A protein kinase inhibitor, Leucettine L41, in an adeno-associated virus-based Alzheimer's disease (AAV-AD) rat model. Leucettine L41 was administered by intraperitoneal injection at 20 mg/kg per day in AAV-AD rats from 9 (late asymptomatic phase) to 10 (prodromal phase) months of age.
RESULTS: Decreased soluble forms of P-tau induced by chronic administration of Leucettine L41 did not change soluble Aβ42 levels but prevented MCI onset in 10-month-old AAV-AD rats.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study argues that P-tau is required to induce the development of MCI. Consistent with our previous findings that soluble Aβ42 is also required for MCI onset, the data obtained in the AAV-AD rat model confirm that the transition from the asymptomatic to the prodromal stage may be caused by the combined presence of both soluble brain forms of Aβ42 and p-tau, suggesting that the development of MCI may be the consequence of their synergistic action.
CITATION:
B. Souchet ; M. Audrain ; Y. Gu ; M.F. Lindberg ; N.S. Orefice ; E. Rey ; N. Cartier ; N. Janel ; L. Meijer ; J. Braudeau (2022): Cerebral Phospho-Tau Acts Synergistically with Soluble Aβ42 Leading to Mild Cognitive Impairment in AAV-AD Rats. The Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease (JPAD). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jpad.2022.18