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Tau protein expression in frontotemporal dementias.
E Adamec1, H T Chang, E G Stopa
1Department of Psychiatry, Harvard University School of Medicine, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. eadamec@mercury.mclean.org
Neuroscience Letters
|November 17, 2001
Summary
Frontotemporal dementia involves cognitive and behavioral changes. This study found tau protein present in all examined cases, challenging previous notions of decreased tau in some frontotemporal lobe degenerations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuropathology
Background:
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a group of neurodegenerative diseases.
- FTD presents with significant behavioral and cognitive impairments.
- The role of tau protein in FTD pathogenesis is complex and debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of tau protein in various subtypes of frontotemporal dementia.
- To determine if decreased tau expression is a universal feature in frontotemporal lobe degeneration.
Main Methods:
- Western blotting was employed to analyze tau protein expression.
- Postmortem frontal cortex samples from 19 FTD cases were examined.
- A phosphorylation-independent anti-tau antibody was used for detection.
Main Results:
- Tau protein was detected in all 19 evaluated cases.
- Presence of tau was confirmed in cases of Pick's disease (B, C) and dementia lacking distinct histology.
- These findings contrast with reports of decreased tau in specific FTD subsets.
Conclusions:
- Tau protein is present in diverse forms of frontotemporal dementia.
- Decreased tau expression is not a universal pathogenic mechanism in all frontotemporal lobe degenerations.
- The detection of tau protein provides insights into the heterogeneity of FTD neuropathology.