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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

In Vitro Aggregation Assays Using Hyperphosphorylated Tau Protein

In Vitro Aggregation Assays Using Hyperphosphorylated Tau Protein

Published on: January 2, 2015

Propofol directly increases tau phosphorylation.

Robert A Whittington¹, László Virág, François Marcouiller

¹Department of Anesthesiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America. raw9@columbia.edu

|February 10, 2011

Summary

Propofol, a common anesthetic, increases tau phosphorylation in the brain under normal temperatures, potentially impacting neurodegenerative diseases. This effect, linked to protein phosphatase 2A inhibition, was observed in mice and cell cultures.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biochemistry

Background:

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies involve tau hyperphosphorylation and neurofibrillary pathology.
Anesthetics can induce tau hyperphosphorylation via hypothermia-related inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A).

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of propofol on tau phosphorylation under normothermic conditions.
To explore the role of PP2A in propofol-induced tau hyperphosphorylation.

Main Methods:

Administered propofol (250 mg/kg i.p.) to mice and assessed tau phosphorylation at various epitopes in hippocampal and cortical tissues.
Examined tau phosphorylation in propofol-treated SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing human tau.
Measured PP2A activity and expression levels post-propofol administration.

Main Results:

Propofol significantly increased tau phosphorylation at multiple sites in mouse hippocampus and cortex under normothermia.
Tau hyperphosphorylation persisted for at least 2 hours post-propofol administration, with PP2A activity and expression initially decreasing.
In vitro, propofol exposure also led to tau hyperphosphorylation in SH-SY5Y cells.

Conclusions:

Propofol increases tau phosphorylation in vivo and in vitro under normothermic conditions.
PP2A inhibition is implicated in propofol-induced tau hyperphosphorylation.
Further research is needed to determine propofol's impact on neurofibrillary pathology progression.