Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
09:22
In Vitro Aggregation Assays Using Hyperphosphorylated Tau Protein
Published on: January 2, 2015
Dimethyl sulfoxide induces both direct and indirect tau hyperphosphorylation
Carl Julien1, François Marcouiller, Alexis Bretteville
1Département de Neurosciences et Psychiatrie, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, Québec, Québec, Canada. carl.julien@crchul.ulaval.ca
Plos One
|July 7, 2012
Summary
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) can cause tau hyperphosphorylation in Alzheimer
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a common solvent in biological research and a potential therapeutic agent.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by beta-amyloid plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau protein.
- The effect of DMSO on tau phosphorylation, a key feature of AD, was previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of DMSO on tau phosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo.
- To determine if DMSO administration influences tau phosphorylation levels in biological models.
Main Methods:
- Mice were administered varying doses of DMSO intraperitoneally.
- Tau phosphorylation was assessed using specific phosphoepitope antibodies (AT8, PHF-1, AT180).
- Experiments were conducted under both hypothermic and normothermic conditions, and in SH-SY5Y cells.
Main Results:
- High-dose DMSO (4 ml/kg) induced tau hyperphosphorylation in mice, accompanied by hypothermia.
- Preventing hypothermia abolished DMSO-induced tau hyperphosphorylation in vivo.
- In cell culture (SH-SY5Y), DMSO directly induced tau hyperphosphorylation at normothermic conditions.
Conclusions:
- DMSO can induce tau hyperphosphorylation indirectly through hypothermia in vivo.
- DMSO can also directly induce tau hyperphosphorylation in vitro.
- Researchers should be cautious as DMSO may cause artifactual tau hyperphosphorylation results in studies.
