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Neurofibrillary tangles and the neuronal cytoskeleton.
B H Anderton1, J P Brion, J Flament-Durand
1Department of Immunology, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, U.K.
Journal of Neural Transmission. Supplementum
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Paired helical filaments (PHF) in Alzheimer tangles contain neurofilament and tau protein components. This suggests PHF originate from abnormal neuronal cytoskeleton structures.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease is characterized by neurofibrillary tangles.
- Neurofibrillary tangles are composed of paired helical filaments (PHF).
- The precise composition of PHF has been a subject of research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the protein composition of Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles.
- To determine the relationship between neurofilaments, tau protein, and PHF.
Main Methods:
- Utilized antibodies against neurofilaments.
- Employed antibodies against the microtubule-associated protein, tau.
- Used anti-paired helical filament (PHF) serum for immunolabeling.
Main Results:
- Antibodies to neurofilaments and tau recognized epitopes within tangles and PHF.
- Anti-PHF serum also labeled these structures.
- A portion of the anti-PHF serum reacted with tau proteins.
Conclusions:
- Alzheimer neurofibrillary tangles and their constituent PHF contain epitopes from neurofilaments and tau.
- PHF are, at least in part, derived from an abnormal neuronal cytoskeleton.