Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2025
08:51
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
9.1K
Tau seeding in cases of multiple sclerosis
Michael S LaCroix1, Hilda Mirbaha1,2, Ping Shang2
1Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, NL10.120, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 6000 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
Acta Neuropathologica Communications
|October 11, 2022
Summary
Researchers found evidence of tau seeding in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain tissue, suggesting progressive MS may be a secondary tauopathy potentially triggered by inflammation. This finding offers new insights into the neurodegenerative aspects of MS.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
- Immunology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory central nervous system disorder often progressing to neurodegeneration.
- Progressive MS is untreatable, with unknown causes.
- Phosphorylated tau protein accumulation, characteristic of tauopathies, has been observed in MS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) is a tauopathy.
- To test for the presence of tau seeds in MS brain tissue.
- To explore the potential role of inflammation as a trigger for tauopathy in MS.
Main Methods:
- Utilized specialized "biosensor" cell systems to detect and quantify tau seeds.
- Tested frozen brain tissue from subjects with MS for tau seeding.
- Performed immunohistochemistry and immunopurification using anti-tau antibodies (HJ8.5, MD3.1, AT8).
Main Results:
- Detected tau seeding in brain tissue from 6 out of 8 subjects with MS.
- Observed tau seeding in brain regions outside of MS plaques.
- Confirmed tau accumulation in MS brain tissue, consistent with prior reports.
Conclusions:
- Data suggest progressive MS may be a secondary tauopathy.
- Tau seeding was detected in MS brain tissue, supporting a potential link to tauopathies.
- Further research with larger cohorts is needed to confirm these findings.
