Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
In Vitro Aggregation Assays Using Hyperphosphorylated Tau Protein
Published on: January 2, 2015
Abnormal Hyperphosphorylation of Tau in Canine Immune-mediated Meningoencephalitis
Mingyun Son1, Yeon Chae1, Sanggu Kim2
1Laboratory of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
Background/Aim:
Tau is a microtubule-associated protein involved in the assembly and stabilization of microtubules. In human medicine, hyperphosphorylation of tau is associated with microtubule instability and is considered to play a role in the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is an autoimmune neurological disease that shares many characteristics, including pathological mechanisms, with canine meningoencephalitis of unknown etiology (MUE). With this background, this study investigated the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau in dogs with MUE and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).
Materials And Methods:
In total, eight brain samples were examined from two neurologically normal dogs, three dogs with MUE, and three canine EAE models. Anti-(phospho-S396) tau antibody was used for immunohisto-chemistry, which stained hyperphosphorylated tau.
Results:
In normal brain tissues, hyperphosphorylated tau was not found. In all the dogs with EAE and one of the dogs with MUE, immunoreactivity for S396 p-tau was observed in glial cell cytoplasm and the background in the periphery of the inflammatory lesion.
Conclusion:
These results suggest for the first time that tau pathology may be involved in the progression of neuroinflammation in dogs, similar to that in human MS.
Insights
Hyperphosphorylated tau was detected in dogs with neuroinflammation, suggesting tau pathology may contribute to canine MUE and EAE progression, similar to human multiple sclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Veterinary Pathology
- Immunology
Background:
- Tau protein stabilizes microtubules; hyperphosphorylated tau is linked to human multiple sclerosis (MS) progression.
- Canine meningoencephalitis (MUE) shares pathological similarities with MS.
- Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a canine model for neuroinflammatory diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau in canine MUE and EAE models.
- To explore potential tau pathology in canine neuroinflammatory diseases.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry using an anti-(phospho-S396) tau antibody.
- Examination of brain samples from normal dogs, MUE-affected dogs, and EAE models.
Main Results:
- Hyperphosphorylated tau was absent in normal canine brain tissue.
- S396 p-tau immunoreactivity was found in glial cells and surrounding inflammatory lesions in EAE and one MUE case.
Conclusions:
- Tau pathology may play a role in canine neuroinflammation, mirroring findings in human MS.
- This study provides the first evidence of tau involvement in canine MUE and EAE progression.
