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Updated: Jul 28, 2025
A Mouse Model of Orthopedic Surgery to Study Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction and Tissue Regeneration
Published on: February 27, 2018
Blood tau-PT217 contributes to the anesthesia/surgery-induced delirium-like behavior in aged mice
Jing Lu1,2, Feng Liang2, Ping Bai3,4
1Department of Anesthesiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences & Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Introduction:
Blood phosphorylated tau at threonine 217 (tau-PT217) is a newly established biomarker for Alzheimer's disease and postoperative delirium in patients. However, the mechanisms and consequences of acute changes in blood tau-PT217 remain largely unknown.
Methods:
We investigated the effects of anesthesia/surgery on blood tau-PT217 in aged mice, and evaluated the associated changes in B cell populations, neuronal excitability in anterior cingulate cortex, and delirium-like behavior using positron emission tomography imaging, nanoneedle technology, flow cytometry, electrophysiology, and behavioral tests.
Results:
Anesthesia/surgery induced acute increases in blood tau-PT217 via enhanced generation in the lungs and release from B cells. Tau-PT217 might cross the blood-brain barrier, increasing neuronal excitability and inducing delirium-like behavior. B cell transfer and WS635, a mitochondrial function enhancer, mitigated the anesthesia/surgery-induced changes.
Discussion:
Acute increases in blood tau-PT217 may contribute to brain dysfunction and postoperative delirium. Targeting B cells or mitochondrial function may have therapeutic potential for preventing or treating these conditions.
