HEIDELBERG, 15 February 2013 Researchers from King's College London have discovered that neuronal activity can stimulate tau release from healthy neurons in the absence of cell death. The results published by Diane Hanger and her colleagues in EMBO reports show that treatment of neurons with known biological signaling molecules increases the release of tau into the culture medi-um. The release of tau from cortical neurons is therefore a physiological process that can be regulated by neuronal activity.
Tau proteins stabilize microtubules, the long threads of polymers that help to maintain the structure of the cell. However, in Alzheimer's disease or certain types of dementia, tau accumulates in neurons or glial cells, where it contributes to neurodegeneration.
In addition to intracellular aggregation, recent experiments have shown that tau is released from neuronal cells and taken up by neighboring cells, which allows the spread of aggregated tau across the brain. This release could occur passive-ly from dying neuronal cells, though some evidence suggests it might take place before neuronal cell death and neurodegeneration. The new findings indicate that tau release is an active process in healthy neurons and this could be altered in diseased brains.
"Our findings suggest that altered tau release is likely to occur in response to changes in neuronal excitability in the Alzheimer's brain. Secreted tau could therefore be involved in the propagation of tau pathology in tauopathies, a group of neurodegenerative diseases associated with the accumulation of tau proteins in the brain," commented Diane Hanger, Reader in the Department of Neuroscience at King's College London. In these experiments, Amy Pooler, the lead au-thor, revealed that molecules such as potassium chloride, glutamate or an AM-PA receptor agonist could release tau from cortical neurons in an active physio-logical process that is, at least partially, dependent on pre-synaptic vesi
'/>"/>
| Contact: Barry Whyte communications@embo.org 49-622-188-91108 European Molecular Biology Organization Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Researchers have identified a gene with a key role in neuronal survival
2. Ion selectivity in neuronal signaling channels evolved twice in animals
3. EU FET program funds research on 3D neuronal structures mimicking human brain tissue
4. Cilia guide neuronal migration in developing brain
5. Activity in brain networks related to features of depression
6. High levels of TRAIL protein in breast milk might contribute to anticancer activity
7. NASAs new satellite movie of 1 weeks ash activity from Mexicos Popocatepetl Volcano
8. NIH-funded study examines use of mobile technology to improve diet and physical activity behavior
9. The activity of a bacterial effector protein seen in molecular detail
10. UTHealth study addresses barriers to physical activity counseling
11. Environmental estrogens affect early developmental activity in zebrafish
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |