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Article
Pathologic Thr 175 tau phosphorylation in CTE and CTE with ALS
Neurology
  • Alexander J. Moszczynski, Robarts Research Institute
  • Wendy Strong, Robarts Research Institute
  • Kathy Xu, Robarts Research Institute
  • Ann McKee, Boston University School of Medicine
  • Arthur Brown, Robarts Research Institute
  • Michael J. Strong, Robarts Research Institute
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-30-2018
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1212/WNL.0000000000004899
Abstract

Objective To investigate whether chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and CTE with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (CTE-ALS) exhibit features previously observed in other tauopathies of pathologic phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau at Thr 175 (pThr 175 tau) and Thr 231 (pThr 231 tau), and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) activation, and whether these pathologic features are a consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods Tau isoform expression was assayed by western blot in 6 stage III CTE cases. We also used immunohistochemistry to analyze 5 cases each of CTE, CTE-ALS, and 5 controls for expression of activated GSK3β, pThr 175 tau, pThr 231 tau, and oligomerized tau within spinal cord tissue and hippocampus. Using a rat model of moderate TBI, we assessed tau pathology and phospho-GSK3β expression at 3 months postinjury. Results CTE and CTE-ALS are characterized by the presence of all 6 tau isoforms in both soluble and insoluble tau isolates. Activated GSK3β, pThr 175 tau, pThr 231 tau, and oligomerized tau protein expression was observed in hippocampal neurons and spinal motor neurons. We observed tau neuronal pathology (fibrillar inclusions and axonal damage) and increased levels of pThr 175 tau and activated GSK3β in moderate TBI rats. Conclusions Pathologic phosphorylation of tau at Thr 175 and Thr 231 and activation of GSK3β are features of the tauopathy of CTE and CTE-ALS. These features can be replicated in an animal model of moderate TBI.

Citation Information
Alexander J. Moszczynski, Wendy Strong, Kathy Xu, Ann McKee, et al.. "Pathologic Thr 175 tau phosphorylation in CTE and CTE with ALS" Neurology Vol. 90 Iss. 5 (2018) p. e380 - e387
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/arthur-brown/17/