Tunneling nanotube (TNT)-mediated neuron-to neuron transfer of pathological Tau protein assemblies - Inserm - Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale Access content directly
Journal Articles Acta Neuropathologica Communications Year : 2016

Tunneling nanotube (TNT)-mediated neuron-to neuron transfer of pathological Tau protein assemblies

Abstract

A given cell makes exchanges with its neighbors through a variety of means ranging from diffusible factors to vesicles. Cells use also tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), filamentous-actin-containing membranous structures that bridge and connect cells. First described in immune cells, TNTs facilitate HIV-1 transfer and are found in various cell types, including neurons. We show that the microtubule-associated protein Tau, a key player in Alzheimer’s disease, is a bona fide constituent of TNTs. This is important because Tau appears beside filamentous actin and myosin 10 as a specific marker of these fine protrusions of membranes and cytosol that are difficult to visualize. Furthermore, we observed that exogenous Tau species increase the number of TNTs established between primary neurons, thereby facilitating the intercellular transfer of Tau fibrils. In conclusion, Tau may contribute to the formation and function of the highly dynamic TNTs that may be involved in the prion-like propagation of Tau assemblies.
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Dates and versions

inserm-01391925 , version 1 (04-11-2016)

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Meryem Tardivel, Séverine Bégard, Luc Bousset, Simon Dujardin, Audrey Coens, et al.. Tunneling nanotube (TNT)-mediated neuron-to neuron transfer of pathological Tau protein assemblies. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 2016, 4 (1), pp.117. ⟨10.1186/s40478-016-0386-4⟩. ⟨inserm-01391925⟩
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