Neuronal tau species transfer to astrocytes and induce their loss according to tau aggregation state - Inserm - Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale Access content directly
Journal Articles Brain - A Journal of Neurology Year : 2021

Neuronal tau species transfer to astrocytes and induce their loss according to tau aggregation state

Marie D’orange
  • Function : Author
Emma Augustin
  • Function : Author
Fanny Petit
  • Function : Author
Pauline Gipchtein
  • Function : Author
Caroline Jan
  • Function : Author
Carole Escartin
Erwan Selingue
  • Function : Author
Emmanuel Brouillet
Philippe Hantraye
  • Function : Author
Gilles Bonvento
Alexis-Pierre Bemelmans
Karine Cambon

Abstract

Deposits of different abnormal forms of tau in neurons and astrocytes represent key anatomo-pathological features of tauopathies. Although tau protein is highly enriched in neurons and poorly expressed by astrocytes, the origin of astrocytic tau is still elusive. Here, we used innovative gene transfer tools to model tauopathies in adult mouse brains and to investigate the origin of astrocytic tau. We showed in our adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based models and in Thy-Tau22 transgenic mice that astrocytic tau pathology can emerge secondarily to neuronal pathology. By designing an in vivo reporter system, we further demonstrated bidirectional exchanges of tau species between neurons and astrocytes. We then determined the consequences of tau accumulation in astrocytes on their survival in models displaying various status of tau aggregation. Using stereological counting of astrocytes, we report that, as for neurons, soluble tau species are highly toxic to some subpopulations of astrocytes in the hippocampus, whereas the accumulation of tau aggregates does not affect their survival. Thus, astrocytes are not mere bystanders of neuronal pathology. Our results strongly suggest that tau pathology in astrocytes may significantly contribute to clinical symptoms.

Domains

Neurobiology
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Dates and versions

inserm-03385148 , version 1 (19-10-2021)

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Anastasie Maté de Gérando, Marie D’orange, Emma Augustin, Charlène Joséphine, Gwénaelle Aurégan, et al.. Neuronal tau species transfer to astrocytes and induce their loss according to tau aggregation state. Brain - A Journal of Neurology , 2021, 12 (4), pp.1167-1182. ⟨10.1093/brain/awab011⟩. ⟨inserm-03385148⟩
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