Neuronal release of tau into the extracellular space and its role in the inter-neuronal propagation of tau pathology

Kaoru Yamada

Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo

Neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein are pathological hallmarks in a set of neurodegenerative diseases called tauopathies. It has been demonstrated that tau is localized not only in cytoplasm but also in the extracellular spaces. Intriguingly, the accumulating evidences suggest that tau pathology spreads from neuron to neuron and this process involves extracellular tau. Elucidating the precise mechanisms underlying this inter-neuronal spread of tau pathology will be critical to understand the progression of these diseases as well as identify the novel therapeutic targets to halt the diseases. From this point of view, this review article discusses recent studies on extracellular tau in relation to its role in propagation of tau pathology.

Address correspondence to Dr. Kaoru Yamada, Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo(7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033)