A novel pThr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathies

Abstract Tauopathies are a group of clinically and neuropathologically diverse neurodegenerative disorders defined by the abnormal aggregation of tau protein. While tau is normally soluble with limited secondary structure, pathological tau is characterized by hyperphosphorylation and assembly into f...

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Main Authors: Giavanna Paterno, Brach M. Bell, Kimberly-Marie M. Gorion, Stephan Quintin, Stefan Prokop, Benoit I. Giasson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04291-y
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author Giavanna Paterno
Brach M. Bell
Kimberly-Marie M. Gorion
Stephan Quintin
Stefan Prokop
Benoit I. Giasson
author_facet Giavanna Paterno
Brach M. Bell
Kimberly-Marie M. Gorion
Stephan Quintin
Stefan Prokop
Benoit I. Giasson
author_sort Giavanna Paterno
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Tauopathies are a group of clinically and neuropathologically diverse neurodegenerative disorders defined by the abnormal aggregation of tau protein. While tau is normally soluble with limited secondary structure, pathological tau is characterized by hyperphosphorylation and assembly into fibrils which accumulate in neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system. The contribution of aberrant tau phosphorylation towards the pathogenesis of distinct disease manifestations is highly debated, however, it is posited that a hyperphosphorylation state influences aggregate formation due to tau’s inability to carry out its normal biological function(s). Due to the large number of potential phosphorylation sites on tau, determining the disease relevance of certain phosphorylation sites has remained challenging. Recent studies have demonstrated that tau phosphorylated at Thr217 can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, is elevated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared to other neurodegenerative diseases and is highly associated with hallmark pathologies. To further explore the neuropathological profile of this tau phosphorylation site in AD and other primary tauopathies, we generated and characterized a novel phosphorylation-dependent monoclonal antibody, 1F10. It is demonstrated that 1F10 is selective for tau phosphorylation at Thr217, and that the epitope for 1F10 is augmented in cultured cells overexpressing glycogen synthase kinase-3β. Moreover, 1F10 labelled neurofibrillary tangle-like inclusions in a mouse model of tauopathy and hallmark tau neuropathological lesions characteristic of AD and primary tauopathies but with differentiating antigenic profiles.
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spelling doaj-art-2012027e8a034dc096b953eb5b2578c72025-08-20T02:31:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-04291-yA novel pThr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathiesGiavanna Paterno0Brach M. Bell1Kimberly-Marie M. Gorion2Stephan Quintin3Stefan Prokop4Benoit I. Giasson5Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of FloridaDepartment of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of FloridaDepartment of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of FloridaDepartment of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of FloridaCenter for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine, University of FloridaDepartment of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of FloridaAbstract Tauopathies are a group of clinically and neuropathologically diverse neurodegenerative disorders defined by the abnormal aggregation of tau protein. While tau is normally soluble with limited secondary structure, pathological tau is characterized by hyperphosphorylation and assembly into fibrils which accumulate in neurons and glial cells in the central nervous system. The contribution of aberrant tau phosphorylation towards the pathogenesis of distinct disease manifestations is highly debated, however, it is posited that a hyperphosphorylation state influences aggregate formation due to tau’s inability to carry out its normal biological function(s). Due to the large number of potential phosphorylation sites on tau, determining the disease relevance of certain phosphorylation sites has remained challenging. Recent studies have demonstrated that tau phosphorylated at Thr217 can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma, is elevated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) compared to other neurodegenerative diseases and is highly associated with hallmark pathologies. To further explore the neuropathological profile of this tau phosphorylation site in AD and other primary tauopathies, we generated and characterized a novel phosphorylation-dependent monoclonal antibody, 1F10. It is demonstrated that 1F10 is selective for tau phosphorylation at Thr217, and that the epitope for 1F10 is augmented in cultured cells overexpressing glycogen synthase kinase-3β. Moreover, 1F10 labelled neurofibrillary tangle-like inclusions in a mouse model of tauopathy and hallmark tau neuropathological lesions characteristic of AD and primary tauopathies but with differentiating antigenic profiles.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04291-yAlzheimer’s diseaseNeuropathologyPhosphorylationTauThr217
spellingShingle Giavanna Paterno
Brach M. Bell
Kimberly-Marie M. Gorion
Stephan Quintin
Stefan Prokop
Benoit I. Giasson
A novel pThr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathies
Scientific Reports
Alzheimer’s disease
Neuropathology
Phosphorylation
Tau
Thr217
title A novel pThr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathies
title_full A novel pThr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathies
title_fullStr A novel pThr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathies
title_full_unstemmed A novel pThr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathies
title_short A novel pThr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathies
title_sort novel pthr217 tau monoclonal antibody reveals neuropathological heterogeneity in tauopathies
topic Alzheimer’s disease
Neuropathology
Phosphorylation
Tau
Thr217
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04291-y
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