Axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Abstract Background Pathological deposition of hyperphosphorylated tau in the brain closely correlates with the course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Tau pathology occurs in axons of affected neurons and tau removal from axons might thus be an early intervention strategy. Methods We investigated the r...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Translational Neurodegeneration |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-025-00499-0 |
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| author | Abdolhossein Zare Saeede Salehi Jakob M. Bader Anna-Lena Wiessler Manuela Prokesch Vincent Albrecht Carmen Villmann Matthias Mann Michael Briese Michael Sendtner |
| author_facet | Abdolhossein Zare Saeede Salehi Jakob M. Bader Anna-Lena Wiessler Manuela Prokesch Vincent Albrecht Carmen Villmann Matthias Mann Michael Briese Michael Sendtner |
| author_sort | Abdolhossein Zare |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Pathological deposition of hyperphosphorylated tau in the brain closely correlates with the course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Tau pathology occurs in axons of affected neurons and tau removal from axons might thus be an early intervention strategy. Methods We investigated the role of the RNA-binding protein hnRNP R in axonal localization and local translation of Mapt mRNA in neurons cultured from hnRNP R knockout mice. hnRNP R knockout mice were crossed with 5×FAD mice, an AD mouse model, and the effects of hnRNP R loss on the deposition of phospho-tau and amyloid-β plaques were evaluated. We designed antisense oligonucleotides (MAPT-ASOs) to block the binding of hnRNP R to Mapt mRNA. Cultured mouse and human neurons were treated with MAPT-ASOs and axonal Mapt mRNA and tau protein levels were quantified. MAPT-ASO was injected intracerebroventricularly into 5×FAD mice followed by quantification of phospho-tau aggregates and amyloid-β plaques in their brains. Protein changes in brains of 5×FAD mice treated with the MAPT-ASO were measured by mass spectrometry. Results Mapt mRNA and tau protein were reduced in axons but not cell bodies of primary neurons cultured from hnRNP R knockout mice. Brains of 5×FAD mice deficient for hnRNP R contained less phospho-tau aggregates and amyloid-β plaques in the cortex and hippocampus. Treatment of neurons with MAPT-ASOs to block hnRNP R binding to Mapt similarly reduced axonal tau levels. Intracerebroventricular injection of a MAPT-ASO reduced the phospho-tau and plaque load and prevented neurodegeneration in the brains of 5×FAD mice, accompanied by rescue of proteome alterations. Conclusion Lowering of tau selectively in axons thus represents an innovative therapeutic perspective for treatment of AD and other tauopathies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4e0e2050a6d84053979cc4967b1c7d72 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2047-9158 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Translational Neurodegeneration |
| spelling | doaj-art-4e0e2050a6d84053979cc4967b1c7d722025-08-20T03:43:21ZengBMCTranslational Neurodegeneration2047-91582025-07-0114112310.1186/s40035-025-00499-0Axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s diseaseAbdolhossein Zare0Saeede Salehi1Jakob M. Bader2Anna-Lena Wiessler3Manuela Prokesch4Vincent Albrecht5Carmen Villmann6Matthias Mann7Michael Briese8Michael Sendtner9Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital WuerzburgInstitute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital WuerzburgDepartment of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryInstitute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital WuerzburgScantox Neuro GmbHDepartment of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryInstitute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital WuerzburgDepartment of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of BiochemistryInstitute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital WuerzburgInstitute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital WuerzburgAbstract Background Pathological deposition of hyperphosphorylated tau in the brain closely correlates with the course of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Tau pathology occurs in axons of affected neurons and tau removal from axons might thus be an early intervention strategy. Methods We investigated the role of the RNA-binding protein hnRNP R in axonal localization and local translation of Mapt mRNA in neurons cultured from hnRNP R knockout mice. hnRNP R knockout mice were crossed with 5×FAD mice, an AD mouse model, and the effects of hnRNP R loss on the deposition of phospho-tau and amyloid-β plaques were evaluated. We designed antisense oligonucleotides (MAPT-ASOs) to block the binding of hnRNP R to Mapt mRNA. Cultured mouse and human neurons were treated with MAPT-ASOs and axonal Mapt mRNA and tau protein levels were quantified. MAPT-ASO was injected intracerebroventricularly into 5×FAD mice followed by quantification of phospho-tau aggregates and amyloid-β plaques in their brains. Protein changes in brains of 5×FAD mice treated with the MAPT-ASO were measured by mass spectrometry. Results Mapt mRNA and tau protein were reduced in axons but not cell bodies of primary neurons cultured from hnRNP R knockout mice. Brains of 5×FAD mice deficient for hnRNP R contained less phospho-tau aggregates and amyloid-β plaques in the cortex and hippocampus. Treatment of neurons with MAPT-ASOs to block hnRNP R binding to Mapt similarly reduced axonal tau levels. Intracerebroventricular injection of a MAPT-ASO reduced the phospho-tau and plaque load and prevented neurodegeneration in the brains of 5×FAD mice, accompanied by rescue of proteome alterations. Conclusion Lowering of tau selectively in axons thus represents an innovative therapeutic perspective for treatment of AD and other tauopathies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-025-00499-0Alzheimer’s diseaseTauMaptAmyloidhnRNP RAntisense oligonucleotide |
| spellingShingle | Abdolhossein Zare Saeede Salehi Jakob M. Bader Anna-Lena Wiessler Manuela Prokesch Vincent Albrecht Carmen Villmann Matthias Mann Michael Briese Michael Sendtner Axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease Translational Neurodegeneration Alzheimer’s disease Tau Mapt Amyloid hnRNP R Antisense oligonucleotide |
| title | Axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_full | Axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_fullStr | Axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | Axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_short | Axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease |
| title_sort | axonal tau reduction ameliorates tau and amyloid pathology in a mouse model of alzheimer s disease |
| topic | Alzheimer’s disease Tau Mapt Amyloid hnRNP R Antisense oligonucleotide |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40035-025-00499-0 |
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