Cited by 54Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

Caspase-3-Dependent Proteolytic Cleavage of Tau Causes Neurofibrillary Tangles and Results in Cognitive Impairment During Normal Aging

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Means, John C., Gerdes, Bryan C., Kaja, Simon, Sumien, Nathalie, Payne, Andrew J., Stark, Danny A., Borden, Priscilla K., Price, Jeffrey L. +1 more·2016·Neurochemical Research

Abstract

Mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are important for understanding how pathological signaling cascades change neural circuitry and with time interrupt cognitive function. Here, we introduce a non-genetic preclinical model for aging and show that it exhibits cleaved tau protein, active caspases and neurofibrillary tangles, hallmarks of AD, causing behavioral deficits measuring cognitive impairment. To our knowledge this is the first report of a non-transgenic, non-interventional mouse model displaying structural, functional and molecular aging deficits associated with AD and other tauopathies in humans with potentially high impact on both new basic research into pathogenic mechanisms and new translational research efforts. Tau aggregation is a hallmark of tauopathies, including AD. Recent studies have indicated that cleavage of tau plays an important role in both tau aggregation and disease. In this study we use wild type mice as a model for normal aging and resulting age-related cognitive impairment. We provide evidence that aged mice have increased levels of activated caspases, which significantly correlates with increased levels of truncated tau and formation of neurofibrillary tangles. In addition, cognitive decline was significantly correlated with increased levels of caspase activity and tau truncated by caspase-3. Experimentally induced inhibition of caspases prevented this proteolytic cleavage of tau and the associated formation of neurofibrillary tangles. Our study shows the strength of using a non-transgenic model to study structure, function and molecular mechanisms in aging and age related diseases of the brain.

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Authors
Means, J. C., Gerdes, B. C., Kaja, S., Sumien, N., Payne, A. J., Stark, D. A., Borden, P. K., Price, J. L., & Koulen, P.
Affiliations
  • University of Missouri–Kansas City (US)
  • Loyola University Chicago (US)
  • University of North Texas Health Science Center (US)
Corresponding author
Koulen, Peter
Venue
Neurochemical Research
Published
2016-05-25
Volume
41
Issue
9
Pages
2278-2288
ISSN
  • 0364-3190 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-6903
OpenAlex
W2395424197
Cited by
54
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5
FWCI
2.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neurochemical Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (AG022550, AG027956, AG010485)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR022570, RR027093)
  • National Eye Institute (EY022774)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
caspase-3, tau protein, proteolytic cleavage, neurofibrillary tangles, cognitive impairment, normal aging, Alzheimer's disease, tauopathy, caspase inhibition, age-related cognitive decline
MeSH terms
Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Brain, Cognition, Disease Models, Animal, Male, Memory Disorders, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Neurofibrillary Tangles, tau Proteins, Caspase 3, Cognitive Dysfunction

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