Cited by 357Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Reversible paired helical filament-like phosphorylation of tau is an adaptive process associated with neuronal plasticity in hibernating animals

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Arendt, Thomas, Stieler, Jens, Strijkstra, Arjen M., Hut, Roelof A., Rüdiger, Jan, Van der Zee, Eddy A., Harkany, Tibor, Holzer, Max +1 more·2003·The Journal of Neuroscience

Abstract

Neurofibrillary pathology [paired helical filaments (PHFs)] formed by the microtubule-associated protein tau in a hyperphosphorylated form is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The process of tau phosphorylation, thought to be of critical importance for PHF formation, and its potential link to neurodegeneration, however, is not understood very well, mostly because of the lack of a physiological in vivo model of PHF-like tau phosphorylation. Here we describe the formation of highly phosphorylated tau, containing a number of PHF-like epitopes in torpor during hibernation. PHF-like phosphorylation of tau was not associated with fibril formation and was fully reversible after arousal. Distribution of PHF-like tau followed a consistent pattern, being most intense in the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and isocortical areas. Within the hippocampus, a particularly high labeling was seen in CA3 pyramidal cells. Somewhat lesser reactivity was present in CA1 neurons while dentate gyrus granule cells were not reactive. Formation of PHF-like tau in CA3 neurons was paralleled by the regression of synaptic contacts of the mossy fiber system terminating on CA3 apical dendrites. Mossy fiber afferentation was re-established during arousal, concomitantly with the decrease of PHF-like tau in CA3 neurons. These findings implicate an essential link between neuronal plasticity and PHF-like phosphorylation of tau. The repeated formation and degradation of PHF-like tau might, thus, represent a physiological mechanism not necessarily associated with pathological effects. Hibernation will, therefore, be a valuable model to study the regulation of PHF-like tau-phosphorylation and its cell biological sequelae under physiological in vivo conditions.

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Crossref · 10.1523/jneurosci.23-18-06972.2003

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  • Studies on the European ground squirrel demonstrated that PHF-like phosphorylation is induced in the brain during hibernation.

    “Studies on the European ground squirrel demonstrated that PHF-like phosphorylation is induced in the brain during the hibernation of these animals (Arendt et al., 2003), which is similar to the characteristic increase in tau phosphorylation (Avila et al., 2004).”
  • Remodeling of hippocampal neurons by chronic stress and hibernation alters microtubule associated proteins, including the phosphorylation of a soluble form of tau, which is increased in hibernation and reversed when hibernation is terminated.

    “and alters microtubule associated proteins, including the phosphorylation of a soluble form of tau, which is increased in hibernation and reversed when hibernation is terminated (Arendt et al., 2003).”
  • In hibernating mammals, dendritic remodeling is reversible and occurs within hours of the onset of hibernation and wakening from torpor.

    “Indeed, in species of mammals that hibernate, dendritic remodeling is a reversible process, and occurs within hours of the onset of hibernation in European hamsters and ground squirrels, and it is also reversible within hours of wakening of the animals from torpor.60,61,71”
  • Changes in dendrite length and branching are not "damage," but a form of structural plasticity.

    “This implies that reorganization of the cytoskeleton is taking place rapidly and reversibly, and that changes in dendrite length and branching are not “damage,” but a form of structural plasticity.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Lewy FH (1923) Die Lehre von Tonus und der Bewegung. In: Monogra- phien aus dem Gesamtgebiet der Neurologie und Psychiatrie (Alzheimer A, Lewandowski, M, eds), p 34. Berlin: Springer.
  2. Malinsky J, Malinska J (1975) Changes of the motoneurons and synapses of the spinal cord of the hedgehog during hibernation. Proceedings of the Xth International Congress of Anatomists, Tokyo, Japan.

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Authors
Arendt, T., Stieler, J., Strijkstra, A. M., Hut, R. A., Rüdiger, J., Van der Zee, E. A., Harkany, T., Holzer, M., & Härtig, W.
Affiliations
University of Groningen (NL)
Venue
The Journal of Neuroscience
Published
2003-08-06
Volume
23
Issue
18
Pages
6972-6981
ISSN
  • 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
  • 1529-2401
OpenAlex
W2116508134
Cited by
357
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 18
FWCI
6.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • University of Groningen research database (University of Groningen / Centre for Information Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
European Commission (QLK-6-CT-1999-02112)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
tau phosphorylation, paired helical filaments, hibernation, torpor, neuroplasticity, mossy fiber synapses, CA3 neurons, entorhinal cortex, arousal, neurofibrillary pathology, reversible phosphorylation
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Animals, Arousal, Body Temperature, Hibernation, Hippocampus, Neuronal Plasticity, Neurons, Periodicity, Phosphorylation, Sciuridae, Seasons, Synapses, tau Proteins, Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal

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