Cited by 102Alzheimer's disease research and treatmentsAmyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ResearchNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

Axonal degeneration in tauopathies: disease relevance and underlying mechanisms

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Kneynsberg, Andrew, Combs, Benjamin, Christensen, Kyle, Morfini, Gerardo, Kanaan, Nicholas M.·2017·Frontiers in Neuroscience

Abstract

Tauopathies are a diverse group of diseases featuring progressive dying back neurodegeneration of specific neuronal populations in association with accumulation of abnormal forms of the microtubule-associated protein tau. It is well established that the clinical symptoms characteristic of tauopathies correlate with deficits in synaptic function and neuritic connectivity early in the course of disease, but mechanisms underlying these critical pathogenic events remain largely unknown. Biochemical in vitro evidence fueled the widespread notion that microtubule stabilization represents tau’s primary biological role and that the marked atrophy of neurites observed in tauopathies results from loss of microtubule stability. However, this notion contrasts with the mild phenotype associated with tau deletion. Instead, an analysis of cellular hallmarks common to different tauopathies, including aberrant patterns of protein phosphorylation and early degeneration of axons, suggests that alterations in kinase-based signaling pathways and deficits in axonal transport associated with such alterations contribute to the loss of neuronal connectivity triggered by pathogenic forms of tau. Here, we review a body of literature providing evidence that axonal pathology represents an early and common pathogenic event among human tauopathies. Observations of axonal degeneration in animal models of specific tauopathies are discussed and similarities to human disease highlighted. Finally, we discuss potential mechanistic pathways other than microtubule destabilization by which disease-related forms of tau may promote axonopathy.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fnins.2017.00572

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  • EpoD at 1 mg/kg was sufficient to reduce measures of tauopathy, neurodegeneration and axonal dystrophy in PS19 tau mice in previous work.

    “The dose for this experiment was chosen based upon previous work by Brunden et. al. and Zhang et. al. in which EpoD at 1mg/kg was sufficient to reduce measures of tauopathy, neurodegeneration and axonal dystrophy in PS19 tau mice 30, 31.”

    From Amyloid-beta induced retrograde axonal degeneration in a mouse tauopathy model (2019) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Animal models of tauopathies section discusses axonal pathology in transgenic mice, but not EpoD treatment. Searches of the full-text copy for EpoD, epothilone, PS19, Brunden, and the 1 mg/kg dose found no passage reporting the attributed treatment result; the paper’s References section does not establish it either. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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  • Previous studies have shown that EpoD and NAP can reduce p-tau pathology in AD model mice over several months of treatment.

    “Additionally, previous studies utilizing EpoD as well as microtubule-stabilizing peptide NAP have both shown ability to reduce p-tau pathology in AD model mice over several months of treatment 31,66,67”

    From Amyloid-beta induced retrograde axonal degeneration in a mouse tauopathy model (2019) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Animal models of tauopathies section discusses tau pathology in mice, but not EpoD or NAP treatment. Searches of our copy for EpoD, NAP, and microtubule-stabilizing treatment found no passage reporting reduced phosphorylated-tau pathology after several months of treatment. (LLM, conf=0.74)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • EpoD can promote axonal health by reducing axonal dystrophy, increasing ON microtubule density and normalizing fast axonal transport.

    “Data from previous studies have found evidence that EpoD can promote axonal health by reducing axonal dystrophy, increasing ON microtubule density and normalizing fast axonal transport 30, 31.”

    From Amyloid-beta induced retrograde axonal degeneration in a mouse tauopathy model (2019) · cites this paper as [31]

    The Introduction and ‘Pathogenic mechanisms linking abnormal tau to axonopathy’ discuss microtubules and axonal transport, but do not report EpoD treatment effects. Searches for EpoD, epothilone D, and ON microtubule density found no passage addressing reduced axonal dystrophy, increased density, or normalized fast axonal transport after EpoD. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Kneynsberg, A., Combs, B., Christensen, K., Morfini, G., & Kanaan, N. M.
Affiliations
  • Michigan State University (US)
  • University of Illinois Chicago (US)
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids (US)
Corresponding author
  • Morfini, Gerardo
  • Kanaan, Nicholas M.
Venue
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Published
2017-10-17
Volume
11
Pages
572-572
ISSN
1662-453X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2763441547
Cited by
102
References
206
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 8
FWCI
1.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R01 AG044372)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01 NS082730, R21 NS096642, R01 NS066942)
  • BrightFocus Foundation (A2013364S)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
tauopathy, axonal degeneration, axonopathy, tau protein, microtubule stabilization, microtubule destabilization, tau phosphorylation, kinase signaling pathways, axonal transport, neuronal connectivity, dying-back degeneration

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