ISSN:
1432-0533
Keywords:
Senile plaque
;
Paired helical filaments
;
Microtubule-associated (MAP)-tau protein
;
Neurofibrillary tangles
;
Alzheimer
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Summary Although much work has been directed recently towards unravelling the protein chemistry of neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) and senile plaque (SP) components in Alzheimer's disease, the pathogeneses of these lesions remains largely unknown and the problem of their relationship is unresolved. In particular, although paired helical filaments (PHF) have long been documented in SP neurites, we do not know if they are of pathogenetic relevance for the formation of the SP. To investigate the relationship between NFT and SP, we examined antigenic properties of proteins in SP neurites in neocortical tissues of patients with senile dementia of Alzheimer type, in the presence or absence of NFT in the same cortical area. We used two polyclonal antibodies directed against PHF and microtubule-associated protein (MAP)-tau and three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (RT97, BF10, 147) to phosphorylated epitopes of human neurofilament polypeptides, as well as the Gallyas silver impregnation method which specifically stains PHF in NFT and neurites. The main finding of our investigations consists in a differential pattern of immunoreactivity of SP neurites depending on the presence or absence of NFT in the neocortex. In the presence of NFT, there were numerous neuropil threads and SP neurites containing Gallyas-positive, as well as anti-PHF- and anti-tau-labelled material. In the absence of NFT in the neocortex there was a striking absence of any Gallyas-positive or PHF- and tau-immunoreactive structure in the cortical neuropil and in SP neurites, irrespective of the maturation stage of the SP. In contrast with these results, the number of neurites labelled by MAbs RT97, BF10 and 147 in SP and in the neuropil was apparently unaffected by the presence or absence of NFT. Amyloid in SP, remained consistently unstained by all antibodies of the panel as well as by the Gallyas stain. Our findings indicate that PHF and tau polypeptides are facultative components of SP neurites and suggest that the development of SP may occur independently of PHF pathology in neocortical neurons.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00687379
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