Expression of tau-related protein in spinal cord of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
- Author:
Yan-jun GUO
1
;
Lu-ning WANG
;
Ming-wei ZHU
;
Hong-hong ZHANG
;
Ya-zhuo HU
;
Zhi-tao HAN
;
Ji-mei LI
;
De-xin WANG
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Aged; Alzheimer Disease; metabolism; pathology; Axonal Transport; Axons; metabolism; pathology; Humans; Male; Neurofibrillary Tangles; metabolism; pathology; Phosphorylation; Spinal Cord; metabolism; pathology; tau Proteins; metabolism
- From: Chinese Journal of Pathology 2011;40(3):161-164
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo study the expression of tau-related protein in spinal cord of Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease.
METHODSGallays-Braak stain and immunohistochemical study for tau protein (AT8) were carried out in the spinal cord tissue (T2, T8, T10, L2 and S2 segments) of 3 Chinese patients with Alzheimer's disease. Seven age-matched cases without evidence of dementia or neurologic disease were used as controls.
RESULTSNeurofibrillary tangles were identified in the neurons of anterior horn in 2 Alzheimer's disease cases but none was observed in the controls. Tau-positive axons and astroglia were detected in all Alzheimer's disease cases. Tau immunoreactivity in spinal cord of the patients correlated with that in brain tissue.
CONCLUSIONThe expression of tau-related protein is demonstrated in the spinal cord of Alzheimer's disease patients suggesting that axonal transport defect may play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
