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Living Neurons with Tau Filaments Aberrantly Expose Phosphatidylserine and Are Phagocytosed by Microglia.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Tolkovsky, Aviva M 
Ghetti, Bernardino 
Goedert, Michel 
Spillantini, Maria Grazia 

Abstract

Tau protein forms insoluble filamentous inclusions that are closely associated with nerve cell death in many neurodegenerative diseases. How neurons die in these tauopathies is unclear. We report that living neurons with tau inclusions from P301S-tau mice expose abnormally high amounts of phosphatidylserine because of the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Consequently, co-cultured phagocytes (BV2 cells or primary microglia) identify and phagocytose the living neurons, thereby engulfing insoluble tau inclusions. To facilitate engulfment, neurons induce contacting microglia to secrete the opsonin milk-fat-globule EGF-factor-8 (MFGE8) and nitric oxide (NO), whereas neurons with tau inclusions are rescued when MFGE8 or NO production is prevented. MFGE8 expression is elevated in transgenic P301S-tau mouse brains with tau inclusions and in tau inclusion-rich brain regions of several human tauopathies, indicating shared mechanisms of disease. Preventing phagocytosis of living neurons will preserve them for treatments that inhibit tau aggregation and toxicity.

Description

Keywords

MFGE8, cell death, microglia, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, nitric oxide, phagocytosis, phosphatidylserine, tau, tauopathies, Animals, Humans, Mice, Microglia, Neurons, Phagocytosis, Phosphatidylserines, tau Proteins

Journal Title

Cell Rep

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2211-1247
2211-1247

Volume Title

24

Publisher

Elsevier BV
Sponsorship
National Centre for the Replacement Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC/L000741/1)
Alzheimer's Research UK (ARUK-RF2017A-4)
Wellcome Trust (100574/Z/12/Z)