Extracellular tau oligomers and Alzheimer disease

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Aggregation of tau protein to form neurofibrillary tangles together with accumulation of beta-amyloid peptides in amyloid plaques, and neuronal loss are major histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Impairment of processes involved in synaptic strengthening is likely to constitute an early event in the disease that eventually leads to severe cognitive deficits. Recent evidence suggests that extracellular oligomeric tau protein impairs synaptic function and memory. However, synaptic mechanisms affected by tau oligomers have been very poorly explored. With this proposal, the molecular basis of tau oligomer-induced changes in basal neurotransmission and plasticity will be explored. The following specific aims will be tackled: 1) to identify changes of synaptic transmission induced by tau oligomers; 2) to search for potential mechanisms of synaptic dysfunction by tau oligomers; 3) to determine if up-regulation of CREB phosphorylation counteracts tau-induced synaptic dysfunction and memory loss. These aims will be addressed through a combination of electrophysiological, biochemical, imaging and behavioral techniques. Findings derived from these studies will unravel new mechanisms and molecular targets affected by tau protein that might be exploited for developing a treatment against Alzheimer's disease and other disorders characterized by cognitive impairment and abnormal tau pathology.