ABSTRACT
Primary age?related tauopathy (PART) is a type of pathological change characterized by the deposition of tau protein in the brain confined to the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus (Braak stage 0-Ⅳ), with no or little amyloid?β protein (Aβ) deposition (Thal Aβ stage 0-2). In recent years, PART has received lots of attention, but its relationship with Alzheimer′s disease (AD) remains controversial. Therefore, strengthening the understanding of PART among clinicians and relevant researchers is of great value in interpretation of the relationship between brain aging and AD as well as other cognitive impairment diseases.
ABSTRACT
Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) is characterized by tau neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the absence of amyloid plaque pathology. In the present study, we analyzed the distribution patterns of phosphorylated 43-kDa TAR DNA-binding protein (pTDP-43) in the brains of patients with PART. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double-labeling in multiple brain regions was performed on brain tissues from PART, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and aging control cases. We examined the regional distribution patterns of pTDP-43 intraneuronal inclusions in PART with Braak NFT stages > 0 and ≤ IV, and a Thal phase of 0 (no beta-amyloid present). We found four stages which indicated potentially sequential dissemination of pTDP-43 in PART. Stage I was characterized by the presence of pTDP-43 lesions in the amygdala, stage II by such lesions in the hippocampus, stage III by spread of pTDP-43 to the neocortex, and stage IV by pTDP-43 lesions in the putamen, pallidum, and insular cortex. In general, the distribution pattern of pTDP-43 pathology in PART cases was similar to the early TDP-43 stages reported in AD, but tended to be more restricted to the limbic system. However, there were some differences in the distribution patterns of pTDP-43 between PART and AD, especially in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Positive correlations were found in PART between the Braak NFT stage and the pTDP-43 stage and density.
Subject(s)
Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Aging , Metabolism , Pathology , Brain , Metabolism , Pathology , DNA-Binding Proteins , Metabolism , Disease Progression , Immunohistochemistry , Inclusion Bodies , Pathology , Neurofibrillary Tangles , Metabolism , Pathology , Neurons , Metabolism , Pathology , Severity of Illness Index , Tauopathies , Metabolism , PathologyABSTRACT
Primary age-related tauopathy (PART) is a type of pathological change characterized by the deposition of tau protein in the brain confined to the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus (Braak stage 0-Ⅳ), with no or little amyloid-β protein (Aβ) deposition (Thal Aβ stage 0-2). In recent years, PART has received lots of attention, but its relationship with Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains controversial. Therefore, strengthening the understanding of PART among clinicians and relevant researchers is of great value in interpretation of the relationship between brain aging and AD as well as other cognitive impairment diseases.