Detection of astrocytic tau pathology facilitates recognition of chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change

Ameen-Ali, K. E. et al. (2022) Detection of astrocytic tau pathology facilitates recognition of chronic traumatic encephalopathy neuropathologic change. Acta Neuropathologica Communications, 10, 50. (doi: 10.1186/s40478-022-01353-4) (PMID:35410438) (PMCID:PMC8996534)

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Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with the development of a range of neurodegenerative pathologies, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Current consensus diagnostic criteria define the pathognomonic cortical lesion of CTE neuropathologic change (CTE-NC) as a patchy deposition of hyperphosphorylated tau in neurons, with or without glial tau in thorn-shaped astrocytes, typically towards the depths of sulci and clustered around small blood vessels. Nevertheless, although incorporated into consensus diagnostic criteria, the contribution of the individual cellular components to identification of CTE-NC has not been formally evaluated. To address this, from the Glasgow TBI Archive, cortical tissue blocks were selected from consecutive brain donations from contact sports athletes in which there was known to be either CTE-NC (n = 12) or Alzheimer’s disease neuropathologic change (n = 4). From these tissue blocks, adjacent tissue sections were stained for tau antibodies selected to reveal either solely neuronal pathology (3R tau; GT-38) or mixed neuronal and astroglial pathologies (4R tau; PHF-1). These stained sections were then randomised and independently assessed by a panel of expert neuropathologists, blind to patient clinical history and primary antibody applied to each section, who were asked to record whether CTE-NC was present. Results demonstrate that, in sections stained for either 4R tau or PHF-1, consensus recognition of CTE-NC was high. In contrast, recognition of CTE-NC in sections stained for 3R tau or GT-38 was poor; in the former no better than chance. Our observations demonstrate that the presence of both neuronal and astroglial tau pathologies facilitates detection of CTE-NC, with its detection less consistent when neuronal tau pathology alone is visible. The combination of both glial and neuronal pathologies, therefore, may be required for detection of CTE-NC.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This work was supported by funding from: the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke, US (award numbers U54NS115322, R01NS03814); the National Institutes on Aging, US (award numbers P30AG072979, P01AG066597); and the Nancy and Buster Alvord Endowment.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Stewart, Dr William and Ameen-Ali, Dr Kamar
Authors: Ameen-Ali, K. E., Bretzin, A., Lee, E. B., Folkerth, R., Hazrati, L.-N., Iacono, D., Keene, C. D., Kofler, J., Kovacs, G. G., Nolan, A., Perl, D. P., Priemer, D. S., Smith, D. H., Wiebe, D. J., Stewart, W., and CONNECT-TBI Investigators, .
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
Journal Name:Acta Neuropathologica Communications
Publisher:BioMed Central
ISSN:2051-5960
ISSN (Online):2051-5960
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s) 2022
First Published:First published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications 10:50
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence

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