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.
There is no cure against Alzheimer's disease. Recent evidence suggests that early in the disease process, tau protein could alter the mechanisms underlying the excitatory response producing synaptic dysfunction and abnormal memory. This project will determine whether and how tau impairs intracellular mechanisms relevant to synaptic function and memory. If this project will be successful, new mechanisms affected by tau protein will be unraveled, and therefore might be exploited for developing a treatment against Alzheimer's disease and other disorders characterized by cognitive impairment and abnormal tau pathology.
| Puzzo, Daniela; Piacentini, Roberto; Fá, Mauro et al. (2017) LTP and memory impairment caused by extracellular A? and Tau oligomers is APP-dependent. Elife 6: |
| Piacentini, Roberto; Li Puma, Domenica Donatella; Mainardi, Marco et al. (2017) Reduced gliotransmitter release from astrocytes mediates tau-induced synaptic dysfunction in cultured hippocampal neurons. Glia 65:1302-1316 |
| Fá, M; Puzzo, D; Piacentini, R et al. (2016) Extracellular Tau Oligomers Produce An Immediate Impairment of LTP and Memory. Sci Rep 6:19393 |
