Transgenic tau models
These models recapitulate the tau pathology found in Alzheimer’s disease and primary tauopathies like frontotemporal dementia.
Sylics offers services with several different tau amyloid models. The choice of the best model depends on many factors, but most models present with neurofibrillary tangles, inflammation, and behavioral deficits.
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Transgenic tau models that Sylics offers:
Tau pathology
Tau is encoded by the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene. This protein aggregates intracellularly in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other tauopathies. Examples of these tauopathies include frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and Pick’s disease (PiD). Tau pathology in AD and other tauopathies is strongly associated with neurodegeneration and clinical symptoms.
Transgenic mouse models of tau pathology
Mice that overexpress human tau with FTD-associated MAPT mutations display abundant tau pathology, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and behavioral impairments. These models are therefore popular models to test therapeutic interventions for AD and other tauopathies.
Behavioral deficits
We have extensive experience with behavioral testing of several transgenic tau models. For example, we detect a progressive reduction in grip strength of mice expressing tau with a P301S mutation from 3.5 months of age onwards. In JPNL3 (P301L) mice we detect changes in gait and footprint size with the Catwalk system at 6 months of age. By 10 months or older, these mice show profound motor function deficits.
Biological readouts
The number of tau inclusions and associated neuroinflammation or neurodegeneration can be quantified after immunohistochemical (IHC) staining of brain slices. In addition, we measure (phosphorylated) tau levels in the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood using ultra-sensitive immunoassays. Neurodegeneration can also be detected by measuring neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in the blood, using the ultrasensitive SIMOA immunoassay.
More information
Please reach out to us if you want to learn more about our Transgenic tau models solutions. We will contact you within 1 business day.