Mislocalization and aggregation of the axonal protein Tau are hallmarks of Alzheimer disease and other tauopathies. Here, we studied the relationship between Tau aggregation, loss of spines and neurons, and reversibility by aggregation inhibitors. To this end we established an in vitro model of tauopathy based on regulatable transgenic hippocampal organotypic slice cultures prepared from mice expressing pro-aggregant Tau RD ΔK. Transgene expression was monitored by a bioluminescence reporter assay. Abnormal Tau phosphorylation, mislocalization of exogenous and endogenous Tau into the somatodendritic compartment, followed by reduction of dendritic spines, altered morphology from mushroom-shaped to thin spines, dysregulation of Ca ++ dynamics, Tau aggregation, neuronal loss and elevated activation of microglia. Neurotoxicity was mediated by Caspase-3 activation and correlated with the expression level of pro-aggregant Tau RD ΔK. Finally, Tau aggregates appeared in areas CA1 and CA3 after three weeks in vitro. Neurodegeneration was relieved by aggregation inhibitors or by switching off transgene expression. Thus the slice culture model is suitable for monitoring the development of tauopathy and the therapeutic benefit of antiaggregation drugs.

IntroductionMutations of Tau are associated with several neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, the Tau mutation A152T was described as a novel risk factor for frontotemporal dementia spectrum disorders and Alzheimer disease. In vitro Tau-A152T shows a decreased binding to microtubules and a reduced tendency to form abnormal fibers.ResultsTo study the effects of this mutation we generated a mouse model expressing human full-length Tau with this mutation (hTau40AT). At young age (2–3 months) immunohistological analysis reveals pathological Tau conformation and Tau-hyperphosphorylation combined with Tau missorting into the somatodendritic compartment of neurons. With increasing age there is Tau aggregation including co-aggregates of endogenous mouse Tau and exogenous human Tau, accompanied by loss of synapses (especially presynaptic failure) and neurons. From ~10 months onwards the mice show a prominent neuroinflammatory response as judged by activation of microglia and astrocytes. This progressive neuroinflammation becomes visible by in vivo bioluminescence imaging after crossbreeding of hTau40AT mice and Gfap-luciferase reporter mice. In contrast to other Tau-transgenic models and Alzheimer disease patients with reduced protein clearance, hTau40AT mice show a strong induction of autophagy. Although Tau-hyperphosphorylation and aggregation is also present in spinal cord and motor cortex (due to the Thy1.2 promoter), neuromotor performance is not affected. Deficits in spatial reference memory are manifest at ~16 months and are accompanied by neuronal death.ConclusionsThe hTau40AT mice mimic pathological hallmarks of tauopathies including a cognitive phenotype combined with pronounced neuroinflammation visible by bioluminescence. Thus the mice are suitable for mechanistic studies of Tau induced toxicity and in vivo validation of neuroprotective compounds.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40478-016-0281-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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