Journal
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA
Volume 140, Issue 4, Pages 417-447Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02196-w
Keywords
Synapse; Myelination; Vasculature; Memory; Therapeutics; Microtubule dynamics
Categories
Funding
- Wellcome [108890/Z/15/Z]
- European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme [681181]
- UK Dementia Research Institute from DRI Ltd - UK Medical Research Council
- Alzheimer's Society
- Alzheimer's Research UK
- ARUK Race Against Dementia-Dyson fellowship [RADF2019A-001]
- MRC [UKDRI-4004] Funding Source: UKRI
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Tau and amyloid beta (A beta) are the prime suspects for driving pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and, as such, have become the focus of therapeutic development. Recent research, however, shows that these proteins have been highly conserved throughout evolution and may have crucial, physiological roles. Such functions may be lost during AD progression or be unintentionally disrupted by tau- or A beta-targeting therapies. Tau has been revealed to be more than a simple stabiliser of microtubules, reported to play a role in a range of biological processes including myelination, glucose metabolism, axonal transport, microtubule dynamics, iron homeostasis, neurogenesis, motor function, learning and memory, neuronal excitability, and DNA protection. A beta is similarly multifunctional, and is proposed to regulate learning and memory, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, repair leaks in the blood-brain barrier, promote recovery from injury, and act as an antimicrobial peptide and tumour suppressor. This review will discuss potential physiological roles of tau and A beta, highlighting how changes to these functions may contribute to pathology, as well as the implications for therapeutic development. We propose that a balanced consideration of both the physiological and pathological roles of tau and A beta will be essential for the design of safe and effective therapeutics.
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