CSF tau microtubule-binding region identifies pathological changes in primary tauopathies

Despite recent advances in fluid biomarker research in Alzheimer's disease (AD), there are no fluid biomarkers or imaging tracers with utility for diagnosis and/or theragnosis available for other tauopathies. Using immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, we show that 4 repeat (4R) isoform-specific tau species from microtubule-binding region (MTBR-tau(275) and MTBR-tau(282)) increase in the brains of corticobasal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)-MAPT and AD but decrease inversely in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of CBD, FTLD-MAPT and AD compared to control and other FTLD-tau (for example, Pick's disease). CSF MTBR-tau measures are reproducible in repeated lumbar punctures and can be used to distinguish CBD from control (receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) = 0.889) and other FTLD-tau, such as PSP (AUC = 0.886). CSF MTBR-tau(275) and MTBR-tau(282) may represent the first affirmative biomarkers to aid in the diagnosis of primary tauopathies and facilitate clinical trial designs. Cerebrospinal fluid measures of isoform-specific tau species from the microtubule-binding region serve as the first fluid biomarkers of primary tauopathy.

Automated summary

Currently, there are no fluid biomarkers or imaging tracers available for the diagnosis and treatment of other tauopathies. This study identifies specific tau species that increase in the brains of patients with CBD, PSP, FTLD-MAPT, and AD, but decrease in their cerebrospinal fluid. Measurements of these specific tau species in cerebrospinal fluid can differentiate between different diseases and aid in the diagnosis and clinical trial design of primary tauopathies.