Tauopathy differentially affects cell adhesion molecules in mouse brain: early down-regulation of nectin-3 in stratum lacunosum moleculare

PLoS One. 2013 May 21;8(5):e63589. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063589. Print 2013.

Abstract

Cell adhesion molecules are important structural substrates, required for synaptic plasticity and synaptogenesis. CAMs differ widely in their expression throughout different brain regions and their specific structural and functional roles in the brain remain to be elucidated. Here, we investigated selected cell adhesion molecules for alterations in expression levels and neuronal localization in validated mouse models for Alzheimer's disease that mimic the age-related progression of amyloid accumulation and tauopathy. Among the cell adhesion molecules analyzed, Nectin-3 expression was affected most and specifically in all mouse models with tauopathy. In particular was Nectin-3 depleted from the specific region of the hippocampus, known as the stratum lacunosum and moleculare, in mice that express wild-type or mutant human protein Tau, either chronically or sub-acutely. Tauopathy progresses from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus by unknown mechanisms that could involve transport by the myelinated axons of the temporoammonic and perforant pathways. The decreased expression of Nectin-3 in the stratum lacunosum moleculare is an early marker of impaired transport, and eventual synaptic problems, caused by beginning tauopathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism*
  • Dependovirus / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Down-Regulation / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nectins
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Synaptosomes / metabolism
  • Tauopathies / metabolism*
  • Tauopathies / pathology

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • NECTIN3 protein, human
  • Nectin3 protein, mouse
  • Nectins
  • RNA, Messenger

Grants and funding

The authors thank many collaborators and fellow scientists for technical assistance, advice, materials, and scientific and moral support. These investigations were funded and supported by Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek-Vlaanderen (FWO-Vlaanderen); Instituut Wetenschap & Techniek (IWT); EEC 6th & 7th Framework Programs (MEMStick, neuroGSK3, EURON, NEURAD); de Rooms-fund; KULeuven-Research Fund; KULeuven-Research&Development. HM acknowledges Marie Curie fellowship MEST CT 2005/020013 NEURAD. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.