NAP protects memory, increases soluble tau and reduces tau hyperphosphorylation in a tauopathy model - PubMed (original) (raw)

NAP protects memory, increases soluble tau and reduces tau hyperphosphorylation in a tauopathy model

Natalia Shiryaev et al. Neurobiol Dis. 2009 May.

Abstract

NAP (NAPVSIPQ) provides broad neuroprotection through microtubule interaction. Here, NAP was investigated for neuroprotection in an in vivo tauopathy model. Transgenic mice (2-month-old) that express the human double mutant tau protein [P301S;K257T] fused to the tau promoter, were subjected to daily intranasal drug treatment for approximately 5 months. Results showed increased performance in the NAP-treated mice compared to controls, as demonstrated in the Morris water maze, (p<0.05). Treatment continued for 5 additional months and mouse cortices were biochemically analyzed. Protein extraction identified increased tau protein content in the heat-stable soluble fraction, which contains microtubule-associated tau, in the 1-year-old NAP-treated mice as compared to vehicle-controls. Tau phosphorylation (Ser 202) increased in the tau-transgenic mice compared to control mice, and was significantly reduced in NAP-treated mice. The current studies show for the first time activity for NAP in a "pure" tauopathy model, positioning it as a promising drug candidate in multiple neurodegenerative tauopathies.

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