Raised CSF phospho-tau concentrations in variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease: diagnostic and pathological implications. Issue 1 (16th December 2005)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goodall, C A; Head, M W; Everington, D; Ironside, J W; Knight, R S G; Green, A J E
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry. Volume 77:Issue 1(2006)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 91
• Publication Date: 2005-12-16
• Subjects: tau-pT181, tau protein phosphorylated at threonine-181 -- CJD, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease -- sCJD, sporadic CJD -- vCJD, variant CJD -- NCJDSU, The National CJD Surveillance Unit; Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease -- tau protein -- phosphorylated tau; Neurology -- Periodicals; Nervous system -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.2005.065755
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3050

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To investigate whether phosphorylated tau protein (tau-pT181) is increased in variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD) and if the tau-pT181/tau protein ratio is useful for distinguishing between patients with and without CJD. Methods: CSF tau protein and tau-pT181 were measured in 50 patients with sporadic CJD (sCJD), 51 patients with vCJD, 46 sCJD controls, and 37 vCJD controls, using Innotest hTau and Innotest P-Thr181, Innogenetics. Results: Concentrations of CSF tau protein were increased in sCJD (5120 v 367 pg/ml in controls, p<0.001) and vCJD (952 v 106 pg/ml, p<0.001); tau-pT181 was also raised in sCJD (61 v 35 pg/ml in controls, p = 0.002) and vCJD (114 v 33 pg/ml, p<0.001). Median concentrations of tau-pT181 were higher in vCJD than in sCJD (p<0.001). The tau-pT181/tau protein ratio was lower than in controls in both sCJD (12 v 128 (p<0.001)) and vCJD (119 v 279 (p<0.001)). Mean tau-pT181/tau protein ratio was 10-fold higher in vCJD than in sCJD. Raised CSF tau protein had the highest efficiency for distinguishing sCJD and vCJD from controls. Conclusions: CSF tau-pT181 concentrations are raised in vCJD and are higher than in sCJD. Measurement of CSF tau-pT181/tau protein ratio does not improve the diagnostic efficiency of CSF tau protein alone for either vCJD or sCJD. The higher concentration of CSF tau-pT181 found in vCJD suggests that unexplained pathogenic factors influence the phosphorylation of tau protein in vCJD patients.