Tau est une protéine associée aux microtubules enrichie dans l’axone. Dans la maladie d’Alzheimer, Tau devient anormalement hyperphosphorylée, s’accumule dans le compartiment somato-dendritique et s’agrège pour former des enchevêtrements neurofibrillaires (NFTs). Ces NFTs se propagent dans le cerveau dans un ordre bien précis. Ils apparaissent d’abord dans le cortex transenthorinal pour ensuite se propager là où ces neurones projettent, c’est-à-dire au cortex entorhinal. Les NFTs s’étendent ensuite à l’hippocampe puis à différentes régions du cortex et néocortex. De plus, des études récentes ont démontré que la protéine Tau peut être sécrétée par des lignées neuronales et que lorsqu’on injecte des agrégats de Tau dans un cerveau de souris, ceux-ci peuvent pénétrer dans les neurones et induire la pathologie de Tau dans le cerveau. Ces observations ont mené à l’hypothèse que la protéine Tau pathologique pourrait être sécrétée par les neurones, pour ensuite être endocytée par les cellules avoisinantes et ainsi propager la maladie. L’objectif de la présente étude était donc de prouver la sécrétion de la protéine Tau par les neurones et d’identifier par quelle voie elle est secrétée. Nos résultats ont permis de démontrer que la protéine Tau est sécrétée par des neurones corticaux de souris de type sauvage ainsi que dans un modèle de surexpression dans des cellules HeLa et PC12. Nos résultats indiquent que la sécrétion de Tau se ferait par les autophagosomes. Finalement, nous avons démontré que la protéine Tau sécrétée est déphosphorylée et clivée par rapport à la protéine Tau intracellulaire non sécrétée. / Tau, a microtubule-associated protein, is enriched in the axon. In Alzheimer’s disease, Tau becomes hyperphosphorylated, redistributes to the somato-dendritic compartment and forms aggregates called neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The NFTs propagates in a predictable manner in particular neuronal networks. Indeed, they appear in the trans-entorhinal region and then propagate to the entorhinal cortex where the trans-entorhinal cortex projects. Then, the NFTs propagate to the hippocampus and to different regions of the cortex and neocortex. Recent studies have reported that Tau can be secreted by neuronal cell lines. Besides, when aggregates of Tau protein were injected in mouse brain, they could enter neurons and induced Tau pathology. Based on those observations, it was speculated that Tau could be secreted by neurons and then captured by neighbouring cells to propagate Tau pathology in the brain. The goal of the present study was to prove that Tau can be secreted by neurons and to find the secretory pathway involved in Tau secretion. Moreover, the phosphorylation state of Tau protein was examined and compared to intracellular non-secreted Tau. Our results showed that Tau is secreted by cortical neurons isolated from wild-type mice and by HeLa and PC12 cells overexpressing human Tau. Our results also indicated that autophagosomes would be involved in Tau secretion. Finally, we found that secreted Tau was dephosphorylated and cleaved compared to the non-secreted intracellular Tau.

Background Corticobasal syndrome is associated with cerebral protein aggregates composed of 4-repeat (~50% of cases) or mixed 3-repeat/4-repeat tau isoforms (~25% of cases) or nontauopathies (~25% of cases). Objectives The aim of this single-center study was to investigate the diagnostic value of the tau PET-ligand [18F]PI-2620 in patients with corticobasal syndrome. Methods Forty-five patients (71.5 ± 7.6 years) with corticobasal syndrome and 14 age-matched healthy controls underwent [18F]PI-2620-PET. Beta-amyloid status was determined by cerebral β-amyloid PET and/or CSF analysis. Subcortical and cortical [18F]PI-2620 binding was quantitatively and visually compared between β-amyloid-positive and -negative patients and controls. Regional [18F]PI-2620 binding was correlated with clinical and demographic data. Results Twenty-four percent (11 of 45) were β-amyloid-positive. Significantly elevated [18F]PI-2620 distribution volume ratios were observed in both β-amyloid-positive and β-amyloid-negative patients versus controls in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia. Cortical [18F]PI-2620 PET positivity was distinctly higher in β-amyloid-positive compared with β-amyloid-negative patients with pronounced involvement of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Semiquantitative analysis of [18F]PI-2620 PET revealed a sensitivity of 91% for β-amyloid-positive and of 65% for β-amyloid-negative cases, which is in excellent agreement with prior clinicopathological data. Regardless of β-amyloid status, hemispheric lateralization of [18F]PI-2620 signal reflected contralateral predominance of clinical disease severity. Conclusions Our data indicate a value of [18F]PI-2620 for evaluating corticobasal syndrome, providing quantitatively and regionally distinct signals in β-amyloid-positive as well as β-amyloid-negative corticobasal syndrome. In corticobasal syndrome, [18F]PI-2620 may potentially serve for a differential diagnosis and for monitoring disease progression. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

Tauopathien sind Krankheiten, die mit einer abnormen intrazellulären Tau-Protein-Faltung, Tau-Protein-Aggregation und Filament-Bildung im ZNS und PNS einhergehen. Die Alzheimer Demenz stellt die häufigste Tauopathie dar. Bei ihr kommt es zu einer intra- und extrazellulären Ablagerung fehlgefalteter amyloidogener Proteinaggregate, welche durch β Amyloid und Tau gebildet werden. Es resultiert eine Neurodegeneration. Ein multifaktorieller Prozess führt bei den Tauopathien zur Umwandlung des Tau-Proteins hin zu unlöslichen Fibrillenbündeln. Primär kommt es zur Bildung eines Dimers, das durch Disulfid- und Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen stabilisiert wird. Durch die Zusammenlagerung mehrer Dimere entstehen Tau-Oligomere. Diese gelten als die neurotoxischen Komponenten. Die Primärstruktur des Tau-Proteins beeinflusst den Aggregationsprozess. Dabei spielen die Anwesenheit der Aggregationsdomänen PHF6* und PHF6 und die Anzahl der Cystein-Seitenketten überragende Rollen. In dieser Arbeit wurden durch ortsspezifische Mutagenesen Tau-Konstrukte generiert, die sich in ihrer Anzahl der Aggregationsdomänen und der Cystein-Reste unterschieden. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Aggregationstendenz der Tau-Proteine mit nur einer Aggregationsdomäne und keinem Sulfhydryl-Rest stark sinkt. Auch durch Veränderungen des Redoxmilieus lässt sich das Tau-Aggregationsverhalten beeinflussen. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die Substanz TCEP als starkes Reduktionsmittel die Aggregation der 2 humanen Tau-Isoformen 2N3R und 2N4R wirkungsvoll inhibiert. Auch GSSG als Oxidationsmittel verhinderte in bestimmten Konzentrationen die Aggregation dieser 2 Isoformen. Es wird angenommen, dass die Verhinderung der Bildung einer intermolekularen Disulfidbrückenbindung zu diesem Phänomen führt.

Introdução: A doença por grãos argirofílicos (DGA) é uma tauopatia esporádica distinta, bastante frequente, com uma prevalência atingindo 31,3% em centenários, porém pouco reconhecida A manifestação clínica mais comum da DGA é de um comprometimento cognitivo de lenta evolução associado a uma alta frequência de sintomas psiquiátricos. O diagnóstico de DGA é possível somente através da análise do encéfalo post-mortem com os achados das três principais alterações patológicas: grãos argirofílicos, corpúsculos em embrião e pré-emaranhados neuronais. O presente estudo investigou as características demográficas, clínicas e neuropatológicas dos indivíduos com DGA e possíveis associações clínico-patológicas. Métodos: Foram estudados 983 casos (acima de 50 anos de idade) provenientes da amostra do Banco de Encéfalos do Grupo de Estudos em Envelhecimento Cerebral. A avaliação clínica e funcional foi realizada através de uma ampla entrevista semiestruturada respondida por um informante com contato próximo com o paciente. Os participantes foram estratificados conforme a presença de comprometimento cognitivo (de acordo com Escala de Avaliação Clinica da Demência) e, posteriormente, pela presença de DGA em quatro grupos: DGA com e sem comprometimento cognitivo e não-DGA com e sem comprometimento cognitivo. Análise descritiva foi realizada para dados socioeconômicos, genótipo de APOE e variáveis clínico-funcionais, neuropsiquiátricas e neuropatológicas na amostra DGA e em cada grupo. Foi utilizado um modelo de regressão logística multivariada para investigar as associações entre perfil cognitivo e sintomas neuropsiquiátricos com DGA. Resultados: DGA foi identificada em 150 indivíduos (15,1%). Idade avançada e baixo nível socioeconômico foram associados com DGA independente da presença de comprometimento cognitivo. A presença de DGA foi associada a uma redução de 60% na probabilidade de um escore >= 3.8 no Questionário do informante sobre o Declínio Cognitivo do Idoso (OR=0,40; IC de 95% 0,22-0,74; p=0,004). Adicionalmente, o subitem apetite do inventário neuropsiquiátrico foi associado à DGA em indivíduos cognitivamente normais (OR=1,85; IC de 95% 1,09-3,12; p=0,02). Conclusão: A DGA pode preservar a cognição em indivíduos com patologias neurodegenerativas associadas em particular nos casos com patologia tipo Alzheimer concomitante. A investigação dos mecanismos subjacentes a esse efeito pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos para a Doença de Alzheimer / Background: Argyrophilic grain disease (AGD) is an underrecognized, distinct, highly frequent sporadic tauopathy, with prevalence reaching 31.3% in centenarians. The most common presentation of AGD is a slowly progressive amnestic mild cognitive impairment, accompanied by high frequency of neuropsychiatric symptoms. AGD can only be diagnosed postmortem by the finding of its three main pathologic features: argyrophilic grains, oligodendrocytic coiled bodies and neuronal pretangles. The present study investigated demographic, clinical, and neuropathological profiles and analyzed clinicopathological associations. Methods: We studied 983 participants (over 50 years of age) from the Brain Bank of the Brazilian Aging Brain study group sample. Clinical and functional evaluation included demographics and a semi-structured interview covering various cognitive domains conducted with a knowledgeable informant. Participants were stratified by cognitive status (based on Clinical Dementia Rating scale), followed by the presence of AGD in four groups: AGD with and without cognitive impairmet, and non-AGD with and without cognitive impairment. Descriptive statistics were used for sociodemographic data, APOE genotypes, and the clinical, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, functional, and neuropathological variables in AGD samples and in each group. We used multivariate logistic regression models to investigate the association between the cognitive status and neuropsychiatric symptoms with AGD. Results: AGD was identified in 150 participants (15.1%). Older age and lower socioeconomic status were associated with AGD independent of cognitive status. Multivariate analyses revealed that AGD was associated with a 60% reduction in the odds of having an IQCODE >= 3.8 (OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.22-0.74, p = 0.004) and that the NPI sub-item \"appetite and eating abnormalities\" was associated with AGD in controls (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.09-3.12, p = 0.02). Conclusion: AGD might preserve cognition in individuals with coexistent neurodegenerative pathologies, in particular those of the Alzheimer-type. Investigating whether the mechanisms underlying this effect could provide novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer´s disease

Introdução: A doença por grãos argirofílicos (DGA) é uma tauopatia esporádica distinta, bastante frequente, com uma prevalência atingindo 31,3% em centenários, porém pouco reconhecida A manifestação clínica mais comum da DGA é de um comprometimento cognitivo de lenta evolução associado a uma alta frequência de sintomas psiquiátricos. O diagnóstico de DGA é possível somente através da análise do encéfalo post-mortem com os achados das três principais alterações patológicas: grãos argirofílicos, corpúsculos em embrião e pré-emaranhados neuronais. O presente estudo investigou as características demográficas, clínicas e neuropatológicas dos indivíduos com DGA e possíveis associações clínico-patológicas. Métodos: Foram estudados 983 casos (acima de 50 anos de idade) provenientes da amostra do Banco de Encéfalos do Grupo de Estudos em Envelhecimento Cerebral. A avaliação clínica e funcional foi realizada através de uma ampla entrevista semiestruturada respondida por um informante com contato próximo com o paciente. Os participantes foram estratificados conforme a presença de comprometimento cognitivo (de acordo com Escala de Avaliação Clinica da Demência) e, posteriormente, pela presença de DGA em quatro grupos: DGA com e sem comprometimento cognitivo e não-DGA com e sem comprometimento cognitivo. Análise descritiva foi realizada para dados socioeconômicos, genótipo de APOE e variáveis clínico-funcionais, neuropsiquiátricas e neuropatológicas na amostra DGA e em cada grupo. Foi utilizado um modelo de regressão logística multivariada para investigar as associações entre perfil cognitivo e sintomas neuropsiquiátricos com DGA. Resultados: DGA foi identificada em 150 indivíduos (15,1%). Idade avançada e baixo nível socioeconômico foram associados com DGA independente da presença de comprometimento cognitivo. A presença de DGA foi associada a uma redução de 60% na probabilidade de um escore >= 3.8 no Questionário do informante sobre o Declínio Cognitivo do Idoso (OR=0,40; IC de 95% 0,22-0,74; p=0,004). Adicionalmente, o subitem apetite do inventário neuropsiquiátrico foi associado à DGA em indivíduos cognitivamente normais (OR=1,85; IC de 95% 1,09-3,12; p=0,02). Conclusão: A DGA pode preservar a cognição em indivíduos com patologias neurodegenerativas associadas em particular nos casos com patologia tipo Alzheimer concomitante. A investigação dos mecanismos subjacentes a esse efeito pode auxiliar no desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos para a Doença de Alzheimer / Background: Argyrophilic grain disease (AGD) is an underrecognized, distinct, highly frequent sporadic tauopathy, with prevalence reaching 31.3% in centenarians. The most common presentation of AGD is a slowly progressive amnestic mild cognitive impairment, accompanied by high frequency of neuropsychiatric symptoms. AGD can only be diagnosed postmortem by the finding of its three main pathologic features: argyrophilic grains, oligodendrocytic coiled bodies and neuronal pretangles. The present study investigated demographic, clinical, and neuropathological profiles and analyzed clinicopathological associations. Methods: We studied 983 participants (over 50 years of age) from the Brain Bank of the Brazilian Aging Brain study group sample. Clinical and functional evaluation included demographics and a semi-structured interview covering various cognitive domains conducted with a knowledgeable informant. Participants were stratified by cognitive status (based on Clinical Dementia Rating scale), followed by the presence of AGD in four groups: AGD with and without cognitive impairmet, and non-AGD with and without cognitive impairment. Descriptive statistics were used for sociodemographic data, APOE genotypes, and the clinical, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, functional, and neuropathological variables in AGD samples and in each group. We used multivariate logistic regression models to investigate the association between the cognitive status and neuropsychiatric symptoms with AGD. Results: AGD was identified in 150 participants (15.1%). Older age and lower socioeconomic status were associated with AGD independent of cognitive status. Multivariate analyses revealed that AGD was associated with a 60% reduction in the odds of having an IQCODE >= 3.8 (OR = 0.40, 95% CI 0.22-0.74, p = 0.004) and that the NPI sub-item \"appetite and eating abnormalities\" was associated with AGD in controls (OR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.09-3.12, p = 0.02). Conclusion: AGD might preserve cognition in individuals with coexistent neurodegenerative pathologies, in particular those of the Alzheimer-type. Investigating whether the mechanisms underlying this effect could provide novel therapeutic approaches to the treatment of Alzheimer´s disease

La maladie d’Alzheimer est une maladie neurodégénérative déterminée par deux caractéristiques : les plaques extracellulaires composées d’amyloïde-β et l’accumulation intracellulaire de tau hyperphosphorylée, appelée enchevêtrements neurofibrillaires. Malgré le nombre important d’études, la nature de la toxicité des espèces tau hyperphosphorylée et hypophosphorylée reste mal connue. Notre projet de recherche vise à caractériser quel état de phosphorylation de la tau contribue le plus à la toxicité neuronale ainsi que d’identifier les mécanismes sous-jacents. Pour répondre à ces objectifs, nous avons généré des modèles transgéniques de C. elegans exprimant soit une tau hyperphosphorylée humaine (12 glutamates pour mimer l’hyperphosphorylation de la tau trouvée chez des patients Alzheimer), une tau sauvage, ou une tau hypophosphorylée (12 alanines pour mimer l’hypophosphorylation), dans les motoneurones GABAergiques. Ensuite, pour caractériser nos modèles, nous avons mesuré leur comportement principalement avec des tests de locomotion en utilisant le logiciel WormLab. Nos résultats ont montré que la tau phosphorylée est l’espèce la plus toxique car la souche hyperP a montré une perturbation du système locomoteur se traduisant par une neurodégénérescence ainsi que des problèmes développementaux (longueur des vers). Puis nous avons testé certains médicaments utilisés dans des modèles de tauopathies, afin d’identifier des voies biologiques impliquées dans la toxicité de la tau hyperphosphorylée. Pour conclure, nos modèles vont être des outils utiles pour identifier des modificateurs génétiques et pharmacologiques dans la toxicité de la tau. / Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by two hallmarks: extracellular plaques composed of amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits and intraneuronal accumulation of hyper and abnormal phosphorylated tau, also called neurofibrillary tangles (NFT). Despite many decades of research, the nature hypophosphorylated or hyperphosphorylated Tau toxicity remains ill understood. Our research project aims to characterize which state of Tau phosphorylation contributes to neuronal toxicity and identify the underlying mechanisms. To assess these objectives, we generated transgenic C. elegans models expressing either a human hyperphosphorylated tau (incorporation of 12 glutamate residues to mimic Tau hyperphosphorylation found in AD’s patients) human wild type Tau, or a human hypophosphorylated tau (incorporation of 12 alanine residues to mimic Tau hypophosphorylation) in the GABAergic motoneurons. Then, to characterize our models, we measured their behavior mainly with locomotion’s test using WormLab software. Our results showed that hyperphosphorylation of tau is the most toxic species for our models because hyperP strain showed an impair in the locomotor system translating into neurodegeneration, as well as developmental problems such as worm length. Then we tested some drugs used in taupathies C. elegans models to see if we could identify some biological pathways implicated in the toxicity. To conclude, our models may be a useful tool to identify genetic and pharmacological modifiers of tau toxicity.

Tauopathien sind Krankheiten, die mit einer abnormen intrazellulären Tau-Protein-Faltung, Tau-Protein-Aggregation und Filament-Bildung im ZNS und PNS einhergehen. Die Alzheimer Demenz stellt die häufigste Tauopathie dar. Bei ihr kommt es zu einer intra- und extrazellulären Ablagerung fehlgefalteter amyloidogener Proteinaggregate, welche durch β Amyloid und Tau gebildet werden. Es resultiert eine Neurodegeneration. Ein multifaktorieller Prozess führt bei den Tauopathien zur Umwandlung des Tau-Proteins hin zu unlöslichen Fibrillenbündeln. Primär kommt es zur Bildung eines Dimers, das durch Disulfid- und Wasserstoffbrückenbindungen stabilisiert wird. Durch die Zusammenlagerung mehrer Dimere entstehen Tau-Oligomere. Diese gelten als die neurotoxischen Komponenten. Die Primärstruktur des Tau-Proteins beeinflusst den Aggregationsprozess. Dabei spielen die Anwesenheit der Aggregationsdomänen PHF6* und PHF6 und die Anzahl der Cystein-Seitenketten überragende Rollen. In dieser Arbeit wurden durch ortsspezifische Mutagenesen Tau-Konstrukte generiert, die sich in ihrer Anzahl der Aggregationsdomänen und der Cystein-Reste unterschieden. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Aggregationstendenz der Tau-Proteine mit nur einer Aggregationsdomäne und keinem Sulfhydryl-Rest stark sinkt. Auch durch Veränderungen des Redoxmilieus lässt sich das Tau-Aggregationsverhalten beeinflussen. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die Substanz TCEP als starkes Reduktionsmittel die Aggregation der 2 humanen Tau-Isoformen 2N3R und 2N4R wirkungsvoll inhibiert. Auch GSSG als Oxidationsmittel verhinderte in bestimmten Konzentrationen die Aggregation dieser 2 Isoformen. Es wird angenommen, dass die Verhinderung der Bildung einer intermolekularen Disulfidbrückenbindung zu diesem Phänomen führt.

No description available.

Introdução: A demência frontotemporal (DFT) inclui a variante comportamental da demência frontotemporal (vcDFT), a variante semântica da afasia progressiva primária (vsAPP), e a variante não fluente da APP (vnfAPP). Os genes em que são encontradas mutações causadoras de DFT mais frequentemente são: GRN (que codifica a progranulina), MAPT (que codifica a proteína tau) e C9orf72. Métodos: Foram incluídos probandos diagnosticados com vcDFT, vsAPP ou vnfAPP, com base com os critérios diagnósticos mais recentes, e um grupo de indivíduos cognitivamente normais. Os éxons 2-12 de GRN e os éxons 1, 9-13 de MAPT foram sequenciados pelo método de Sanger, e foi realizada dosagem de progranulina no plasma. Resultados: foram incluídos 62 probandos, sendo 44 com vcDFT, 9 com vsAPP, e 9 com vnfAPP. Antecedente familiar de demência foi positivo em 45,1% dos probandos, e de DFT, em 24,1%. Os 60 indivíduos do grupo controle tinham idade média de 60,8±8,5 anos. Foram identificadas seis mutações nulas em GRN (p.Q130X, p.V200Gfs*18, p.Q257Pfs*26, p.Q300X, p.S301Cfs*60 e p.D317Afs*11) e uma mutação patogênica em MAPT (p.N279K). A dosagem média de progranulina plasmática nos pacientes com mutações de GRN foi de 29,8±11,9ng/ml Conclusões: A frequência de mutações patogênicas em GRN nesta casuística foi de 9,6%, e a de mutações em MAPT foi de 1,6%. Entre casos familiais de DFT, a frequência de mutações em GRN foi de 33,3%, e em MAPT foi de 6,7%. Duas das mutações encontradas em GRN (p.Q130X e p.D317Afs*11) ainda não foram descritas em casos de DFT. O valor de corte de 70ng/ml identificou as mutações nulas de GRN com sensibilidade e especificidade de 100% / Introduction: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) encompasses behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), and nonfluent variant PPA (nfvPPA). The genes in which FTD-causing mutations are most frequently found are: GRN (which encodes progranulin), MAPT (which encodes tau protein) and C9orf72. Methods: We included probands diagnosed with bvFTD, svPPA or nfvPPA, based on the most recent diagnostic criteria, and a group of cognitively normal individuals. GRN exons 2-12 and MAPT exons 1, 9-13 were sequenced by the Sanger method, and plasma progranulin levels were measured. Results: we included 62 probands (44 with bvFTD, 9 with svPPA, and 9 with nfvPPA). Family history of dementia was positive in 45.1% of probands, and of DFT, in 24.1%. The control group of 60 individuals had a mean age of 60.8±8.5 years. Six null GRN mutations were identified in (p.Q130X, p.V200Gfs*18, p.Q257Pfs*26, p.Q300X, p.S301Cfs*60 e p.D317Afs*11) and one MAPT pathogenic mutation (p.N279K). The mean plasma progranulin level in patients with GRN mutations was 29.8±11,9ng/ml. Conclusions: The frequency of pathogenic mutations in GRN was 9.6%, and of MAPT mutations was 1.6%. Among cases of familial FTD, the frequency of GRN mutations was 33.3%, and of MAPT mutations was 6.7%. Two of the mutations found in GRN (p.Q130X and p.D317Afs*11) are novel. The cutoff value of 70ng/ml identified null GRN mutations with sensitivity and specificity of 100%

Récemment, le concept monofonctionnel de la protéine Tau en tant que protéine stabilisatrice des microtubules a été remis en cause. Ces nouvelles fonctions sont liées à de nouvelles localisations comme le noyau, la membrane, la synapse ou encore les vésicules. La localisation extracellulaire est particulièrement intéressante car elle pourrait intervenir dans la sécrétion de Tau et expliquer l’évolution hiérarchisée de certaines tauopathies sporadiques dont fait partie la maladie d’Alzheimer. La pathologie Tau peut être induite chez l’animal par injection intracrânienne d’espèces pathologiques et semble se transmettre d’un neurone à un autre et d’une région à une autre. Ce phénomène suit des voies neuroanatomiques et suggère une propagation active des assemblages toxiques des protéines Tau. Des études in vitro ont mis en évidence que les protéines Tau sont capables de se déplacer d’une cellule à une autre propageant ainsi la pathologie par un mécanisme de recrutement des espèces saines. L’existence d’une progression hiérarchisée de la pathologie Tau combinée à sa localisation extracellulaire permet de formuler une nouvelle hypothèse. La protéine Tau serait une protéine de type prion et se comporterait comme telle pour propager la pathologie.Cette caractéristique implique l’existence de mécanismes cellulaires de transports actifs pour transférer les protéines pathologiques. Plusieurs travaux ont montré que la protéine Tau est libérée dans le milieu extracellulaire ou enfermée dans des vésicules extracellulaires lors de son transport entre les cellules. Parallèlement aux mécanismes de sécrétion/capture, des ponts membranaires établissant un contact direct entre deux cellules pourraient être impliquer dans la propagation de Tau. Les TNTs constituent une piste sérieuse de part leur rôle déjà établi dans le transfert de pathogènes et de protéines mal repliées impliqués dans différentes maladies neurodégénératives. Notre objectif a donc été d’étudier l’implication de ces structures dans le transfert interneuronal des assemblages de protéines Tau.Dans ce travail de thèse, nous démontrons que les espèces pathologiques de Tau empruntent les TNTs pour leur transfert interneuronal. Nous apportons les preuves, par vidéo-microscopie, de l’existence d’un transfert de protéines Tau pathologiques d’un neurone primaire à un neurone secondaire et donc d’une implication potentielle des TNTs dans la propagation de la pathologie Tau et la transmission de la maladie. Fait remarquable, la présence des fibres Tau au niveau extracellulaire active la formation des TNTs et facilite leur transfert. Ce résultat place les TNTs au coeur du processus pathologique de la propagation et de son cycle infernal (transfert de Tau dans les cellules naïves par les TNTs – seeding - mort neuronal - libération de Tau dans le milieu extracellulaire - augmentation du nombre des TNTs…). Nous avons aussi apporté une caractérisation des TNTs dans les neurones primaires. Ce résultat est d’autant plus important qu’il est difficile d’identifier des TNTs dans les neurones et c’est dans ce contexte que nous avons réalisé une découverte étonnante, la protéine Tau endogène est présente de manière physiologique dans les TNTs de neurones primaires. Ces résultats révèlent, et pour la première fois, que la protéine Tau, comme l’actine, peut être considérée comme une composante constitutive des TNTs dans les neurones. Elle pourrait ainsi être utilisée comme un marqueur des TNTs. Ces résultats mettent également en lumière une nouvelle fonction de Tau appuyant une fois de plus le caractère multifonctionnel de cette protéine [...] / Over the past few years, the monofunctional concept of Tau protein as a microtubule-associated stabilizing protein has been challenged. These new functions are linked to new localizations: nucleus, membrane, synapse or vesicles. The extracellular localization is particularly interesting as it could play a role in the secretion of Tau and explain the hierarchical evolution of some sporadic tauopathies such as Alzheimer's disease. The Tau pathology can be induced in animals by intracranial injection of pathological species and seems to be transferred from one neuron to another and from one region to another. This phenomenon follows neuroanatomic pathways and suggests an active propagation of the toxic assemblies of Tau proteins. In vitro studies have shown that proteins are able to move from one cell to another and induce the same abnormal conformation of endogenous Tau proteins initiating a self-amplifying cascade. The existence of a hierarchical progression of the Tau pathology combined with its extracellular localization enables to express a new hypothesis. The Tau protein would be a prion-like protein and would behave like that to propagate the pathology.This characteristic implies the existence of cellular active transport mechanisms to transfer pathological proteins. Several studies have shown that the Tau protein, during transport between cells, is released in the extracellular medium or enclosed in extracellular vesicles. Simultaneously with secretion / capture mechanisms, membrane bridges, establishing direct contact between two cells, could be involved in Tau propagation. TNTs are a serious candidate with their already established role in the transfer of pathogens and misfolding proteins involved in various neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, our objective was to study the involvement of these structures in the interneuronal transfer of Tau protein assemblies.In this thesis, we demonstrate that Tau pathological species use TNTs for their interneuronal transfer. We bring evidences, by videomicroscopy, that pathological Tau proteins are transferred from a primary to a secondary neuron and that TNTs could be involved in the spreading of Tau pathology and the disease transmission. Furthermore, the presence of extracellular Tau fibers can activate the formation of TNTs and facilitate their transfer. This result places TNTs in a central place for propagation pathological process and its vicious cycle (transfer of Tau in naive cells by TNTs - seeding - neuronal death – release of Tau in the extracellular environment - increase in the number of TNTs…). We also made a characterization of the TNTs in primary neurons. This result is really important as it is really complex to identify TNTs in neurons. And in this context, we made a surprising discovery: the endogenous Tau protein is physiologically present in TNTs in primary neurons. These results reveal, for the first time, that the Tau protein, like actin, can be considered as a constitutive component of TNTs in neurons. Thus, it could be used as a marker for TNTs. All these results also highlight a new Tau function and reinforce the multifunctional characteristic of this protein.To confirm the importance of this new pathway in the pathological process, further studies should be considered by analyzing if the transfer of pathological Tau species induces a pathological phenotype in the recipient cell and by looking for the cellular mechanisms involved in the transfer of toxic Tau assemblies by TNTs. In vivo studies on integrated systems such as Caenorhabditis elegans would confirm the involvement of these dynamic structures in the pathological process and identify a new therapeutic target.