Induction of tau pathology and motor dysfunction in mice by urinary exosomes from progressive supranuclear palsy patients

Background

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is characterized by the presence of hyperphosphorylated and misfolded tau aggregates in neurons and glia. Recent studies have illuminated the prion-like cell-to-cell propagation of tau via exosomes. Recognizing the potential significance of excretion through urine as a crucial pathway for eliminating pathological tau from the central nervous system, this study aimed to investigate whether exosomes derived from the urine of PSP-Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS) patients can elicit tau pathology and PSP-like symptoms in mice.

Methods

Urinary exosomes obtained from PSP-RS patients and normal controls (NCs) were stereotactically injected into the bilateral globus pallidus of mouse brains. Behavioral analyses were conducted every 3 months post-injection. After 6 months, mice were sacrificed for pathological evaluation.

Results

Elevated levels of phosphorylated tau and neural cell markers were observed in urinary exosomes from PSP-RS patients compared to NCs. At the 6-month mark post-injection, tau inclusions were evident in the brains of mice receiving urinary exosomes from PSP-RS patients, with widespread distribution in both injection sites and distant brain regions (cortex, hippocampus, and substantia nigra). Tau pathology manifested in neurons and astrocytes. Moreover, mice injected with urinary exosomes from PSP-RS patients exhibited impaired motor coordination and balance, mirroring PSP motor symptoms.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that urinary exosomes from PSP-RS patients can induce tau pathology and trigger PSP-like motor symptoms in mice. This leads to the hypothesis that exosomes may play a role in the pathogenesis of PSP.