Neurons containing Alz-50-immunoreactive granules around the cerebral infarction: evidence for the lysosomal degradation of altered tau in human brain?

Abstract

Little is known about the metabolic process of tau and tau-derived substances. Alz-50- and tau 2-immunoreactivities in intracellular granules of neurons were observed in regions surrounding infarcted foci in the human cerebral cortex. Ultrastructurally, these granules in the fresh infarcted region exhibited primary lysosome-like structures, while those in old infarctions were lipofuscin. These findings indicate that tau is metabolized within lysosomes in neurons damaged by ischemic injury in human cortical penumbra. Alz-50-positive granules were more prominent in fresh infarction than in old infarction. After undergoing degradation and modification, altered tau might remain, at least partially, in secondary lysosomes.