RT-QuIC detection of tauopathies using full-length tau substrates

ABSTRACT

Early detection and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases has been hampered by the lack of sensitive testing. Real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC) has been used for the early and sensitive detection of prion-induced neurologic disease, and has more recently been adapted to detect misfolded alpha-synuclein and tau as biomarkers for neurodegenerative disease. Here we use full-length recombinant tau substrates to detect tau seeding activity in Alzheimer’s disease and other human tauopathies.

Introduction

Early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease is hampered by a lack of sensitive and specific assays [1]. Biomarkers of neurogenerative diseases, such as the tau protein, are potential substrates for early detection of disease [2]. Misfolded tau has been identified in paired helical filaments (PHFs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases [3,4]. Owing to differential mRNA splicing of the MAPT gene, tau can exist as either 0, 1, or 2 N-terminal domains (N) and either 3 or 4 repeats in the carboxy terminal of the protein [5]. The tau repeat domains are associated with microtubule binding in its normal and misfolded amyloid states [6]. The misfolding of tau is also associated with its phosphorylation, which is another diagnostic correlate of AD, and other tauopathies [7].

Tauopathies are classified based on the predominant tau isoform present in paired helical filaments (PHFs), e.g. Pick’s disease is characterized by 3-repeat (3 R) tau isoforms, whereas progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and some frontotemporal lobe dementias (FTLDs) are characterized by 4 repeat (4 R) tau isoforms. Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) contain a mixture of 3 R and 4 R tau isoforms in the PHFs (3 R/4 R tauopathies) [8,9].

Sensitive detection of misfolded prion protein has been made possible using amplification assays, such as protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) and real-time quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC) [10,11] to demonstrate seeding activity in brain, clinically accessible peripheral tissues, body fluids, and excreta [12–14]. Adaptations of RT-QuIC have recently also some synucleinopathies and tauopathies in humans [15–22]. Nevertheless, the sensitive detection of tau misfolding remains difficult due in part to the innate complexity of tau isoforms [20,22,23].

Here we describe detection of the single (3 R or 4 R) and mixed (3 R/4 R) human tauopathies, and P301S transgenic mice using a mixture of purified full-length tau protein containing targeted cysteine to serine substitutions to allow greater sensitivity.

Results

Determination of tau seeding activity range

We purified 2N3R and 2N4R recombinant tau substrates and assessed seeding activity in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) brain samples using either 2N3R only, 2N4R only, or as a 50:50 2N3R and 2N4R molar ratio mixture (Figure 1(a)). We observed the most consistent seeding activity in ethanol-precipitated AD brain homogenate pellets reconstituted with N2 in PBS vs. non-diseased control brains (Figure 1(a,b)). We also noted greater divergence between diseased vs. non-diseased brain seeding activity as the samples were diluted 10- to 1000-fold, beyond, which seeding activity was no longer statistically significant (Figure 1(b), data not shown). Based on these results, we chose to use a 1:100 dilution of brain homogenate pellets for subsequent testing with 2N3R, 2N4R, or mixed 2N3R/2N4R r-tau substrates.

Figure 1.

Tau seeding range. (a) Representative ThT fluorescence curves for AD1 brain over 10-fold dilutions of the pellet seeded onto either 2N3R, 2N4R, or both 2N3R/2N4R recombinant tau substrates. Each dilution has four replicates represented. (b) Plotted hours to threshold for 2 separate AD, one Pick’s disease brain, and one no disease control brain over 10-fold dilutions of 2N3R, 2N4R, or 2N3R/2N4R mixed substrate

Detection of tauopathies with 2N3R substrate

We evaluated tau seeding activity in 20 tauopathy brains and 2 non-diseased age-matched control brains. Seeding activity for most tauopathy disease samples was greater than negative controls (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001), with the Pick’s and Alzheimer’s disease brain samples crossing threshold the earliest (Figure 2(b)). However, we did observe seeding activity in the FTLD and PSP brains, a result unexpected for 3 R only substrate. It is important to note that the non-disease control brain samples also crossed threshold, but at a statistically significantly longer time period (Figure 2(b)).

Figure 2.

Tauopathy detection using 2N3R substrate: (a) ThT fluorescence curves for AD, Pick’s, and PSP diseased brains as well as 2 no disease brain controls. (b) Time to threshold for 11 AD, 4 Pick’s, 3 PSP, and 2 FTLD disease brains, and 2 no disease controls. All diseased brain samples were statistically different from the negative controls. Sensitivity is good for 3 R and even 4 R disease, but control brain background is high

Detection of tauopathies with 2N4R substrate

Evaluation of tau seeding activity of 22 brain samples was performed using 2N4R substrate. With all other reaction conditions remaining unchanged, the 2N4R substrate was slower to convert to amyloid conformations than was the 2N3R substrate (Figures 2(b) and 3(b)). Extending the assay time to 100 hours was required to discern seeding activities (Figure 3(a,b)). Also noted were that the variance among sample replicates was greater for the 2N4R vs. 2N3R substrate, and that some tauopathy brain samples, e.g. AD3, AD9, and PSP1, were not significantly different (p > 0.05) from the no-disease brains (Figures 2(b) and 3(b)).

Figure 3.

Tauopathy detection with 2N4R substrate. (a) ThT fluorescence curves for AD, Pick’s, PSP, and no disease brain controls in 2N4R substrate. (b) Time to threshold for 11 AD, 4 Pick’s, 3 PSP, 2 FTLD brains and age-appropriate no-disease controls in 2N4R only substrate. Eight replicates for each sample are shown. Detection signals are lengthened and reduced for mixed ((3 R/4 R)(AD) and 3 R (PiD) diseases

Detection of tauopathies using 2N3R/2N4R mixed substrate

In an effort to improve sensitivity and specificity of the seeding assay, we examined a 50:50 molar ratio mixture of 2N3R and 2N4R tau substrates. The 2N3R/4 R substrate yielded threshold crossing times intermediate between the 2N3R and 2N4R substrates (Figures 2(b), 3(b), and 4(b)), produced ThT emission curves with smaller variance among replicates (Figure 4(a)), and reduced the spontaneous conversion background associated with the 2N3R only substrate, while not compromising selectivity (Figure 4(b)). These effects resulted in more selective detection of tauopathies compared with non-diseased samples (except for Pick’s 4 and FTLD2 samples) (Figure 4(b)). Overall, the mean rate of amyloid formation in AD and PSP samples was significantly different from that of negative control brains at p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively (Figure 4(b)).

Figure 4.

Tauopathy detection with 2N3R/2N4R substrate mixture. (a) ThT fluorescence curves for AD, Pick’s, PSP and no-disease brain controls using a 50:50 molar mix of 2N3R/2N4R substrate. (b) Time to threshold for 11 AD, 4 Pick’s, 3 PSP, and 2 FTLD brains and 2 no-disease controls in 2N3R/2N4R substrate, 1:100 brain dilution. Eight replicates for each sample are shown. Combined 3 R-4 R r-tau substrate produced the best compromise of sensitivity and selectivity vs. age-appropriate no-disease control brains

Detection of tau seeding in tauopathy mouse brains

We assessed the tau 2N4R/2N3R tau substrate in brains of P301S B6 tauopathy pre-disposed mice expressing the 1N4R human tau gene with the P301S point mutation [24]. Cohorts of mice were euthanized according to pre-determined schedule of 3, 6, 9, or 12 months of age. Most of the mice analysed were in stage 1 disease, characterized by hind-limb grasping without weight loss or limb weakness [24]. Some mice euthanized at 12 months had progresses to stage 4 disease (clinical signs included weight loss, hunched back, and hind leg paralysis). Brain samples were prepared and tested using the 2N4R/2N3R tau substrate and the same preparation and RT-QuIC reaction conditions used for the above human samples. Three to four mouse brains were tested from each age cohort along with two clinical mouse brains as positive controls and B6 non-transgenic mice as negative controls. These assays demonstrated statistically significant differences in tau seeding in the brains of P301S mice euthanized at 6, 9, or 12 months compared with the B6 control mouse cohort (Figure 5). Brains from clinically affected mice produced shorter times to threshold compared with brains from asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic mice (Figure 5).

Figure 5.

Preclinical detection of tauopathy in mice. Tau seeding activity was detected in brains of P301S mice collected at 3, 6, 9, and 12-months of age using the equimolar 2N4R/2N3R r-tau substrate. Data shown are based on 3–4 mouse pooled mouse brains at each timepoint. Y axis = time to threshold crossing

Discussion

In the interest of contributing to the search for sensitive indicators to detect neurodegenerative diseases, we explored the use of the RT-QuIC seeding assays using full length recombinant tau substrates [25]. We observed seeding activity in AD and other tauopathy brain samples vs. a limited number of non-disease, age-appropriate human brain samples using 2N3R, 2N4R, or 2N3R/2N4R r-tau substrate mixture (Figures 2(b), 3(b), and 4(b)). We found the equi-molar 2N3R/2N4R r-tau mixture to produce the best combination of sensitive and specific detection with both 2N3R and 2N3R/2N4R mixed tau substrates.

It has been previously shown that a limitation in tauopathy detection is a strain-like variance imparted by the misfolded isoform(s) involved [19,20,22,23]. While we did not see seed-specific detection of tauopathy, as reported by Metrick and colleagues [22,23], using full length substrates we were able to detect seeding activity in 3 R, 4 R, or a 3 R/4 R tauopathy brains diluted up to 1000 fold (Figure 1(b)). This later finding supports those previously reported by of Weismiller et al. [26] who demonstrated that the 3 R/4 R tau cross-seeding barrier was reduced when full-length tau (htau40) was used [26]. However, we also found that detection was more selective when substrate and disease isoform were matched, or alternatively, a 3 R/4 R mixture was used (Figures 2(b), 3(b) and 4(b)). We do acknowledge that a significant limitation in conclusions possible in these studies is imposed by the small cohort of non-disease brains available to us.

We detected tau seeding activity prior to the onset of clinical symptoms in longitudinally sacrificed P301S mice. This would appear not to precede the detection of phosphorylated insoluble tau or hippocampal synapse loss in P301S mice as described by Lee and other investigators [27–31] (Figure 5). However, both of the above findings reinforce the basis for use of tau as a preclinical marker of neurodegenerative disorders. Here we demonstrate that the use of full-length tau substrates or mixture thereof can detect multiple tauopathies in hope that these findings will contribute to the further development of seeded amplification approaches for early detection of AD and other tauopathies.

Materials and methods

Tau preparation and purification

Full length 2N4R and 2N3R tau constructs were synthesized (Invitrogen) with point mutations changing cysteine to serine at residues 291 and 322 for 2N4R tau and 322 for 2N3R tau. Tau constructs were then placed in the pET 100 plasmid (Invitrogen) with a histidine tag. Recombinant 2N4R and 2N3R Tau was expressed in BL21 Escherichia coli (Novagen). Bacteria were cultured until the optical density at 600 nm (OD₆₀₀) was 0.5–0.7 and expression was induced with 100 mM IPTG (sigma) for 3 hours. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and resuspended in 50 mM Na₂HPO₄, pH 6.8, 1 mM PMSF, HALT protease inhibitors (Pierce) and frozen overnight. The cell suspension was thawed, and cells were lysed by 3 rounds of sonication for 1 minute followed by a 5-minute rest on ice. The lysed cells were then boiled for 15 minutes and centrifuged at 12,000 rpm for 20 minutes. The supernatant was filtered through a 0.45 µM filter and applied to a His Trap HP (GE) column, equilibrated in 50 mM imidazole and 50 mM Na₂HPO_4, pH 6.8, and eluted with an increasing gradient of imidazole to 0.5 M. Fractions with protein were collected and run through a HiPrep (GE) desalting column in buffer A (50 mM NaCl and 50 mM Na₂HPO_4, pH 6.8) and were pooled. The pooled protein was finally loaded onto a HiTrap SP (GE) in the presence of buffer A and tau was eluted off of the column with a linear gradient of NaCl. Fractions containing the protein were collected, filtered with a 0.22 µm filter and a BCA assay (Pierce) was used to determine protein concentration. Protein was diluted to 30 µM concentration and stored at 4℃ until use.

Sample preparation

Diseased and healthy human brain samples (Banner Sun Health Research Institute Brain and Body Donation Program, Sun City, AZ and New York University Alzheimer’s Disease Centre) were homogenized in phosphate buffer solution (150 mM NaCl, 20 mM Na₂HPO₄, pH 7.4) at a 10% w/v with protease inhibitors (sigma). Samples consisted of parts of occipital lobe or frontal cortex in brains with tauopathy categorized as Braak stage V–VI [32]. There was no detectable difference in seeding activity between the different brain regions. Fifty millilitres of the brain homogenates were spun for 2 minutes at 5000 rpm, the supernatant was discarded, and the pellet subjected to 2 rounds of ethanol precipitation treatment. For ethanol precipitation, pellets were resuspended in 100 µl 100% ethanol for 5 minutes and spun at 14,000 rpm for 5 minutes, and the supernatant was discarded. After 2 rounds of ethanol treatment, the pellets were washed in 100 µl PBS and spun at 14,000 rpm for 5 minutes. The resultant pellet was resuspended in N2 in PBS to the appropriate dilution.

All animal studies were approved by Colorado State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) and animals were handled in accordance with the protocols. Control B6 and B6; C3-Tg(Prnp-MAPT*P301S)PS19Vle/J hemizygous mice were purchased (Jackson laboratories) and mated. P301S hemizygous mice were genotyped and euthanized at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age to assess disease progression. Mouse brains were collected and frozen at −80℃ until use. P301S mice that progressed to stage 4 clinical status, as determined by two individuals, before 12 months of age were euthanized and their brains collected and frozen. Mouse clinical stages were reported from 0 to 4 with Stage 0 showing no signs of abnormal behaviour. Stage 1 disease was characterized as hind limb grasping when lifted by the tail. Most mice exhibited this trait as early as 3 months of age. Stages 2–3 included an increase in motor deficit defined by hind limb weakness and paresis. Stage 3 mice also exhibited weight loss. Stage 4 disease consisted of hind-limb paralysis, increased weight-loss and a hunched posture. Only clinical mice reached Stage 4 disease and all other time-point collected mice were scored as Stage 1. Mice seemed to progress from Stage 2 to 4 within weeks, so euthanasia and tissue collection occurred at clinical stage (Stage 4) for all mice exhibiting Stage 2 or above symptoms. For testing, a sagittal section of mouse brain was homogenized in PBS at a 10% w/v with protease inhibitors. Mouse brains were treated the same as human brains includ-ing an initial 2-minute spin to separate the pellet and supernatant followed by ethanol precipitation and resuspension in N2 in PBS.

RT-QuIC tau assay

RT-QuIC experiments were carried out in black, optical-bottom 96-well (Nunc) plates with each well containing 20 µM recombinant Tau substrate, 15 mM Tris 200 67 mM NaCl, 0.83 mM KCl, 10 µM Heparin (sigma) and 1 mM Thioflavin T. Two microlitres of the sample mixture were added to each well of the plate. RT-QuIC experiments were carried out in a BMG Labtech Polarstar fluorometer/plate reader, with each cycle consisting of 1 minute of shaking at 700 rpm using a double-orbital setting followed by one minute of rest for 15 minutes. Fluorescence readings with an excitation of 450 nm and emission of 480 nm were conducted at the end of each 15-minute rest/shake cycle. The plate was read with 20 flashes per well with an orbital average of 4. Experiments consisted of 200 cycles (2N3R substrate and 2N3R/2N4R substrate mix) or 400 cycles (2N4R substrate) of fluorescent reading and an experimental well was deemed positive if the fluorescence in the well surpassed 20 standard deviations of the mean baseline of the wells. The time it took a sample to become positive was determined by the time-to-threshold calculator in the BMG Mars software. A Mann-Whitney T-Test was used to determine if samples were positive compared to the negative brain controls.

Funding Statement

This work was supported under announcement W81XWH-16-1-0577 under the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program Office and issued by the US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity as part of the Peer Reviewed Alzheimer’s Disease Research Program, Convergence Science Research Award Program. This work was also supported by The Brain and Body Donation Program supported by the National Institute on Aging (P30 AG19610 Arizona Alzheimer’s Disease Core Center), the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission (contracts 4001, 0011, 05-901 and 1001 to the Arizona Parkinson’s Disease Consortium).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.