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Extracellular neurofibrillary tangles reflect neuronal loss and provide further evidence of extensive protein cross-linking in Alzheimer disease

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Abstract

In this report we quantitatively assess the numbers of intracellular and extracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) in the brains of a series of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and of controls and correlate these with neuronal loss. Our data indicate that in some cases, NFT are not removed from the brain throughout the disease process. This finding, together with our previous demonstration of carbonyl-related modifications in NFT, provides additional evidence that the protein constituents of NFT are resistant to proteolytic removal, possibly as a result of extensive cross-links. Additionally, correlation between the number of NFT and neuronal loss indicates that there are at least two distinct mechanisms responsible for neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease that are directly and indirectly related to the presence of neurofibrillary pathology.

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Author notes

  1. Patrick Cras

    Present address: Born-Bunge Foundation, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Case Western Researve University, 2085 Adelbert Road, 44106, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Patrick Cras, Mark A. Smith, Peggy L. Richey, Sandra L. Siedlak, Paul Mulvihill & George Perry

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  1. Patrick Cras
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  2. Mark A. Smith
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  3. Peggy L. Richey
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  4. Sandra L. Siedlak
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  5. Paul Mulvihill
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Cras, P., Smith, M.A., Richey, P.L. et al. Extracellular neurofibrillary tangles reflect neuronal loss and provide further evidence of extensive protein cross-linking in Alzheimer disease. Acta Neuropathol 89, 291–295 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309621

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309621

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