Three-Repeat Tau with Grain-Like Structures and Distribution in an 83-Year-Old Man

J Alzheimers Dis. 2017;58(3):681-685. doi: 10.3233/JAD-160672.

Abstract

We encountered an 83-year-old man with 3-repeat dominant grain-like tau deposition. Tau-positive lesions exhibited apparent similarity to argyrophilic grains in terms of their distribution in the ambient gyrus, amygdala, and dorsomedial temporal tip and the characteristic comma-like morphology. The abundant oligodendroglial tau immunoreactivities were 3-repeat dominant. Tuft-shaped astrocytes showed partial 3-repeat tau immnoreactivities. These grain-like structures, as well as tuft-shaped astrocytes and oligodendroglia, exhibited predominant 3-repeat tau immunoreactivity, suggesting that grain-like structures and their characteristic distribution are mutually linked and not unique to 4-repeat tau deposition. pTDP immunoreactivity, extensive macrophage infiltration, and spongiosis were associated with these 3-repeat tau deposits.

Keywords: 3-repeat tau; TDP-43; ambient gyrus; amygdala; astrocytic tau immunoreactivity; grain; oligodendroglial tau immunoreactivity; temporal tip.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Tauopathies / metabolism*
  • Tauopathies / pathology*
  • tau Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • MAPT protein, human
  • tau Proteins