Molecular pathology of transgenic tau mice

Tau protein is a major component of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in Alzheimer's disease. Mutations in the tau gene cause frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). Tau filament formation without Aβ accumulation is one of the characteristics of FTDP-17. Discovery of mutations in the gene demonstrated that dysfunction of tau can cause neurodegeneration and dementia. Several lines of transgenic (Tg) mice carrying tau mutations found in families with FTDP-17 have been generated to clarify the mechanism of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders characterized by aberrant accumulation of tau protein in the central nervous system (tauopathy). In the present article, we make a review on transgenic tau mice, which would be of great help for the solution of molecular pathology and the establishment of therapeutics for tauopathy.