Microtubule-associated protein tau, aggregated phosphorylated form (tau (when referring to protein); p-tau (for phosphorylated tau); aggregated p-tau or PHF-tau (for pathological aggregates))

Aggregated phosphorylated tau refers to pathological assemblies of tau protein that have undergone excessive phosphorylation, a post-translational modification. In healthy neurons, tau stabilizes microtubules and maintains axonal transport. In neurodegenerative diseases, especially Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies, tau becomes aberrantly phosphorylated at multiple serine and threonine residues, leading to its dissociation from microtubules. Hyperphosphorylated tau self-associates into insoluble aggregates, forming paired helical filaments (PHFs) and straight filaments that accumulate as neurofibrillary tangles in the neuronal cytoplasm. These aggregates disrupt neuronal function and are central to the pathogenesis of tauopathies. Aggregated phosphorylated tau is a validated and widely studied therapeutic target for disease-modification strategies in neurodegenerative diseases, being the focus of active drug development including antibodies, small molecules, and kinase inhibitors.

Other names

Hyperphosphorylated tauPaired helical filament tau (PHF-tau)Neurofibrillary tangle tau (NFT-tau)p-tau aggregates

Prevention of tau aggregation; Promotion of tau clearance (immunotherapy); Inhibition of tau kinases to reduce phosphorylation; Blockade of cell-to-cell spread of tau aggregates