Microtubule-associated protein tau (p-tau217) (p-tau217)

Microtubule-associated protein tau phosphorylated at threonine 217 (p-tau217) is a pathological isoform of the tau protein and a primary biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. Under physiological conditions, tau protein binds to and stabilizes microtubules, facilitating essential axonal transport and structural integrity in neurons. In the presence of Alzheimer's pathology, tau becomes hyperphosphorylated at specific sites, including threonine 217, which causes it to detach from microtubules and aggregate into toxic neurotoxic neurofibrillary tangles. P-tau217 is highly specific to Alzheimer's disease and its levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid correlate strongly with the accumulation of both amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles. As a therapeutic target, p-tau217 is being addressed through passive immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as JNJ-63733657, which aim to neutralize extracellular tau seeds and halt the progression of neurodegeneration. Additionally, p-tau217 serves as a critical pharmacodynamic biomarker in clinical trials for anti-amyloid therapies, where its reduction indicates a positive impact on the underlying disease process.

Other names

Phospho-tau (Thr217)pT217-tauMAPT pT217Phosphorylated tau 217

Passive immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies to neutralize pathological tau seeds and inhibit the trans-synaptic spread of tau pathology.