Arc mediates intercellular tau transmission via extracellular vesicles

Abstract

Tau pathology spreads cell to cell, but the mechanisms of intercellular tau transmission remain unclear. We find that the neuronal gene Arc is critical for the release of tau in neuronal extracellular vesicles (EVs) via a direct protein-protein interaction. Brain EVs purified from transgenic rTg4510 mutant tau mice (rTgWT) crossed with Arc knockout mice (rTgArc KO) contain less tau and reduced tau seeding potential. Both Arc and tau are co-packaged in mouse and human brain-derived EVs. Moreover, Arc levels in brain-derived EVs isolated from human Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains show a strong positive correlation with phosphorylated EV-tau levels. rTgArc KO mice have increased accumulation of intracellular tau and a modest increase in cell toxicity early in disease progression. Strikingly, intercellular tau transmission is almost absent in Arc KO mice. These results show that Arc is critical for the packaging of tau in EVs, which plays a significant role in intercellular tau transmission.