Fig. 9
FTL co-localizes with glial tau pathology in cortical tissue from primary tauopathy cases. A FTL was highly enriched in cells with a microglia-like morphology in AD tissue (series 1) and did not co-localize NFTs (series 2–3) or other AD neuritic pathology (series 4). B PiD neuronal inclusions were negative for FTL (series 1–3, unfilled arrowheads). Glial inclusions located in the white matter were markedly co-localized with FTL (series 2–3). C PSP CBs (series 1) and some TAs (series 2–3) were positive for FTL and AT8, while GLO-NFTs did not associate with FTL signal (series 4). D CBD APs showed strong co-localization within the corona of tau positive distal extensions with FTL decorating various sizes of APs (series 1). In most cases, FTL-positive cells were often found close to the center of developing APs (series 2). FTL also co-localized with CBs (series 3), and some NTs (series 4). E Quantification of FTL-positive phospho-tau lesions from n = 3 cases/tauopathy showing the relative area of overlap between AT8 and FTL in tauopathy lesions. Modified violin plots with data points show individual lesions plotted against relative overlap area. Lesions are categorized into co-localization categories based on their relative area of overlap. Red lines indicate median values. Pie charts underneath the violin plots illustrate the relative proportions of lesions with different degrees of co-localization. F Quantification of absolute areas of overlap between AT8 and FTL per individual tauopathy lesions from n = 3 cases/tauopathy, Modified violin plot with data points show individual lesions plotted against absolute overlap area. Lesions are categorized into co-localization categories as in E. Red lines indicate median values. Abbreviations: AD, Alzheimer’s disease; PiD, Pick’s disease; CBD, corticobasal degeneration; PSP, progressive supranuclear palsy; NFTs, neurofibrillary tangles; TANCs, tangle-associated neuritic clusters; APs, astrocytic plaques; CBs, coiled bodies; PBs, Pick bodies; GT, glial tau; NTs, neuropil threads; NP, neuritic plaque; SPL, small phospho-tau lesions; TA, tufted astrocytes; GLO-NFT, globose NFTs