Increasing amounts of tau protein were expressed in non-neuronal cells. When intracellular amounts reached a threshold level, tau protein was released to the extracellular culture medium in association with membrane vesicles. Hence, we propose that tau might be secreted through membrane vesicles as a cellular mechanism to eliminate the excess of tau protein, thereby avoiding its toxicity.
Copyright © 2011 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.