MAPT (microtubule-associated protein tau) antibodies are essential tools in neuroscience research, particularly for studying tauopathies—a group of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and frontotemporal dementia. The MAPT gene encodes tau, a protein predominantly expressed in neurons, where it stabilizes microtubules and supports axonal transport. Pathologically, hyperphosphorylation, aggregation, or mutations in tau lead to neurofibrillary tangles, a hallmark of tauopathies.
MAPT antibodies target specific epitopes or post-translational modifications of tau, enabling researchers to distinguish between physiological and pathological forms. Commonly used antibodies recognize phosphorylation sites (e.g., AT8. AT100), aggregation-prone regions, or isoforms generated by alternative splicing (e.g., 3R/4R tau). These antibodies are employed in techniques like immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and ELISA to assess tau distribution, modification, and aggregation in cellular models, animal studies, and human tissues.
Clinically, MAPT antibodies aid in diagnosing tauopathies by detecting pathological tau in cerebrospinal fluid or via imaging probes. They also underpin therapeutic development, including tau-targeted immunotherapies. However, challenges remain in ensuring antibody specificity, as tau exhibits structural diversity and shared epitopes with other proteins. Ongoing research focuses on refining antibody designs to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy in combating tau-driven neurodegeneration.