Transmission iatrogène des protéines β-amyloïde et tau : importance clinique et pour la recherche biomédicale sur la maladie d’Alzheimer

International audienceSince the discovery of the transmissible nature of prion diseases, other neurodegenerative diseases have been suspected of being transmissible. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by brain deposits of β-amyloid peptide (Aβ, forming amyloid plaques and angiopathy) and hyperphosphorylated Tau proteins (neurofibrillary tangles, neuropil thread, neuritic plaques). Several epidemiological studies suggest the iatrogenic transmission of β-amyloid deposits in 75 humans following various medico-surgical procedures. This transmission would have, in some cases, a major clinical impact that could lead to fatality by cerebral hemorrhages. Beyond this clinical importance, the transmission of β-amyloid and tau proteins has allowed the creation of novel animal models to explore fundamental mechanisms associated to Alzheimer's disease. These models are revolutionizing research on neurodegenerative diseases