Characterization and Use of Monoclonal Antibodies to Tau and Paired Helical FilamentTau

Antibodies to the microtubule-associated protein tau have been used for more than a decade, both in studies of the role of tau neuronal function, and in examination of the neurofibrillary pathology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The vast majority of the available antibodies have been produced with preparations obtained from the brains of patients with AD, although a few antibodies have been generated with tau purified from bovine brain. This chapter restricts discussion to the production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies, although some investigators continue to use affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies. The opinions expressed in this chapter are based on the author’s experience in the production of several series of monoclonal antibodies to tau and paired helical filaments (PHF-tau) over the last 10 yr. There is no doubt that modifications in the procedures described can be developed for specific purposes, but the discussion is confined to those methods that we have found to be reliable and informative.