TMEM59 deficiency activates chaperone-mediated autophagy and ameliorates disease-like pathologies in tauopathy model mice

INTRODUCTION: Tauopathy is characterized by the pathology of tau deposits in the brain. Transmembrane protein 59 (TMEM59) is correlated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common type of tauopathy. However, whether and how TMEM59 regulates tau pathology remains unknown. METHODS: We analyzed TMEM59 levels in the brains of AD patients and the tau(P301S) transgenic (PS19) mice, evaluated behaviors and tauopathy-related pathologies in PS19 mice with TMEM59 haploinsufficiency, and studied the regulation of TMEM59 on chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) using biochemical analysis. RESULTS: TMEM59 levels increased in the brains of AD patients and PS19 mice at pathological stages. TMEM59 haploinsufficiency attenuated cognitive deficits and disease-related pathologies in PS19 mice. TMEM59 deficiency promoted lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2A levels and CMA activity, whereas TMEM59 overexpression had the opposite effects. DISCUSSION: Our study identifies an important role of TMEM59 in regulating CMA and reveals the potential of targeting TMEM59 for tauopathy intervention. HIGHLIGHTS: Transmembrane protein 59 (TMEM59) levels increase in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients and the tau(P301S) transgenic (PS19) tauopathy model mice at pathological stages. TMEM59 haploinsufficiency attenuates cognitive deficits, neurodegeneration, synapse dysfunction, gliosis, neuroinflammation, and tau pathology in PS19 mice. TMEM59 interacts with lysosome-associated membrane protein type 2A and heat-shock cognate 71 kDa and regulates chaperone-mediated autophagy. TMEM59 may serve as a therapeutic target for tauopathy.