OTULIN Regulates Tau in Neurons, Opening Alzheimer’s Therapy Avenues

Researchers at the University of New Mexico found that OTULIN, an enzyme known for immune regulation, also controls tau production in neurons. By inhibiting OTULIN with a small molecule or knocking out the OTULIN gene, they stopped new tau formation and cleared existing tau in human neuron models, suggesting a novel target for treating Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies. The findings also linked OTULIN to RNA metabolism and inflammatory pathways, and researchers note the need to study effects across different brain cell types before pursuing therapies.