Tau seeding in neurons enabled by transient endolysosomal perforations are confined within endolysosomes

Pathogenic tau assemblies propagate by templated seeding. For endocytosed fibrils to initiate aggregation of endogenous tau, a breach must occur in the limiting membrane of an endosome or lysosome. To study the route by which internalized tau seeds access cytosolic monomers and to identify the site of aggregate growth, we imaged live human iPSC-derived neurons (iNs) expressing tau P301L-eGFP after exposure to recombinant tau pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain-derived oligomers or fibrils. We detected seeded tau P301L-eGFP aggregation within late endosomes/lysosomes of iNs but not in undifferentiated iPSCs. Colocalization with a Dextran pH biosensor showed that the aggregates remained within the lumen of an intact, low-pH compartment. Reporters of endolysosomal injury and repair (endolysosomal recruitment cytosolic Galectin-3 and the ESCRT-III component IST1) did not change during seeding. Volume focused-ion-beam scanning electron microscopy showed fibrillar material exclusively inside membrane-bounded endolysosomes, with no membrane discontinuities in the fibril-containing compartments and with no evidence of cytosolic aggregates. Because tau and α-synuclein can cross-seed, we adapted a HaloTag pulse-chase assay to test for the persistence of trans-membrane access. AD fiber-containing endolysosomes progressively recruited cytosolic α-synuclein-Halo over days, with heterogeneous incorporation histories consistent with recurrent, self-limited access events rather than persistent rupture or terminal sealing. Pharmacologic inhibition of the endolysosomal lipid kinase PIKfyve with apilimod suppressed seeded tau aggregation and prevented neuronal toxicity. These data indicate that templated conversion proceeds within acidic, membrane-intact endolysosomes; tau seeding in neurons is enabled by transient, self-limited endolysosomal perforations yet remains confined to the endolysosomal lumen, and it requires PIKfyve-dependent PI(3,5)P₂.

Alzheimer’s disease; FIB-SEM; apilimod (PIKfyve inhibition); cell death prevention; compromised endolysosomes; intraluminal fibrils; tau.