Antibody specific to central nervous system tau protein

1. An isolated antibody specific to a central nervous system (CNS) tau protein, wherein the antibody specifically recognizes a CNS tau protein but not a peripheral tau protein, wherein the antibody is obtained by immunizing an animal with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence specific to the CNS tau protein consisting of amino acid residues 124-125 of SEQ ID NO: 1 and wherein the antibody specifically recognizes the amino acid sequence specific to CNS tau protein as contained in a polypeptide consisting of amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 121-128 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 118-131 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and 121-129 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

2. The antibody according to claim 1 , wherein the antibody is obtained by immunizing the animal with a polypeptide which has a length of 5 to 20 amino acid residues and comprises the amino acid sequence specific to the CNS tau protein.

3. A reagent kit for detecting Alzheimer's disease comprising at least the antibody as claimed in claim 1 .

4. A method of producing an antibody specific to a CNS tau protein comprising:

immunizing an animal with a polypeptide containing an amino acid sequence specific to a CNS tau protein as an antigen, wherein the amino acid sequence specific to a CNS tau protein consists of amino acid residues 124-125 of SEQ ID NO: 1;

analyzing reactivity of a resulting antibody with the CNS tau protein and a peripheral tau protein; and

selecting an antibody having reactivity specific to the CNS tau protein, wherein the antibody specifically recognizes the amino acid sequence specific to CNS tau protein as contained in a polypeptide consisting of amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 121-128 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 118-131 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and 121-129 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the immunizing polypeptide is 5 to 20 amino acid residues in length and comprises the amino acid sequence specific to the CNS tau protein.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the immunizing polypeptide consists of sequential amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of 121-128 of SEQ ID NO: 1, 118-131 of SEQ ID NO: 1, and 121-129 of SEQ ID NO: 1.

7. A method of detecting tauopathy in an individual suspected of having a tauopathy by determining a level of a central nervous system (CNS) tau protein in a sample obtained from the individual, said method comprising:

contacting the antibody according to claim 1 with the sample obtained from the individual suspected of tauopathy under conditions sufficient for formation of a complex between the antibody and any CNS tau protein in the sample,

detecting the complex as an indication of the level of CNS tau protein in the sample, and

determining tauopathy in the individual if an elevated level of CNS tau is detected in the sample compared to levels of CNS tau protein in samples from control patients without a tauopathy.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the tauopathy is Alzheimer's disease.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the sample has been treated by denaturation in the presence of a protein-solubilizing agent to remove concomitant proteins.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the sample has been further treated by condensation.

11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the sample is blood.

12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the contacting and detecting steps are performed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.