Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42251444›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's research & therapy2026

FKBP51 inhibition by SAFit2 modulates tau pathology and cognitive deficits in PS19 mice.

Andrea Contreras-Marciales, Daniela Mezquite-Garcia, Laura A Verdina, Ahmed Elnahrawy, Tiara Wolf, Jennifer Guergues, Priyanshi Parikh, Elle R Hunter, Diana Hernandez Acosta, Stanley M Stevens and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Andrea Contreras-MarcialesByrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
Daniela Mezquite-GarciaByrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
Laura A VerdinaByrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
Ahmed ElnahrawyDepartment of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, USA.
Tiara WolfDepartment of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, USA.
Jennifer GuerguesDepartment of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, USA.
Priyanshi ParikhByrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
Elle R HunterByrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
Diana Hernandez AcostaByrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
Stanley M StevensDepartment of Molecular Biosciences, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL, USA.
Shannon E HillByrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA.
Laura J BlairByrd Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute, 4001 E. Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL, 33613, USA. laurablair@usf.edu.

Funding

The Hsp90 cochaperone FKBP51 regulates tau structure and functionR01NS073899 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA · PI Laura J Blair · 2011 to 2026
$6.9M
Alzheimer's Association AARG-22-974562BLRD VA I01 BX004626NIA NIH HHS R01 NS073899NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS073899U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs I01 BX004626
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The accumulation of pathogenic tau protein is linked to cognitive decline and neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD), with tau oligomers identified as particularly neurotoxic. The 51 kDa FK506-binding protein (FKBP51) stabilizes these toxic tau oligomers and has been identified as a risk factor for several neurodegenerative diseases. FKBP51 levels increase with age and are especially high in AD brains, suggesting its involvement in disease progression. The development of the selective FKBP51 inhibitor, SAFit2, which can cross the blood-brain barrier, has shown promise in reducing stress hormones, improving stress responses, and mitigating protein-related pathologies in other neurodegenerative models. However, the effects of SAFit2 on tauopathies, such as those seen in AD, have not yet been investigated. Here, the effects of the FKBP51-selective inhibitor, SAFit2, were evaluated in PS19 tau transgenic mice. Mice received a 28-day regimen of SAFit2, followed by comprehensive behavioral, neuropathological, and proteomic analyses. SAFit2 demonstrated effective brain penetrance, with sex-dependent pharmacokinetics. Treatment slowed cognitive decline and depressive-like behavior, with pronounced benefits in male PS19 mice, including improved spatial memory and reduced tau oligomer burden. In females, SAFit2 promoted clearance of AT8-positive tau multimers with some benefit to recognition memory. Proteomic profiling revealed distinct molecular signatures underlying these sex-specific responses: males exhibited upregulation of RNA processing and ribosomal proteins, while females showed restoration of calcium signaling and synaptic drivers. Notably, behavioral recovery occurred independently of widespread neuroinflammation reversal. These findings provide the first in vivo evidence that FKBP51 inhibition by SAFit2 induces sex-specific remodeling of the brain proteome. This study also provides further evidence for the therapeutic benefits of targeting FKBP51 for tauopathies.

Indexed as

Cognitive DysfunctionTacrolimus Binding ProteinsTauopathiestau ProteinsAnimalsBrainDisease Models, AnimalFemaleHumansMaleMiceMice, TransgenicMorpholinesPiperidinesTacrolimus Binding Protein 5MorpholinesPiperidinesSAFit2Tacrolimus Binding Protein 5Tacrolimus Binding Proteinstau ProteinsFK506-binding proteinFKBP51Mass spectrometrySAFit2TauTransgenic mice

Identifiers

PMID42251444
PMCPMC13463937

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.