Selective LRRK2 kinase inhibition reduces phosphorylation of endogenous Rab10 and Rab12 in human peripheral mononuclear blood cells.

Genetic variation in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene is associated with risk of familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). To support clinical development of LRRK2 inhibitors as disease-modifying treatment in PD biomarkers for kinase activity, target engagement and kinase inhibition are prerequisite tools. In a combined proteomics and phosphoproteomics study on human peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs) treated with the LRRK2 inhibitor Lu AF58786 a number of putative biomarkers were identified. Among the phospho-site hits were known LRRK2 sites as well as two phospho-sites on human Rab10 and Rab12. LRRK2 dependent phosphorylation of human Rab10 and human Rab12 at positions Thr73 and Ser106, respectively, was confirmed in HEK293 and, more importantly, Rab10-pThr73 inhibition was validated in immune stimulated human PBMCs using two distinct LRRK2 inhibitors. In addition, in non-stimulated human PBMCs acute inhibition of LRRK2 with two distinct LRRK2 inhibitor compounds reduced Rab10-Thr73 phosphorylation in a concentration-dependent manner with apparent IC50's equivalent to IC50's on LRRK2-pSer935. The identification of Rab10 phosphorylated at Thr73 as a LRRK2 inhibition marker in human PBMCs strongly support inclusion of assays quantifying Rab10-pThr73 levels in upcoming clinical trials evaluating LRRK2 kinase inhibition as a disease-modifying treatment principle in PD.

The Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor Syx regulates the balance of dia and ROCK activities to promote polarized-cancer-cell migration.

The role of RhoA in promoting directed cell migration has been complicated by studies showing that it is activated both in the front and the rear of migrating cells. We report here that the RhoA-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor Syx is required for the polarity of actively migrating brain and breast tumor cells. This function of Syx is mediated by the selective activation of the RhoA downstream effector Dia1, the subsequent reorganization of microtubules, and the downregulation of focal adhesions and actin stress fibers. The data argue that directed cell migration requires the precise spatiotemporal regulation of Dia1 and ROCK activities in the cell. The recruitment of Syx to the cell membrane and the subsequent selective activation of Dia1 signaling, coupled with the suppression of ROCK and activation of cofilin-mediated actin reorganization, plays a key role in establishing cell polarity during directed cell migration.

LRRK2 knockout mice have an intact dopaminergic system but display alterations in exploratory and motor co-ordination behaviors.

Mutations in the LRRK2 gene are the most common cause of genetic Parkinson's disease. Although the mechanisms behind the pathogenic effects of LRRK2 mutations are still not clear, data emerging from in vitro and in vivo models suggests roles in regulating neuronal polarity, neurotransmission, membrane and cytoskeletal dynamics and protein degradation.We created mice lacking exon 41 that encodes the activation hinge of the kinase domain of LRRK2. We have performed a comprehensive analysis of these mice up to 20 months of age, including evaluation of dopamine storage, release, uptake and synthesis, behavioral testing, dendritic spine and proliferation/neurogenesis analysis.Our results show that the dopaminergic system was not functionally comprised in LRRK2 knockout mice. However, LRRK2 knockout mice displayed abnormal exploratory activity in the open-field test. Moreover, LRRK2 knockout mice stayed longer than their wild type littermates on the accelerated rod during rotarod testing. Finally, we confirm that loss of LRRK2 caused degeneration in the kidney, accompanied by a progressive enhancement of autophagic activity and accumulation of autofluorescent material, but without evidence of biphasic changes.

Translation initiator EIF4G1 mutations in familial Parkinson disease.

Genome-wide analysis of a multi-incident family with autosomal-dominant parkinsonism has implicated a locus on chromosomal region 3q26-q28. Linkage and disease segregation is explained by a missense mutation c.3614G>A (p.Arg1205His) in eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4-gamma (EIF4G1). Subsequent sequence and genotype analysis identified EIF4G1 c.1505C>T (p.Ala502Val), c.2056G>T (p.Gly686Cys), c.3490A>C (p.Ser1164Arg), c.3589C>T (p.Arg1197Trp) and c.3614G>A (p.Arg1205His) substitutions in affected subjects with familial parkinsonism and idiopathic Lewy body disease but not in control subjects. Despite different countries of origin, persons with EIF4G1 c.1505C>T (p.Ala502Val) or c.3614G>A (p.Arg1205His) mutations appear to share haplotypes consistent with ancestral founders. eIF4G1 p.Ala502Val and p.Arg1205His disrupt eIF4E or eIF3e binding, although the wild-type protein does not, and render mutant cells more vulnerable to reactive oxidative species. EIF4G1 mutations implicate mRNA translation initiation in familial parkinsonism and highlight a convergent pathway for monogenic, toxin and perhaps virally-induced Parkinson disease.

VPS35 mutations in Parkinson disease.

The identification of genetic causes for Mendelian disorders has been based on the collection of multi-incident families, linkage analysis, and sequencing of genes in candidate intervals. This study describes the application of next-generation sequencing technologies to a Swiss kindred presenting with autosomal-dominant, late-onset Parkinson disease (PD). The family has tremor-predominant dopa-responsive parkinsonism with a mean onset of 50.6 ± 7.3 years. Exome analysis suggests that an aspartic-acid-to-asparagine mutation within vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35 c.1858G>A; p.Asp620Asn) is the genetic determinant of disease. VPS35 is a central component of the retromer cargo-recognition complex, is critical for endosome-trans-golgi trafficking and membrane-protein recycling, and is evolutionarily highly conserved. VPS35 c.1858G>A was found in all affected members of the Swiss kindred and in three more families and one patient with sporadic PD, but it was not observed in 3,309 controls. Further sequencing of familial affected probands revealed only one other missense variant, VPS35 c.946C>T; (p.Pro316Ser), in a pedigree with one unaffected and two affected carriers, and thus the pathogenicity of this mutation remains uncertain. Retromer-mediated sorting and transport is best characterized for acid hydrolase receptors. However, the complex has many types of cargo and is involved in a diverse array of biologic pathways from developmental Wnt signaling to lysosome biogenesis. Our study implicates disruption of VPS35 and retromer-mediated trans-membrane protein sorting, rescue, and recycling in the neurodegenerative process leading to PD.

P25α / TPPP expression increases plasma membrane presentation of the dopamine transporter and enhances cellular sensitivity to dopamine toxicity.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by preferential degeneration of the dopamine-producing neurons of the brain stem substantia nigra. Imbalances between mechanisms governing dopamine transport across the plasma membrane and cellular storage vesicles increase the level of toxic pro-oxidative cytosolic dopamine. The microtubule-stabilizing protein p25α accumulates in dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. We hypothesized that p25α modulates the subcellular localization of the dopamine transporter via effects on sorting vesicles, and thereby indirectly affects its cellular activity. Here we show that co-expression of the dopamine transporter with p25α in HEK-293-MSR cells increases dopamine uptake via increased plasma membrane presentation of the transporter. No direct interaction between p25α and the dopamine transporter was demonstrated, but they co-fractionated during subcellular fractionation of brain tissue from striatum, and direct binding of p25α peptides to brain vesicles was demonstrated. Truncations of the p25α peptide revealed that the requirement for stimulating dopamine uptake is located in the central core and were similar to those required for vesicle binding. Co-expression of p25α and the dopamine transporter in HEK-293-MSR cells sensitized them to the toxicity of extracellular dopamine. Neuronal expression of p25α thus holds the potential to sensitize the cells toward dopamine and toxins carried by the dopamine transporter.

A comparative study of Lrrk2 function in primary neuronal cultures.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the contribution of wild-type, mutant and loss of leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2; Lrrk2) on dendritic neuronal arborization. BACKGROUND: LRRK2 mutations are recognized as the major genetic determinant of susceptibility to Parkinson's disease for which a cellular assay of Lrrk2 mutant function would facilitate the development of targeted molecular therapeutics. METHODS: Dendritic neuronal arborization (neurite length, branching and the number of processes per cell) was quantified in primary hippocampal and midbrain cultures derived from five lines of recombinant LRRK2 mice, including human BAC wild-type and mutant overexpressors (Y1699C and G2019S), murine knock-out and G2019S knock-in animals. RESULTS: Neuronal arborization in cultures from BAC Lrrk2 wild-type animals is comparable to non-transgenic littermate controls, despite high levels of human transgene expression. In contrast, primary neurons from both BAC mutant overexpressors presented with significantly reduced neuritic outgrowth and branching, although the total number of processes per cell remained comparable. The mutant-specific toxic gain-of-function observed in cultures from BAC mutant mice may be partially rescued by staurosporine treatment, a non-specific kinase inhibitor. In contrast, neuronal arborization is far more extensive in neuronal cultures derived from murine knock-out mice that lack endogenous Lrrk2 expression. In Lrrk2 G2019S knock-in mice, arguably the most physiologically relevant system, neuritic arborization is not impaired. CONCLUSIONS: Impairment of neuritic arborization is an exaggerated, albeit mutant specific, consequence of Lrrk2 over-expression in primary cultures. The phenotype and assay described provides a means to develop therapeutic agents that modulate the toxic gain-of-function conferred by mutant Lrrk2.

Novel pathogenic LRRK2 p.Asn1437His substitution in familial Parkinson's disease.

Genealogical investigation of a large Norwegian family (F04) with autosomal dominant parkinsonism has identified 18 affected family members over four generations. Genetic studies have revealed a novel pathogenic LRRK2 mutation c.4309 A>C (p.Asn1437His) that co-segregates with disease manifestation (LOD = 3.15, θ = 0). Affected carriers have an early age at onset (48 ± 7.7 SD years) and are clinically asymmetric and levodopa responsive. The variant was absent in 623 Norwegian control subjects. Further screening of patients from the same population identified one additional affected carrier (1 of 692) with familial parkinsonism who shares the same haplotype. The mutation is located within the Roc domain of the protein and enhances GTP-binding and kinase activity, further implicating these activities as the mechanisms that underlie LRRK2-linked parkinsonism.

LRRK2 and Parkinson disease.

OBJECTIVES: To review the molecular genetics and functional biology of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) in parkinsonism and to summarize the opportunities and challenges to develop interventions for Parkinson disease (PD) based on this genetic insight. DATA SOURCES: Publications cited are focused on LRRK2 biology between 2004 and March 2009. STUDY SELECTION: Literature selected was based on original contributions, seminal observations, and thoughtful reviews. DATA EXTRACTION: Unless stated otherwise, data was primarily abstracted from peer-reviewed literature appearing on PubMed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Genetic mutations that predispose PD are diagnostically useful in early or atypical presentations. The molecular pathways identified suggest therapeutic interventions for Lrrk2 and idiopathic PD and the rationale and opportunity to develop physiologically relevant biomarkers and experimental models with which to test them. CONCLUSIONS: Both affected and asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers now provide the opportunity to define the natural history of PD. This includes the frequency, penetrance, and rate of motor symptoms, nonmotor comorbidities, and their associated biomarkers.

Heterodimerization of Lrrk1-Lrrk2: Implications for LRRK2-associated Parkinson disease.

LRRK2 mutations are recognized as the most frequent genetic cause of both familial and sporadic parkinsonism identified to date. A remarkable feature of this form of parkinsonism is the variable penetrance of symptom manifestation resulting in a wide range of age-at-onset in patients. Herein we use a functional approach to identify the Lrrk1 protein as a potential disease modifier demonstrating an interaction and heterodimer formation with Lrrk2. In addition, evaluation of LRRK1 variants in our large Lrrk2 p.G2019S-parkinsonism series from a Tunisian (n=145) identified a missense mutation (p.L416M) resulting in an average 6.2 years younger age at disease onset. In conclusion we show that the interaction of Lrrk1-Lrrk2 can form protein dimers and this interaction may influence the age of symptomatic manifestation in Lrrk2-parkinsonism patients.

Elucidating the genetics and pathology of Perry syndrome.

Perry syndrome is characterized clinically by autosomal dominantly inherited, rapidly progressive parkinsonism, depression, weight loss and hypoventilation. In the seven families reported previously and the two new families presented herein (the Hawaii family and the Fukuoka-4 Japanese family), the mean disease onset age is 48 years (range: 35-61) and the mean disease duration five years (range: 2-10). Histology and immunohistochemistry show severe neuronal loss in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus, with TDP-43-positive pathology in neurons (intranuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions, dystrophic neurites, axonal spheroids) and glial cells (glial cytoplasmic inclusions). Compared with other TDP-43-proteinopathies (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and ubiquitin-positive frontotemporal lobar degeneration), the distribution is unique in Perry syndrome with pallidonigral distribution and sparing of the cortex, hippocampus and motor neurons. The genetic cause of Perry syndrome was recently identified with five mutations in the dynactin gene (DCTN1) segregating with disease in eight families. DCTN1 encodes p150(glued), the major subunit of the dynactin protein complex, which plays a crucial role in retrograde axonal and cytoplasmic transport of various cargoes. Evidence suggests the Perry mutations alter the binding of p150(glued) to microtubules. Further studies will examine reasons for the vulnerability of selected neuronal populations in Perry syndrome, and the link between the genetic defect and TDP-43 pathology.

LINGO1 rs9652490 is associated with essential tremor and Parkinson disease.

Recently, a variant in LINGO1 (rs9652490) was found to associate with increased risk of essential tremor. We set out to replicate this association in an independent case-control series of essential tremor from North America. In addition, given the clinical and pathological overlap between essential tremor and Parkinson disease, we also evaluate the effect of LINGO1 rs9652490 in two case-control series of Parkinson disease. Our study demonstrates a significant association between LINGO1 rs9652490 and essential tremor (P = 0.014) and Parkinson disease (P = 0.0003), thus providing the first evidence of a genetic link between both diseases.

GCH1 expression in human cerebellum from healthy individuals is not gender dependent.

Dopa-responsive dystonia (DRD) is a familial childhood-onset disease characterized by fluctuating dystonia, associated with tremor and parkinsonism in some patients. In most families the disease displays autosomal dominant inheritance due to mutations in the GTP cyclohydrolase 1 gene (GCH1). Penetrance and symptom severity display strong female predominance for which gender-specific GCH1 expression has been hypothesized. In this study, GCH1 mRNA expression was measured in cerebellar tissue from 66 healthy human subjects (30 women), and in cerebellar and nigral tissue from eight individuals. No significant difference was found between men and women with small effect sizes observed. Although the correlation between cerebellar and nigral GCH1 expression remains to be further examined, this exploratory study does not support gender-specific GCH1 expression being the basis for the skewed gender distribution observed in DRD patients.

DCTN1 mutations in Perry syndrome.

Perry syndrome consists of early-onset parkinsonism, depression, severe weight loss and hypoventilation, with brain pathology characterized by TDP-43 immunostaining. We carried out genome-wide linkage analysis and identified five disease-segregating mutations affecting the CAP-Gly domain of dynactin (encoded by DCTN1) in eight families with Perry syndrome; these mutations diminish microtubule binding and lead to intracytoplasmic inclusions. Our findings show that DCTN1 mutations, previously associated with motor neuron disease, can underlie the selective vulnerability of other neuronal populations in distinct neurodegenerative disorders.

FGF20 and Parkinson's disease: no evidence of association or pathogenicity via alpha-synuclein expression.

Genetic variation in fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20) has been associated with risk of Parkinson's disease (PD). Functional evidence suggested the T allele of one SNP, rs12720208 C/T, altered PD risk by increasing FGF20 and alpha-synuclein protein levels. Herein we report our association study of FGF20 and PD risk in four patient-control series (total: 1,262 patients and 1,881 controls), and measurements of FGF20 and alpha-synuclein protein levels in brain samples (nine patients). We found no evidence of association between FGF20 variability and PD risk, and no relationship between the rs12720208 genotype, FGF20 and alpha-synuclein protein levels.

Proteasomal inhibition reduces parkin mRNA in PC12 and SH-SY5Y cells.

Mutations in the gene encoding the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase parkin have been shown to be a common genetic cause of familial early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD). In addition to its function in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), parkin has been ascribed general neuroprotective properties. Stress and mutation induced decreases in parkin solubility leading to compromised cytoprotection have recently been reported. We systematically investigated whether PD-related stresses including MG132 and epoxomicin (proteasomal impairment), tunicamycin (unfolded protein stress), and rotenone (mitochondrial dysfunction) resulted in expressional changes of parkin and other E3 ubiquitin ligases (dorfin, SIAH-1). Rotenone and tunicamycin did not change parkin mRNA levels, whereas proteasomal inhibition resulted in a reduction of parkin mRNA in PC12 cells as well as in SH-SY5Y cells. Therefore, surprisingly, cells did not react with a compensatory parkin upregulation under proteasomal inhibition, although, in parallel, parkin protein shifted to the insoluble fraction, reducing soluble parkin levels in the cytosol. Since the mRNA of the parkin-coregulated gene PACRG paralleled the parkin mRNA at least partly, we suspect a promoter-driven mechanism. Our study, therefore, shows a link between proteasomal impairment and parkin expression levels in cell culture, which is intriguing in the context of the described and debated proteasomal dysfunction in the substantia nigra of PD patients.

Identification of potential protein interactors of Lrrk2.

Pathogenic substitutions in the Lrrk2 protein have been shown to be an important cause of both familial and sporadic parkinsonism. The molecular pathway involved in Lrrk2 dopaminergic neuron degeneration remains elusive. Employing a combination of Lrrk2-mediated protein precipitation and tandem mass spectrometry, we identified 14 potential Lrrk2 binding partners. The majority of these interactions may be subgrouped into three functional cellular pathways: (i) chaperone-mediated response, (ii) proteins associated with the cytoskeleton and trafficking and (iii) phosphorylation and kinase activity. Future investigation of these candidates is now warranted and may help resolve the pathomechanism behind Lrrk2 neurodegeneration.

Lrrk2 G2385R is an ancestral risk factor for Parkinson's disease in Asia.

The goal of genetic association studies is to identify common (>5%) risk factors in complex disease traits. Herein we describe the first replicable 'functional' risk allele for Parkinson's disease. The leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (Lrrk2) G2385R substitution is associated with familial parkinsonism, late-, and early-onset Parkinson's disease in ethnic Chinese Taiwanese. Crucially, we provide evidence of identity-by-descent and suggest that Lrrk2 G2385R carriers originate from one ancestor some 4800 years ago, at the start of Chinese civilization. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that common genetic coding variants contribute to Parkinson's disease in a population specific manner which may have important implications for future genome-wide association studies.

Lrrk2 G2019S substitution in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-immunoreactive neuronal inclusions.

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutation carriers can develop clinical symptoms other than typical parkinsonism such as dementia, amyotrophy or dystonia. To determine if LRRK2 mutations might be involved in frontotemporal dementia (FTD), 5 individuals with multiplex familial FTD kindreds and 41 pathologically confirmed cases of FTD, including 23 with a family history of dementia, were screened for genetic variations in the LRRK2 gene. We identified a LRRK2 mutation leading to the G2019S amino acid substitution in a 79-year-old woman with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitinated neuronal intranuclear inclusions (FTLD-U/NII) and a possible family history of tremor. These findings may be coincidental; however, there is a small nucleus of LRRK2-positive patients displaying atypical features suggesting a role for this protein in other neurodegenerative disorders.