The Eole of LRRK2 G2019S Mutation in Neuroinflammatory Processes and Its Relevance for Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease has been linked to a variety of environmental challenges involving both oxidative and inflammatory processes, however, genetics also clearly plays a role in these insults. The Gly-2019-Ser LRRK2 mutation is the most common mutation in both familial and sporadic Parkinson’s patients. Our current study investigates the interplay between the G2019S mutation and exposure to the bacterial endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide. In the current study mice were centrally infused with vehicle or LPS in order to determine whether an inflammatory insult would produce augmented pathology in G2019S mutant mice. LPS infusion into the SNc produced a trend towards reduction in SNc dopamine neurons in both G2019S mutants and WT animals. As expected LPS infusion also induced marked sickness behaviour and weight loss but the G2019S mutant mice showed a slower recovery. Overall, the present results do not support a major impact of G2019S LRRK2 mutation in increasing vulnerability to LPS insults.