Title:The Role of LRRK2 in Neurodegeneration of Parkinson Disease
Volume: 16
Issue: 9
Author(s): Qin Rui, Haibo Ni, Di Li, Rong Gao*Gang Chen
Affiliation:
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First People`s Hospital of Zhangjiagang City, Suzhou, Jiangsu,China
Keywords:
Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2, MAPK, α-synuclein, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, microglia, Parkinson`s
disease.
Abstract: The leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene and α-synuclein gene (SNCA) are the
key influencing factors of Parkinson’s disease (PD). It is reported that dysfunction of LRRK2 may
influence the accumulation of α-synuclein and its pathology to alter cellular functions and signaling
pathways by the kinase activation of LRRK2. The accumulation of α-synuclein is one of the main
stimulants of microglial activation. Microglia are macrophages that reside in the brain, and activation
of microglia is believed to contribute to neuroinflammation and neuronal death in PD. Therefore,
clarifying the complex relationship among LRRK2, α-synuclein and microglials could offer
targeted clinical therapies for PD. Here, we provide an updated review focused on the discussion of
the evidence supporting some of the key mechanisms that are important for LRRK2-dependent
neurodegeneration in PD.
