title: Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 induces alpha-synuclein expression via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway.
abstract: Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most frequent cause of autosomal-dominant Parkinson's disease (PD). The second known autosomal-dominant PD gene (SNCA) encodes alpha-synuclein, which is deposited in Lewy bodies, the neuropathological hallmark of PD. LRRK2 contains a kinase domain with homology to mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKKs) and its activity has been suggested to be a key factor in LRRK2-associated PD. Here we investigated the role of LRRK2 in signal transduction pathways to identify putative PD-relevant downstream targets. Over-expression of wild-type [wt]LRRK2 in human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells selectively activated the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) module. PD-associated mutants G2019S and R1441C, but not kinase-dead LRRK2, induced ERK phosphorylation to the same extent as [wt]LRRK2, indicating that this effect is kinase-dependent. However, ERK activation by mutant R1441C and G2019S was significantly slower than that for [wt]LRRK2, despite similar levels of expression. Furthermore, induction of the ERK module by LRRK2 was associated to a small but significant induction of SNCA, which was suppressed by treatment with the selective MAPK/ERK kinase inhibitor U0126. This pathway linking the two dominant PD genes LRRK2 and SNCA may offer an interesting target for drug therapy in both familial and sporadic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurodegeneration, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University Clinics Tübingen, Germany. icarballo@ir.vhebron.net
authors.forename: Iria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carballo-Carbajal
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weber-Endress
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rovelli
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wolozin
authors.forename: Christian L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patenge
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gasser
authors.forename: Philipp J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kahle
mesh_terms: D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D000071158:Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; D048370:MAP Kinase Kinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D009570:Nitriles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C113580:U 0126; D051844:alpha-Synuclein; C482128:MAP2K2 protein, human; C495280:LRRK2 protein, human; D000071158:Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048370:MAP Kinase Kinase 2