Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder, affecting approximately 5 million people worldwide. PD is characterized by the clinical triad of resting tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia. The neuropathological hallmarks of PD are progressive degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra and the presence of intraneuronal cytoplasmic inclusions known as Lewy bodies. Mutations in the LRRK2 and ?-synuclein genes are the most common genetic cause of PD, but the mechanisms underlying these mutations are still unclear. Emerging experimental evidence suggests intriguing common pathogenic mechanisms between these two dominant PD genes. For example, LRRK2 is an essential regulator of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway, of which ?-synuclein is a substrate. Disruption of this pathway may explain DA neurodegeneration in PD, as impaired autophagy function caused by conditional deletion of genes encoding autophagy-related proteins leads to neurodegeneration during aging. However, how LRRK2 regulates autophagy and whether PD mutations affect its role in autophagy regulation remain to be elucidated. Furthermore, ?-synuclein aggregation, a neuropathological hallmark of PD, causes neurodegeneration during aging, but the mechanisms underlying its neurotoxicity need to be explored further. To address these questions, we propose three inter-related, complementary Research Projects and one Research Core. Project 1 directed by Dr. Sdhof proposes to elucidate the mechanisms of ?-synuclein neurotoxicity in mouse and human neurons. Project 2, directed by Dr. Shen, proposes to investigate the genetic interaction between ?-synuclein and LRRK in the regulation of autophagy and dopaminergic neuron survival. Project 3, directed by Dr. Yue, proposes to investigate the molecular pathways by which LRRK regulates autophagy and ?-synuclein homeostasis. The Research Core, directed by Dr. Shen, will serve all three Projects by generating and providing multiple lines of mutant mice that are essential for the three Projects. The Administrative Core, also directed by Dr. Shen, will oversee the overall function and integration of our Udall Center, scientific directions of all Projects and Core, budget allocation, and our extensive training and public outreach programs. The completion of these highly integrated, complementary Projects and Research Core will provide significant insight into PD pathogenesis, and help uncover novel pathways that can be further explored and developed into effective disease-modifying therapy.

Public Health Relevance

Mutations in LRRK2 and ?-synuclein are the most common genetic cause of Parkinson's disease. Our Udall Center aims to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms underlying LRRK2 and ?-synuclein mutations and provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, which may lead to better design, more effective therapeutic strategies.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Specialized Center (P50)
Project #
1P50NS094733-01
Application #
9017203
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1-SRB-J (09))
Program Officer
Sieber, Beth-Anne
Project Start
2015-09-01
Project End
2020-06-30
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$1,475,093
Indirect Cost
$341,286
Name
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
030811269
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Hui, Ken Y; Fernandez-Hernandez, Heriberto; Hu, Jianzhong et al. (2018) Functional variants in the LRRK2 gene confer shared effects on risk for Crohn's disease and Parkinson's disease. Sci Transl Med 10:
Burré, Jacqueline; Sharma, Manu; Südhof, Thomas C (2018) Cell Biology and Pathophysiology of ?-Synuclein. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 8:
Sheehan, Patricia; Yue, Zhenyu (2018) Deregulation of autophagy and vesicle trafficking in Parkinson's disease. Neurosci Lett :
Südhof, Thomas C (2017) Molecular Neuroscience in the 21st Century: A Personal Perspective. Neuron 96:536-541
Pan, Ping-Yue; Li, Xianting; Wang, Jing et al. (2017) Parkinson's Disease-Associated LRRK2 Hyperactive Kinase Mutant Disrupts Synaptic Vesicle Trafficking in Ventral Midbrain Neurons. J Neurosci 37:11366-11376
Giaime, Emilie; Tong, Youren; Wagner, Lisa K et al. (2017) Age-Dependent Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration and Impairment of the Autophagy-Lysosomal Pathway in LRRK-Deficient Mice. Neuron 96:796-807.e6