LRRK2 and α-Synuclein: Distinct or Synergistic Players in Parkinson’s Disease?

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, characterized by prominent degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and aggregation of the protein α-synuclein within intraneuronal inclusions known as Lewy bodies. Ninety percent of PD cases are idiopathic while the remaining 10% are associated with gene mutations that affect cellular functions ranging from kinase activity to mitochondrial quality control, hinting at a multifactorial disease process. Mutations in LRRK2 and SNCA (the gene coding for α-synuclein) cause monogenic forms of autosomal dominant PD, and polymorphisms in either gene are also associated with increased risk of idiopathic PD. Although Lewy bodies are a defining neuropathological feature of PD, an appreciable subset of patients with LRRK2 mutations present with a clinical phenotype indistinguishable from idiopathic PD but lack Lewy pathology at autopsy, suggesting that LRRK2-mediated PD may occur independently of α-synuclein aggregation. Here, we examine whether LRRK2 and α-synuclein, as mediators of neurodegeneration in PD, exist in common or distinct pathways. Specifically, we review evidence from preclinical models and human neuropathological studies examining interactions between the two proteins. Elucidating the degree of interplay between LRRK2 and α-synuclein will be necessary for treatment stratification once effective targeted disease-modifying therapies are developed.

Introduction

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common neurodegenerative movement disorder, affecting 1% of people over the age of 65 (Kalia and Lang, 2015). It is characterized by the selective loss of dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SN) resulting in progressive motor impairment. PD can also be associated with a variety of non-motor symptoms, including cognitive, psychiatric, sleep, and autonomic difficulties, and thus is a heterogenous disorder. An effective diagnostic test has yet to be identified. Currently, patients are deemed to have PD if they have met a number of clinical diagnostic criteria, but definitive diagnosis is not possible without post-mortem histopathological assessment. The main pathological hallmarks of PD are the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the SN and the accumulation of α-synuclein into large insoluble aggregates called Lewy bodies (LB), which are primarily composed of phosphorylated α-synuclein, p62, ubiquitin, and dysmorphic organelles and lipid membranes (Spillantini et al., 1997; Kalia and Kalia, 2015; Chartier and Duyckaerts, 2018; Shahmoradian et al., 2019). It is a matter of debate whether these LB are neuroprotective or neurotoxic, but a prevailing hypothesis within the field is that smaller aggregates of α-synuclein, particularly oligomers and small fibrils, are the neurotoxic forms (Danzer et al., 2007; Karpinar et al., 2009; Winner et al., 2011; Kalia et al., 2013; Bengoa-Vergniory et al., 2017) and it has been shown that these forms are present at degenerating sites in the diseased brain (Sharon et al., 2003; Tofaris et al., 2003; Periquet et al., 2007).

Mutations in SNCA, the gene coding for α-synuclein, and LRRK2 are responsible for familial autosomal dominant PD (Polymeropoulos et al., 1997; Wszolek et al., 2004; Zimprich et al., 2004; Khan et al., 2005; Singleton, 2005). Studies have shown that the LRRK2 protein is present in LB, suggesting that LRRK2 and α-synuclein might interact with each other during the course of PD (Alegre-Abarrategui et al., 2008; Perry et al., 2008). However, PD patients with LRRK2 mutations do not always have typical PD pathology at autopsy. It is now well established that there is a subset of LRRK2-associated PD patients who do not display Lewy pathology but may have aggregates of other proteins, such as tau and TDP-43 (Zimprich et al., 2004; Ling et al., 2013; Kalia et al., 2015; Henderson et al., 2019b), suggesting that PD due to LRRK2 dysfunction may occur independently of α-synuclein aggregation.

In this review, we will examine the evidence from protein biochemistry, preclinical models, and human neuropathological studies for interactions between LRRK2 and α-synuclein (Figure 1) and discuss the role of these potential mechanisms in disease pathogenesis.

FIGURE 1.

Potential ways in which LRRK2 and α-synuclein act in PD. (A) LRRK2 and α-synuclein affect each other through a direct physical interaction. (B) LRRK2 and α-synuclein affect each other through an indirect physical interaction in which a mediator(s), such as a molecular chaperone(s), links the two proteins. (C) Both LRRK2 and α-synuclein act synergistically on targets within the same molecular pathway without interacting with each other. (D) LRRK2 and α-synuclein do not interact at all and each affect targets in distinct molecular pathways.

Direct Interaction of LRRK2 and α-Synuclein

LRRK2 is a large protein that belongs to the ROCO protein superfamily. It is a complex multi-domain protein with a Ras of complex (ROC) GTPase domain, C-terminal of ROC (COR) linker region, and serine/threonine kinase domain. In addition, the protein contains a N-terminal ankyrin domain, a leucine-rich repeat (LRR), and a C-terminal WD40 domain (Bosgraaf and Van Haastert, 2003; Guaitoli et al., 2016), which all serve as protein–protein interaction domains. At least eight pathogenic LRRK2 mutations (G2019S, R1441G/H/C, I2012T, Y1699C, I2020T, and N1437H) are associated with autosomal dominant PD (Paisan-Ruiz et al., 2004; Zimprich et al., 2004; Chen and Wu, 2018). Among these mutations, G2019S is the most prevalent (Kachergus et al., 2005; Cresto et al., 2019) and occurs in the kinase domain, resulting in an increase in the kinase activity of LRRK2 (West et al., 2007; Cookson, 2012; Chen and Wu, 2018). LRRK2 is capable of undergoing autophosphorylation and this property of LRRK2 has been used as a readout of its kinase activity (Greggio, 2012; Sheng et al., 2012). The LRRK2 kinase domain contains an activation P-loop with a DFG (conserved residues Asp–Phe–Gly)-APE motif which controls the kinase activity. The glycine residue in the motif is highly conserved and its small side chain makes the activation loop flexible. The G2019S mutation changes the highly conserved glycine in the DFG motif to serine (Kachergus et al., 2005; Greggio and Cookson, 2009). It is speculated that the serine substitution makes the activation loop less flexible, thus locking the kinase domain of LRRK2 in an active conformation (Greggio and Cookson, 2009). Increased kinase activity of mutated LRRK2 is associated with enhanced cell death in vitro (Greggio et al., 2006; Smith et al., 2006; West et al., 2007) and deletion of the kinase domain or reduced kinase activity in vitro and in vivo can ameliorate the toxic effects of LRRK2 (Greggio et al., 2006; Smith et al., 2006; Volpicelli-Daley et al., 2016). In addition, LRRK2 kinase activity is required for the pathogenic effects of the G2019S LRRK2 mutation in rats (Cookson et al., 2007; Tsika et al., 2015).

A direct protein–protein interaction between LRRK2 and α-synuclein would involve the physical contact of the two proteins, allowing one to directly regulate the function and/or activity of the other (Figure 1A). Under normal physiological conditions, α-synuclein is present as a monomer in the cytosol of neurons or is associated with various membranes and vesicular structures (Jakes et al., 1994; Kahle et al., 2000; Pineda and Burré, 2017; Meade et al., 2019). However, under certain stress conditions, or due to other unknown causes, α-synuclein self-aggregates into oligomers and later into fibrils that form LB (Conway et al., 1998; Meade et al., 2019). Approximately 90% of α-synuclein deposited in LB in PD patients is phosphorylated at S129 (Fujiwara et al., 2002; Anderson et al., 2006; Walker et al., 2013). Since LRRK2 is a serine-threonine kinase, it has been suggested that mutant G2019S LRRK2 can directly interact with and phosphorylate α-synuclein, resulting in α-synuclein aggregation which eventually leads to cell death (Qing et al., 2009; Guerreiro et al., 2013). LRRK2 was found to co-localize with phosphorylated α-synuclein in human PD brain samples (Guerreiro et al., 2013). However, only one study to date has demonstrated direct phosphorylation of α-synuclein by LRRK2 at S129 (Qing et al., 2009). There is little other evidence to support direct phosphorylation of α-synuclein by LRRK2. Indeed, some studies have shown that phosphorylated α-synuclein levels are decreased or unchanged in mutant LRRK2 expressing mice, demonstrating that α-synuclein is not a substrate for LRRK2 kinase activity in vivo (Lin et al., 2009; Dusonchet et al., 2011). Furthermore, kinase deletion in LRRK2 accelerated the pathological features in mutant A53T α-synuclein/LRRK2 kinase deletion double transgenic mice when compared to A53T α-synuclein/wild-type (WT) LRRK2 mice, suggesting that the kinase activity does not promote mutant A53T α-synuclein-mediated neuropathology (Lin et al., 2009). Several other kinases, such as G-protein coupled receptor kinases, casein kinases, and polo-like kinases, have been implicated in phosphorylating α-synuclein (Okochi et al., 2000; Chen and Feany, 2005; Waxman and Giasson, 2011; Braithwaite et al., 2012; Tenreiro et al., 2014). Taken together, there is limited evidence to support a direct physical interaction between LRRK2 and α-synuclein or direct phosphorylation of α-synuclein by LRRK2. To the best of our knowledge, there is no evidence to date that α-synuclein can directly modulate LRRK2 activity. In the following section, we will discuss in detail the potential indirect interactions that may mediate LRRK2-dependent α-synuclein aggregation and neurodegeneration in PD.

Indirect Interaction of LRRK2 and α-Synuclein

An indirect interaction between LRRK2 and α-synuclein, whereby they are common proteins in a larger complex, is a more likely scenario (Figure 1B). LRRK2 and α-synuclein have been co-immunoprecipitated from brain tissue extracts of human PD and dementia with Lewy body (DLB) patients, but not from age-matched control brains (Qing et al., 2009; Guerreiro et al., 2013). Both proteins have also been co-immunoprecipitated from transfected HEK293 cells under oxidative stress (Guerreiro et al., 2013). Studies have investigated the effect of overexpressing LRRK2 mutants on α-synuclein levels and aggregation in cell and transgenic animal models to determine if they do interact with each other. Increased kinase activity of mutant G2019S LRRK2 can induce a kinase-dependent increase in levels of phosphorylated α-synuclein, leading to its aggregation, and kinase inhibitors can prevent phosphorylated α-synuclein from forming protein inclusions (Volpicelli-Daley et al., 2016; Longo et al., 2017; Xiong et al., 2017). Transgenic mice and primary neurons expressing mutant G2019S LRRK2 showed an increase in neurodegeneration, somatic accumulation of α-synuclein, and aggregation in response to α-synuclein fibril exposure. These effects were not observed in mice and primary neurons expressing WT LRRK2 (Volpicelli-Daley et al., 2016; Bieri et al., 2019). These findings were replicated in human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons from G2019S LRRK2 carriers. These iPSC-derived neurons showed enhanced α-synuclein aggregation in response to exposure to α-synuclein fibrils (Bieri et al., 2019). In A53T α-synuclein/G2019S LRRK2 double transgenic mice, G2019S LRRK2 expression exacerbated A53T α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration and abnormal aggregation. WT LRRK2 did not seem to have any effect on the progression of A53T α-synuclein-mediated pathology in these double transgenic animal models (Lin et al., 2009). Similarly, co-transfection of SH-SY5Y cells with mutant G2019S LRRK2 and α-synuclein resulted in cytotoxicity and showed an increase in protein inclusions as compared to cells transfected with α-synuclein alone (WT or mutant A53T) (Kondo et al., 2011). These studies point towards an association between G2019S LRRK2 expression and α-synuclein pathology. Therefore, it is not surprising that LRRK2 inhibition can ameliorate these pathological features in vitro and in vivo (Lin et al., 2009; Guerreiro et al., 2013; Daher et al., 2014, 2015; Volpicelli-Daley et al., 2016; Xiong et al., 2017). These studies clearly identify a role for LRRK2 in α-synuclein-mediated cytotoxicity. They also provide evidence for an interaction between LRRK2 and α-synuclein, but this interaction is likely indirect. Although the exact mechanism of the interaction remains to be elucidated, current evidence points toward molecular chaperones as potential intermediary proteins.

Chaperones

Molecular chaperones are a class of proteins that assist in protein folding and assembly of protein complexes, as well as in directing misfolded proteins to degradation pathways. Their central role in protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, makes their involvement in PD and other protein aggregation disorders an important area of research (Friesen et al., 2017). In recent years, the role of a subfamily called 14-3-3 proteins and their interactions with both α-synuclein and LRRK2 have been explored. 14-3-3 proteins represent 1% of total brain protein and have roles in a wide variety of neuronal functions, including control over cell death pathways (Dougherty and Morrison, 2004). 14-3-3 proteins share structural homology with α-synuclein and can also become sequestered in LB (Ostrerova et al., 1999; Kawamoto et al., 2002). 14-3-3 proteins are strong interactors with phosphorylated α-synuclein, which may explain why they are sequestered in LB where they can no longer exert an anti-apoptotic effect (McFarland et al., 2008). Expression of human 14-3-3θ or the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog, ftt-2, was capable of protecting dopaminergic neurons from α-synuclein-mediated toxicity in a transgenic C. elegans model (Yacoubian et al., 2010). One transgenic mouse model overexpressing α-synuclein showed a reduction in expression of 14-3-3θ, γ, and ε (Yacoubian et al., 2010). Another study showed that 14-3-3θ promotes the extracellular release of α-synuclein, but the released α-synuclein is less toxic and shows reduced oligomerization, seeding capability, and internalization. Conversely, 14-3-3 inhibition reduces the amount of α-synuclein released, yet the released α-synuclein is more toxic (Wang et al., 2018).

Interactions between LRRK2 and 14-3-3 proteins have also been well studied. It has been reported that LRRK2 binds to different isoforms of the 14-3-3 family upon auto-phosphorylation of LRRK2 at residues S910 and S935 (Dzamko et al., 2010). Thus, LRRK2 kinase activity may directly modulate binding of 14-3-3 proteins to LRRK2. Indeed, several of the common LRRK2 mutations show decreased phosphorylation at S910 and S935 in cell lines which is associated with disruption of the interaction between the two proteins (Nichols et al., 2010). PAK6 can phosphorylate 14-3-3γ at its S59 residue, which can promote dissociation from LRRK2 (Civiero et al., 2017). Disruption of the LRRK2-14-3-3 interaction alters LRRK2 localization within the cell (Mamais et al., 2014), whereas 14-3-3 binding to LRRK2 prevents dephosphorylation of LRRK2, stabilizing it in its active state (Civiero et al., 2017). Both LRRK2 and α-synuclein have been found in complexes with 14-3-3 proteins (Xu et al., 2002; Dzamko et al., 2010), and thus it is an attractive hypothesis that 14-3-3 proteins may act as an intermediary in an indirect interaction between LRRK2 and α-synuclein but further investigation is required before one can draw this conclusion.

The heat shock proteins, Hsp70 and Hsp90, are additional molecular chaperones that interact with both α-synuclein and LRRK2. Both of these chaperones have been identified as components of LB (McLean et al., 2002; Leverenz et al., 2007). HSP70 expression has been shown to prevent dopaminergic cell death in a Drosophila model of α-synuclein toxicity (Auluck et al., 2002; Fan et al., 2006), and overexpression of rat HSP70 reduces α-synuclein aggregation and toxicity in a mouse model overexpressing human α-synuclein (Klucken et al., 2004). These effects may be mediated by another chaperone called C-terminus of HSP70 interacting protein (CHIP). CHIP contains an N-terminal tetratricopeptide (TPR) domain which mediates its interaction with HSP70 and HSP90, as well as a U-box domain which confers E3 ligase activity (Ballinger et al., 1999). CHIP, HSP70, and α-synuclein form a complex in cultured cells, and overexpression of CHIP increases clearance of α-synuclein from cells, while knockdown of CHIP results in increases in the cellular load of oligomeric α-synuclein (Shin et al., 2005; Kalia et al., 2011). CHIP overexpression in vivo also appears to have protective effects as it reduces α-synuclein aggregation in rat brain (Dimant et al., 2014). CHIP can interact with LRRK2 in a TPR domain-dependent manner and ubiquitination of LRRK2 by CHIP in vitro causes proteasomal degradation of LRRK2 (Ko et al., 2009; Rudenko et al., 2017). The CHIP-LRRK2 interaction is mediated by HSP70 and/or HSP90 and, in this complex, HSP90 can interact with LRRK2 to mitigate CHIP-mediated degradation of LRRK2 (Ding and Goldberg, 2009; Ko et al., 2009). These results show that increasing the E3 ligase activity of CHIP and blocking HSP90 chaperone activity can increase LRRK2 degradation and mediate the toxic effects of overactive LRRK2. Interestingly, increased degradation of LRRK2 may be associated with an increased risk of disease. The G2385R LRRK2 mutation is a risk factor for PD and displays an increased affinity for CHIP, resulting in an increase in proteasomal degradation of LRRK2 (Rudenko et al., 2017). These data highlight the fine equilibrium that exists in maintaining LRRK2 activity above a certain minimum, but below a maximum threshold to prevent pathogenic activity.

Chaperones provide an intriguing link between LRRK2, α-synuclein, and protein degradation. However, evidence that they may act as intermediaries facilitating an indirect interaction between the proteins is limited. The Bcl-2 associated athanogene (BAG) family of proteins are known to regulate the activity of heat shock proteins and 14-3-3 proteins, and have been implicated in PD pathogenesis (Ebrahimi-Fakhari et al., 2011; Kalia et al., 2011; Friesen et al., 2017). BAG5 has been nominated as a LRRK2 interactor, and it has been shown that BAG proteins are involved in the stabilization of LRRK2 binding pairs (Zheng et al., 2008; Xu et al., 2013; Beilina et al., 2014) and α-synuclein interactions with BAG proteins are well categorized (Kalia et al., 2011; Cao et al., 2017). Thus, molecular chaperones may act together to modulate both LRRK2 and α-synuclein under certain conditions. It is conceivable that the chaperone system may act as an intermediate, facilitating the degradation of both proteins under certain disease circumstances. Molecular chaperones may mediate interactions between LRRK2 and α-synuclein to promote their degradation under conditions where both proteins are dysfunctional, and defects in this system could lead to decreases in degradation and accumulation of α-synuclein or increased kinase activity of LRRK2. Further investigation is required to confirm these possibilities, but it is perhaps more likely that the two proteins converge on common pathways, such as protein degradation (Figure 1C). We will examine more well-defined common cellular pathways which may impact LRRK2-mediated accumulation of α-synuclein below (see section “Convergent Mechanisms”).

Cell-to-Cell Transmission of α-Synuclein

Previously, α-synuclein was considered as a cell autonomous protein in that its cytotoxicity was thought to be restricted to the cell within which it aggregates. However, accumulating evidence suggests that α-synuclein from an affected cell can be released into the extracellular space and taken up by recipient cells, including neighboring neurons and glia (Volpicelli-Daley et al., 2011; Lee et al., 2012; Reyes et al., 2015; Lim et al., 2018). When small aggregates are taken up by recipient neurons, they can act as seeds for α-synuclein monomers leading to their aggregation and subsequent formation of protein inclusions in recipient neurons (Lee et al., 2010; Hansen et al., 2011; Kordower et al., 2011; Angot et al., 2012). Two studies showed that α-synuclein aggregates, similar to LB, were found in grafted neurons of PD patients transplanted with fetal mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons (Kordower et al., 2008; Li et al., 2008). Neuron-to-neuron transmission of α-synuclein could be one mechanism that explains these findings. Spread of α-synuclein could also possibly explain the Braak hypothesis that Lewy pathology in PD patients undergoes a predictable distribution pattern starting in the lower brainstem and olfactory bulbs in prodromal disease, progressing to the midbrain region at disease diagnosis, and eventually reaching cortical regions at later disease stages (Braak et al., 2003). A transmission of α-synuclein from diseased to non-diseased neurons could be the underlying mechanism of PD progression.

Studies have demonstrated that LRRK2 can regulate cell-to-cell transmission of α-synuclein (Kondo et al., 2011; Volpicelli-Daley et al., 2016). In support of this, one interesting study demonstrated the transmission of vesicles containing α-synuclein to neighboring neurons through conditioned media. This transmission of vesicles containing α-synuclein was enhanced in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with G2019S LRRK2 as compared to WT LRRK2 or α-synuclein alone. Levels of α-synuclein were also increased in conditioned media of cells transfected with G2019S LRRK2 as compared to controls (Kondo et al., 2011). Rab proteins provide an interesting link between LRRK2 and the propagation of α-synuclein. Rabs are a family of G proteins which are members of the Ras superfamily of proteins. They are commonly accepted as the main substrates of LRRK2 (Steger et al., 2016, 2017; Jeong et al., 2018; Pfeffer, 2018; Seol et al., 2019) and are known as the gatekeepers of membrane trafficking within the cell, regulating vesicle formation, movement along actin and tubulin cytoskeletons, and docking and fusion with other vesicles and organelles (Hutagalung and Novick, 2011; Bhuin and Roy, 2014; Zhen and Stenmark, 2015). Increased phosphorylation of Rabs by overexpressed LRRK2 mutants disturbs the interaction of Rabs with their substrates (Steger et al., 2016; Jeong et al., 2018). Dysregulation of Rabs can alter the endosome-lysosomal (E-L) pathway which degrades α-synuclein aggregates after being taken up by recipient neurons (Bourdenx et al., 2014). Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that this would in turn divert the α-synuclein aggregates to exocytosis leading to cell-to-cell transmission (Figure 2). Rab35 plays an important role in regulating endosomal trafficking and recycling (Donaldson et al., 2016; Song and Testa, 2018). A recent study demonstrated that phosphorylation of Rab35 by mutant LRRK2 is essential for LRRK2-stimulated α-synuclein propagation (Bae et al., 2018). Specifically, phospho-null Rab35 was shown to reduce α-synuclein propagation in C. elegans, and α-synuclein and Rab35-positive endosomes were found to co-localize in α-synuclein transgenic mice (Bae et al., 2018). Using a phosphomimetic mutant of Rab35, phosphorylation of Rab35 was found to be associated with neurotoxicity in primary cortical neurons. Similarly, AAV-mediated expression of the Rab35 phosphomimetic in the SN of rats resulted in substantially increased degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (Jeong et al., 2018). Increased Rab 35 expression in vitro has been shown to increase the aggregation of A53T α-synuclein (Chiu et al., 2016). Increased Rab35 levels have been found in PD mouse models, including the G2019S LRRK2 transgenic model, as well as in human PD post-mortem brains compared to age-matched controls (Chiu et al., 2016). Collectively, these studies suggest Rab35 is a potential link between LRRK2 mutants and α-synuclein propagation, lending weight to the hypothesis that dysfunction in the E-L system due to Rab phosphorylation by LRRK2 mutants may be important for the cell-to-cell transmission of α-synuclein. Dysregulation of another Rab protein, Rab7L1 (Rab29), by mutant LRRK2 has also been linked to PD through dysregulation of E-L trafficking (Simón-Sánchez et al., 2009; MacLeod et al., 2013; Beilina et al., 2014; Kuwahara et al., 2016; Tang, 2017; Liu et al., 2018). The Rab7L1 gene has been a nominated as a candidate gene within the chromosome 1 locus identified by genome-wide association study (GWAS) for increased risk of PD (Simón-Sánchez et al., 2009). It is not clear yet if this interaction between LRRK2 and Rab7LI could eventually result in α-synuclein aggregation and transmission, but it will be discussed further in the context of autophagy below.

FIGURE 2.

Contribution of mutant LRRK2 to cell-to-cell transmission of α-synuclein. Increased kinase activity of mutant LRRK2 can phosphorylate Rab35 affecting its interaction with its substrates, and eventually preventing the endosome-lysosmal degradation of α-synuclein aggregates. This in turn can increase the mobile cytosolic pools of α-synuclein aggregate seeds which can get released into the extracellular space in exosomes. These seeds can then be taken up into the cytosol of neighboring neurons where they can promote aggregation of α-synuclein monomers into oligomers and fibrils.

Convergent Mechanisms

Autophagy-Lysosomal Pathway

Autophagy is the process by which a cell can remove unnecessary or dysfunctional components, including misfolded proteins and damaged organelles via the lysosome. There are three main types of autophagy: macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). Macroautophagy involves the formation of double membraned vesicles, called autophagosomes, around portions of the cytoplasm which later fuse with lysosomes resulting in the degradation of their contents (Ravikumar et al., 2009). Microautophagy is mediated directly by the lysosome, which engulfs small portions of cytosolic components in a process of membrane invagination (Müller et al., 2000). As the name suggests, CMA is dependent on chaperones, such as heat shock cognate 70 (Hsc70), which bind target proteins containing a KFERQ motif and directly shuttle them across the lysosomal membrane by interaction with the lysosomal receptor, LAMP2a, excluding the requirement for the formation of additional vesicles (Massey et al., 2004). Defects in the autophagy systems have been observed in PD patient brains, and levels of LAMP2a and Hsc70 have been shown to be decreased within the SN (Chu et al., 2009; Alvarez-Erviti et al., 2010; Dehay et al., 2010). There is substantial evidence to suggest that the dysfunctional autophagy seen in patient brains could be due to accumulation of α-synuclein and/or an increase in the kinase activity of LRRK2, as discussed below (Figure 3).

FIGURE 3.

Effects of LRRK2 and α-synuclein on the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. This is an example of how LRRK2 and α-synuclein can have convergent mechanisms with both affecting the autophagy-lysosomal system but each acting on different targets within the system. Mutant or aggregated α-synuclein can block CMA and autophagosome formation, while mutant LRRK2 can also block CMA, disrupt mitophagy or delay autophagosome trafficking.

α-Synuclein

α-Synuclein contains a CMA recognition motif and is partially degraded in a CMA-dependent manner in isolated liver lysosomes, cell lines, neurons, and in vivo (Webb et al., 2003; Cuervo et al., 2004; Lee et al., 2004; Mak et al., 2010). Mutant and aggregated forms of α-synuclein cannot be efficiently degraded by the lysosome, as they bind to LAMP2a blocking CMA (Cuervo et al., 2004; Lee et al., 2004). This effect has been demonstrated in primary neurons (Vogiatzi et al., 2008). Interestingly, dopamine modified α-synuclein further inhibits CMA, which may help explain the selective vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons in PD (Martinez-Vicente et al., 2008). Blocking expression of LAMP2a results in compensatory upregulation of macroautophagy, but α-synuclein accumulation has also been shown to negatively affect this process by blockage of autophagosome formation (Massey et al., 2006; Winslow et al., 2010). VPS35 is another protein in which mutations are associated with PD, and it has been shown to be critical for retrieval of LAMP2a from the endosome to the Golgi, and defects in this system can result in α-synuclein aggregation in dopaminergic neurons (Tang et al., 2015). Enhancement of autophagy has also been shown to induce clearance of aggregated α-synuclein in vitro and in vivo, supporting the notion that targeting this pathway may be a therapeutic approach for disease modification in PD (Moors et al., 2017; Suresh et al., 2017, 2018).

LRRK2

LRRK2 also contains several CMA targeting motifs, and it has been shown that knockdown of LAMP2a is associated with reduction of LRRK2 degradation to ∼50% of normal levels, resulting in increased intracellular levels of LRRK2. Conversely, mutant LRRK2 can block CMA by inhibiting LAMP2a (Orenstein et al., 2013). LRRK2 has been shown to regulate lysosomal protein trafficking and morphology, and fibroblasts from PD patients with LRRK2-related PD mutations show altered lysosomal morphology due to the increased influx of Ca²⁺ into the lysosome (Marchant and Patel, 2015). This effect can be reversed by inhibiting the two-pore calcium channels present on all acidic vesicles (endosomes and lysosomes) of the E-L system (Hockey et al., 2015; Kuwahara et al., 2016; Eguchi et al., 2018). LRRK2 knockout (KO) mice show defective protein clearance and increased accumulation of α-synuclein, resulting in increases in apoptotic cell death and oxidative damage (Tong et al., 2010). Overexpression of G2019S LRRK2 has also been associated with reduced degradation capacity and enlarged lysosomes in astrocytes, an effect which is directly related to the kinase activity of LRRK2 (Henry et al., 2015). Primary neurons cultured from G2019S LRRK2 knock-in mice showed significant changes in lysosomal morphology and acidification, resulting in decreased autophagic flux and a subsequent accumulation of insoluble α-synuclein; these effects could be reversed by inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity (Schapansky et al., 2018). Other studies have shown that LRRK2 KO induces autophagy which suggests that the interaction of LRRK2 with the autophagy machinery is nuanced. As mentioned above, the best studied link between LRRK2 and the E-L system with respect to a role in PD is the phosphorylation of Rab proteins. Fourteen Rab family members have been identified to be phosphorylated by LRRK2 in their switch-II domains (Steger et al., 2016, 2017). Some of these Rabs, including Rab3a and Rab8a, promote vesicular trafficking from the ER to the Golgi apparatus which has been shown to reduce cytotoxicity associated with accumulation of α-synuclein in PD models (Gitler et al., 2008).

One of the most interesting connections between LRRK2 and the Rab proteins of the E-L system is Rab7. Rab7 plays a central role in the maturation of the autophagosome, as well as early-to-late endosomes (Jager et al., 2004). Mutant LRRK2 causes a delay in early-to-late and late endosomal trafficking, and fibroblasts from PD patients with pathogenic LRRK2 mutations show decreased Rab7 activity compared to healthy controls (Gomez-Suaga et al., 2014). Rab7 also provides a link between LRRK2 and α-synuclein, as Rab7 increased the clearance of α-synuclein aggregates, reduced cell death, and rescued locomotor deficits in α-synuclein transgenic Drosophila (Dinter et al., 2016). Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor (Nrf2) is an antioxidant gene thought to be a potential therapeutic target for neurodegeneration (Shih et al., 2003). Activation of Nrf2 reduces toxicity associated with LRRK2 and α-synuclein by enhancing the accumulation of LRRK2 in inclusion bodies, and subsequently decreasing its activity in other parts of the neuron (Skibinski et al., 2017). These data highlight the possibility that mutant LRRK2 acts as a negative regulator of autophagy, and this leads to an accumulation of α-synuclein in dopaminergic neurons. In a feedback loop, α-synuclein itself disrupts the normal function of the E-L system and further α-synuclein accumulation occurs.

Glucocerebrosidase

Lysosomes are the endpoint of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and serve as the main degradative component of the cell. Lysosomes have a low pH (4.5–5.5) which is established by the vacuolar H⁺-ATPase. This acidic environment provides optimal conditions for the action of degradative hydrolases which break down a vast array of macromolecules into base components of amino acids, fatty acids, and monosaccharides for export back into the cytosol for recycling (Perera and Zoncu, 2016). Defects in lysosomal function result in lysosomal storage disorders, a number of which are characterized by progressive neurodegeneration (Osellame and Duchen, 2014). One of the most common lysosomal storage disorders is Gaucher disease, and this results from the homozygous loss of function of the lysosomal enzyme β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase), and the subsequent accumulation of glucosylceramide (Brady et al., 1965; Stirnemann et al., 2017). Interestingly, Gaucher patients as well as carriers of heterozygous mutations in GBA, the gene that encodes GCase, are at increased risk of developing PD (Tayebi et al., 2001; Goker-Alpan et al., 2004; Sidransky et al., 2009; Platt, 2014; Gan-Or et al., 2015). There is accumulating evidence that build-up of glycosphingolipids due to dysfunction of GCase can also increase α-synuclein accumulation (Taguchi et al., 2017; Kim et al., 2018). Indeed, accumulation of glucosylceramide is sufficient to promote the formation and stabilization of oligomeric α-synuclein intermediates in primary cultures of human iPSC (Mazzulli et al., 2011). Knockdown of GCase in rat brain was shown to induce the accumulation of α-synuclein in the striatum (Du et al., 2015). Knockdown of GCase was also associated with decreased expression of the autophagy pathway component Beclin 1, and this effect was regulated through inactivation of protein phosphatase 2A (Du et al., 2015). These data highlight the possibility that decreases in lysosomal enzymes can initiate a feedback loop in which autophagy can be inhibited upstream of lysosomal activity. Recent work has shown that GCase activity is decreased in neurons derived from PD patients with LRRK2 mutations (Ysselstein et al., 2019). However, an earlier study found that patients with G2019S LRRK2 mutations showed increased GCase activity in dried blood spots as compared to healthy controls or patients with other LRRK2 mutations, suggesting that G2019S LRRK2 mutations may be associated with a distinct pathological mechanism (Alcalay et al., 2015). Pharmacological activation of GCase can stimulate the clearance of α-synuclein and restoration of lysosomal function in iPSC-derived human midbrain dopamine neurons from patients with GBA-related PD or idiopathic PD (Mazzulli et al., 2016). Inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity was found to increase GCase activity in dopaminergic neurons derived from patients with either LRRK2 or GBA mutations, and this increase partially reduced accumulation of α-synuclein in these neurons (Ysselstein et al., 2019). This effect was mediated through the LRRK2 substrate Rab10. Increased LRRK2 kinase activity increases Rab10 phosphorylation at Y307, inactivating Rab10 protein function and resulting in a subsequent decrease in GCase activity, an effect that could be partially reversed with a small molecule LRRK2 kinase inhibitor. It has previously been shown that α-synuclein inhibits the lysosomal activity of GCase in neurons and brain tissue of idiopathic PD patients (Mazzulli et al., 2011). These data provide convincing evidence that the lysosome provides a convergent organelle where dysfunctional LRRK2 and/or α-synuclein can have destructive effects on lysosome function, and lead to the degeneration of neurons as seen in PD. Dysfunctions in this system may also explain the susceptibility of dopaminergic neurons, as VPS35 and LRRK2 are important for vesicular trafficking and dysfunction in these proteins may lead to mistargeting of the dopamine transporter, DAT, giving rise to aberrant dopamine metabolism and oxidation (Oaks et al., 2013). Oxidized dopamine is known to reduce GCase activity (Burbulla et al., 2017), strengthening a negative feedback loop, making dopaminergic neurons uniquely susceptible to degeneration.

Mitochondria

Mitochondrial Function

Mitochondria are vital organelles, which perform a myriad of functions including ATP production (Saraste, 1999), cell signaling (Weinberg et al., 2010), and control of apoptotic cell death (Peña-Blanco and García-Sáez, 2018). Dysfunctional mitochondria were first linked to PD by the observation that people who took opioid analogs contaminated with MPTP developed PD-like symptoms and showed degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the SN (Langston et al., 1983). This was followed by post-mortem studies demonstrating that PD patients have a deficiency in complex I activity in the SN (Keeney et al., 2006) and frontal cortex (Parker et al., 2008). More recently, a number of genes encoding proteins which are responsible for autosomal recessive PD have been identified, including Parkin, PINK1, and DJ-1, all of which are involved in mitochondrial quality control by inducing clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria, a process known as mitophagy (Narendra et al., 2008, 2010; Vives-Bauza et al., 2010; McCoy and Cookson, 2012). Thus, it appears that individual subtle effects on mitochondrial function may have a cumulative effect resulting in selective neurodegeneration. There is growing evidence that LRRK2 and α-synuclein may be involved in the maintenance of normal mitochondrial function, and perturbation in either, or both, may help to explain the mitochondrial dysfunction associated with PD.

There is ample evidence to suggest that abnormal α-synuclein expression has deleterious effects on mitochondrial function. The N-terminus of α-synuclein has a mitochondrial inner membrane targeting sequence, where it interacts with complex I resulting in a decrease in complex I activity in vitro and in vivo, an effect which is exacerbated by overexpression of the mutant A53T form of the protein (Devi et al., 2008; Chinta et al., 2010). Aggregated α-synuclein binds directly to and inhibits the activity of translocase of the outer membrane 20 (TOM20) resulting in defective mitochondrial protein import (Di Maio et al., 2016). Other notable effects seen with overexpression in model systems include decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased ATP production, and increased oxidative stress and subsequent enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production (Sarafian et al., 2013; Melo et al., 2017; Grassi et al., 2018; Ludtmann et al., 2018). Accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein also causes defects in neuronal respiration (Wang et al., 2019). Similarly, mounting evidence suggests that LRRK2 is important for correct mitochondrial function, and around 10% of the protein localizes to the mitochondrial fraction (West et al., 2005; Biskup et al., 2006). Animal models overexpressing G2019S LRRK2 show mitochondrial abnormalities (Ramonet et al., 2011; Yue et al., 2015), and cellular models show increased ROS, increased mitochondrial fragmentation, and increased mitophagy leading to depletion of dendritic mitochondria (Niu et al., 2012; Bahnassawy et al., 2013; Cherra et al., 2013). Fibroblasts and iPSCs derived from PD patients with LRRK2 mutations also show impairment in general mitochondrial function, including increased oxidative damage, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced ATP production (Mortiboys et al., 2010; Sanders et al., 2014).

Despite the evidence that accumulation of α-synuclein or mutations in LRRK2 result in mitochondrial dysfunction in distinct models, the evidence that they act together is less well substantiated. Mice overexpressing α-synuclein are more susceptible to MPTP induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity (Song et al., 2004), similar to G2019S LRRK2 overexpressing mice (Karuppagounder et al., 2016) and flies, which show decreased lifespan and sensitivity in response to rotenone (another complex I inhibitor) (Ng et al., 2009). These results show that LRRK2 and α-synuclein can directly affect activity of the electron transport chain, particularly through complex I. As of yet, the evidence for them working in concert is sparse, but further investigation is warranted into how they may work together to regulate mitochondrial bioenergetics.

Mitochondrial Dynamics

Mitochondrial dynamics refers to the processes of mitochondrial transport, fission, and fusion. It is possible that LRRK2 and α-synuclein may interact in the disruption of this tightly controlled process, which is vital for transport of mitochondria to areas of high energy requirements such as the synapse, and maintenance of a healthy mitochondrial network (Gilad et al., 2008). Mitochondrial fission and fusion are controlled by four large GTPases which are highly conserved from yeast to mammals: mitofusins Mfn1 and Mfn2 for outer membrane fusion, Opa1 for inner membrane fusion, and Drp1 for the fission process (Otera and Mihara, 2011). Under normal physiological conditions, these proteins respond to changes in the cellular microenvironment to ensure a dynamic, interconnected mitochondrial network which meets the energy demands of the cell. However, slight perturbations in neuronal homeostasis can disrupt this machinery and lead to fragmented, punctate mitochondria or elongated reticular mitochondria. Overexpression of WT or mutant α-synuclein in vitro and in vivo alters mitochondrial fusion dynamics, resulting in rounded, fragmented mitochondria, and this effect can occur in the absence of the fission protein Drp1 (Martin et al., 2006; Nakamura et al., 2011; Xie and Chung, 2012; O’Hara et al., 2019). Indeed, the development of fragmented mitochondria, along with mitophagy marker-positive cytoplasmic inclusions containing mainly mitochondrial remnants, preceded the loss of dopaminergic neurons in an A53T α-synuclein mouse model (Chen et al., 2015). Mitochondrial fragmentation was found to require a direct interaction between α-synuclein and the outer mitochondrial membrane in iPSCs overexpressing α-synuclein (Pozo Devoto et al., 2017). Further evidence showed a specific pathogenic confirmation of α-synuclein, termed pα-syn^∗, induces mitochondrial depolarization and fragmentation after association with mitochondria (Grassi et al., 2018).

Overexpression of LRRK2 has been shown to elicit mitochondrial fragmentation, along with increased mitochondrial localization of Drp1. These effects are enhanced with expression of mutant forms of LRRK2 and are dependent on kinase activity, but not through direct phosphorylation of Drp1 at S616 or S637, the two best studied sites involved in mediating Drp1 translocation (Wang et al., 2012). Fibroblasts from PD patients with the G2019S LRRK2 mutation also show mitochondrial fragmentation and Drp1 translocation to the mitochondria (Niu et al., 2012; Grunewald et al., 2014). Interestingly, this effect is mediated by direct phosphorylation of Drp1 by LRRK2 at a different site, T595 (Su and Qi, 2013). A more recent study identified a novel LRRK2 variant (E193K) in an Italian family, and showed that fibroblasts cultured from these patients with PD had reduced LRRK2-Drp1 binding after treatment with MPP+, and this impacted mitochondrial fission (Perez Carrion et al., 2018). It should also be noted that fibroblasts derived from a PD patient carrying the G2019S LRRK2 mutation had an elongated mitochondrial network, but the majority of studies showed the opposite effect (Mortiboys et al., 2010). Finally, another study using fibroblasts from G2019S LRRK2 PD patients and non-manifesting carriers showed that the cells from PD patients had compromised bioenergetic function and an inefficient response to bioenergetic challenge, leading to dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics (Juarez-Flores et al., 2018). Taken together, these data suggest that LRRK2 and α-synuclein can have direct and/or indirect effects on mitochondrial dynamics. As of yet, there is little experimental evidence to explain how and if the proteins act synergistically, but it is feasible to hypothesize such a scenario. In α-synuclein-mediated PD, α-synuclein accumulation leads to complex I inhibition and subsequent increase in ROS generation (Junn and Mouradian, 2002). ROS signaling activates LRRK2, as indicated by phosphorylation of S1292, and LRRK2 then phosphorylates Rab10 at T73, inhibiting its function, leading to impaired E-L trafficking (Di Maio et al., 2018). This results in further accumulation of α-synuclein, decreased mitochondrial import by inhibition of TOM20, and decreased mitochondrial fusion as a result of the cleavage of Opa1 by Oma1 in response to decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (Zhang et al., 2014). In LRRK2-mediated PD, this cycle could begin with increased phosphorylation of LRRK2 substrates. Much work is needed to show if these hypothetical scenarios have any basis in disease, but there is little doubt that these proteins interfere with the core systems of mitochondrial bioenergetics and dynamics in disease states, and that disruptions in these systems may overwhelm the capacity of mitochondria to compensate for additional insults.

Mitophagy

Mitophagy is a type of macroautophagy that involves the selective clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. Defective mitophagy is widely associated with PD as mutations in two genes essential for the process, Parkin and PINK1, cause autosomal recessive PD and are also associated with idiopathic PD (Cookson, 2012). Some evidence supports the notion that LRRK2 and α-synuclein may also impact mitophagy. In A53T α-synuclein overexpressing mice, α-synuclein accumulates on the mitochondria and causes an increase in mitophagy and neuronal death, although this effect appears to be mediated through a Parkin-dependent pathway (Choubey et al., 2011). Miro is a mitochondrial adaptor protein, important for trafficking of mitochondria along the microtubule network but is removed from damaged mitochondria to facilitate mitochondrial clearance through mitophagy (Lee and Lu, 2014). α-Synuclein interacts with Miro via its N-terminus, resulting in an upregulation in Miro expression and accumulation on the mitochondria, leading to defective mitophagy. This effect can be rescued by partial reduction of Miro protein expression in human neurons and Drosophila (Shaltouki et al., 2018). LRRK2 has also been shown to interact with Miro in iPSC-derived neurons, where it contributed to Miro removal from mitochondria allowing mitophagy to proceed (Hsieh et al., 2016). Cells harboring the G2019S LRRK2 mutation showed delayed mitophagy initiation, while knockdown of Miro was sufficient to rescue the defects in mitophagy caused by G2019S LRRK2 (Hsieh et al., 2016). These studies open up the possibility that LRRK2 and α-synuclein interact through control of Miro expression and removal from mitochondria to alter the rate of mitophagy in damaged mitochondria (Figure 3).

Tau

Tau is a microtubule associated protein which has a primary function in maintaining microtubule assembly but is also known to aggregate into neurofibrilliary tangles (NFT) in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and PD (Gao et al., 2018). Tau contained in NFT is hyperphosphorylated and there is some evidence to suggest that LRRK2 and α-synuclein may play a role in the phosphorylation and subsequent accumulation of tau. α-Synuclein and hyperphosphorylated tau are co-localized in LB in brain tissue from PD and DLB patients and further studies have shown a direct interaction between the two proteins (Ishizawa et al., 2003; Esposito et al., 2007). Treatment of cultured cells and WT mice with MPTP results in increased phosphorylation of tau at S262, S396, and S404, but this effect was not seen in α-synuclein KO mice (Duka et al., 2006). LRRK2 may directly phosphorylate tubulin associated tau but not free tau (Kawakami et al., 2012). Studies have shown that levels of phosphorylated tau are increased in G2019S or R1441G LRRK2 transgenic mice, and tau phosphorylation is decreased in LRRK2 KO mice. Human patients with G2019S LRRK2 mutations have NFT with hyperphosphorylated tau (Gillardon, 2009; Li et al., 2009; Melrose et al., 2010; Ruffmann et al., 2012). It is unlikely that LRRK2 and α-synuclein facilitate the increased phosphorylation of tau directly in disease states, so it stands to reason that an intermediate substrate may facilitate this phosphorylation. Rab GTPases provide one such link as the G2019S mutation in LRRK2 enhances propagation of α-synuclein in C. elegans through increased phosphorylation of Rab35, and Rab35 plays a central role in a pathway which is essential for tau degradation (Bae et al., 2018; Vaz-Silva et al., 2018). Interestingly, G2019S LRRK2 transgenic mice also show increased neuron-to-neuron tau transmission (Nguyen et al., 2018). Another possible intermediate is GSK-3β, a kinase known to be responsible for the α-synuclein-dependent phosphorylation of tau (Duka et al., 2009). α-Synuclein binds directly to GSK-3β and forms a tripartite complex with tau in vitro, which initiates the phosphorylation of tau (Kawakami et al., 2011). LRRK2 also interacts with GSK-3β, and this interaction enhances the kinase activity of GSK-3β in vitro via a mechanism that is not dependent on LRRK2 kinase activity (Kawakami et al., 2014). G2019S LRRK2 has a higher binding affinity for GSK-3β than WT LRRK2, and it has also been shown that transgenic G2019S LRRK2 Drosophila neurons exhibit GSK-3β-mediated hyperphosphorylation of tau (Lin et al., 2010; Kawakami et al., 2012). The above evidence demonstrates that both LRRK2 and α-synuclein may mediate phosphorylation and subsequent aggregation of hyperphosphorylated tau, potentially enhancing the load of misfolded protein aggregates in PD brain, providing evidence as to how the two proteins may work in distinct pathways but with similar outcomes.

Divergent Mechanisms

Apart from the above experimental evidence for direct or indirect interactions between LRRK2 and α-synuclein, there is also evidence to suggest that the two proteins do not physically or functionally interact, but instead act on distinct pathways (Figure 1D). In an interesting study, double transgenic mice expressing human A53T α-synuclein under a hindbrain selective PrP promoter were developed on either a LRRK2 KO or G2019S LRRK2 background (Daher et al., 2012). The A53T α-synuclein single transgenic mice showed some behavioral deficits which were not exacerbated with expression of G2019S LRRK2. The neuropathological phenotype that predominantly developed in the hindbrain of this A53T α-synuclein single transgenic mouse model was unaffected by the deletion of LRRK2 or overexpression of G2019S LRRK2. Since the A53T α-synuclein single transgenic mice displayed hindbrain selective α-synuclein pathology which was not affected by G2019S LRRK2 expression or LRRK2 KO, it can be concluded that LRRK2 has a non-contributory role in development of the pathological phenotype in this specific mouse model. A separate study examined the effects of LRRK2 on α-synuclein pathology in double transgenic mice co-expressing A53T α-synuclein with WT LRRK2 or G2019S LRRK2 in selected forebrain regions (high transgene expression in cortex), and in brainstem neurons under the control of the Thy-1 promoter (Herzig et al., 2012). In the initial experiments with single transgenic WT or G2019S LRRK2 mice, high LRRK2 expression levels alone failed to induce any α-synuclein pathology in mice up to 19 months of age or behavioral effects in mice up to 3–4 months of age. There were no changes in the level of phosphorylated S129 α-synuclein and the aged mice (15 months of age) showed no other signs of α-synucleinopathy. Hence, there was no link between LRRK2 overexpression and endogenous α-synuclein pathology in these mice. Subsequent experiments examining the double transgenic mice co-expressing A53T α-synuclein with WT or G2019S LRRK2 did not reveal increased levels of phosphorylated S129 α-synuclein or exacerbate the motor dysfunction observed in A53T α-synuclein single transgenic mice. These results are in contrast to the findings reported in another study in which A53T α-synuclein and LRRK2 (WT and G2019S) were co-expressed only in selected forebrain regions (high transgene expression in cortex and striatum) and showed that LRRK2 expression accelerated the progression of neuropathological abnormalities (Lin et al., 2009). In this study, unlike in the two other studies in which LRRK2 and α-synuclein were expressed in the brainstem where endogenous LRRK2 expression is low (Daher et al., 2012; Herzig et al., 2012), LRRK2 and α-synuclein were expressed in the forebrain where endogenous LRRK2 levels are high (Lin et al., 2009). Results also differed based on levels of transgene expression in cortex and striatum. Contrasting results were also reported when both genes were co-expressed only in forebrain as opposed to forebrain and brainstem. Thus, the synergistic versus separate effects of LRRK2 and α-synuclein might be dependent on the cell type and in what region of the brain they are co-expressed.

The combined effects of G2019S LRRK2 and A53T α-synuclein have also been studied in primary hippocampal and midbrain dopaminergic neurons (Henderson et al., 2018). α-Synuclein pathology was induced in primary hippocampal cultures from G2019S LRRK2 mice and non-transgenic control mice by using α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFF). Both G2019S LRRK2 and non-transgenic primary hippocampal neurons showed similar levels of aggregated phosphorylated S129 α-synuclein 14 days post-transduction with PFF, suggesting that LRRK2 does not exacerbate α-synuclein pathology in these neurons at this timepoint. At 21 days post-transduction, mild increase in α-synuclein pathology was observed in G2019S LRRK2 neurons which was rescued by LRRK2 inhibitors. However, primary dopaminergic neurons from G2019S LRRK2 and non-transgenic mice showed no difference in levels of aggregated phosphorylated S129 α-synuclein 21 days post-transduction with PFF, indicating LRRK2 does not worsen α-synuclein pathology in dopaminergic neurons which are more relevant to PD. However, a recently published study demonstrated that the LRRK2 G2019S mutation does affect the spread of α-synuclein pathology in specific neuronal populations, supporting the observation that the synergistic versus separate effect of LRRK2 on α-synuclein pathology may depend on specific brain regions and neuronal populations (Henderson et al., 2019a).

Human genetic studies examining interactions between SNCA and LRRK2 variants have not provided evidence for convergent pathways between α-synuclein and LRRK2. Specifically, potential gene-gene interactions between three PD susceptibility genes, namely SNCA, LRRK2, and MAPT, have been examined (Biernacka et al., 2011). One hundred and nineteen SNCA, LRRK2, and MAPT haplotype tagged single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and two variable number tandem repeats were genotyped in 1,098 PD patients and compared to 1,098 matched controls. Out of the 256 interaction pairs selected in this study, only 10 interaction pairs (6 SNCA-LRRK2, 3 SNCA-MAPT, and 1 MAPT-LRRK2) had uncorrected p-values of less than 0.05. However, no significant interaction was found on further statistical analysis by correcting for multiple testing and secondary analysis based on the type of control. Based on these results, no significant interaction was found between SNCA and LRRK2 genes in this set of human patients. These human genetic findings taken together with the above observations using in vitro and in vivo models introduce the possibility that LRRK2 and α-synuclein act independently of each other and do not have synergistic effects on disease pathogenesis. However, the distinct pathways for LRRK2 and α-synuclein still remain to be further explored.

Currently, the most compelling evidence for distinct effects of LRRK2 and α-synuclein comes from post-mortem studies of brains from patients with LRRK2 PD. The clinical features of LRRK2 PD patients are generally indistinguishable from those with sporadic PD (Alcalay et al., 2013; Trinh et al., 2014; Marras et al., 2016). Similarly, the associated neuropathological features of these patients are often consistent with typical sporadic PD including loss of dopaminergic neurons (Schneider and Alcalay, 2017). Therefore, it was unexpected when autopsy studies revealed that an appreciable subset of LRRK2 PD cases can have dopaminergic neuron loss but lack LB pathology (Zimprich et al., 2004), suggesting that mutant LRRK2 can mediate neurodegeneration independent of large α-synuclein aggregates. Interestingly, motor features occur regardless of the presence or absence of LB in LRRK2 PD while some non-motor features, including cognitive impairment and anxiety, are associated with the presence of LB (Kalia et al., 2015), possibly indicating that LB pathology impacts the function of cortical neurons, but not dopaminergic neurons. A study of a single case of G2019S LRRK2 PD without LB revealed the presence of small soluble α-synuclein oligomers in the cortex (Gomez and Ferrer, 2010), while another study has shown very low levels of insoluble α-synuclein in 4 G2019S LRRK2 PD cases with LB compared to sporadic PD cases (Mamais et al., 2013). These results suggest that insoluble α-synuclein aggregates play a less prominent role in LRRK2 PD and smaller soluble α-synuclein oligomers may be important for neurotoxicity. Alternatively, α-synuclein may not contribute to neurodegeneration in a subset of LRRK2 PD patients. Further research is needed to determine why α-synuclein does not appear to aggregate into insoluble forms in a proportion of LRRK2 PD cases and to characterize the presence and roles of different α-synuclein aggregates in LRRK2 PD.

Conclusion

Substantial experimental evidence points towards an interplay between LRRK2 and α-synuclein with mutant LRRK2 accelerating the progression of α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration. The interactions between LRRK2 and α-synuclein are indirect with much of the evidence suggesting that Rab proteins and chaperones may be mediators. Work to date also indicates that LRRK2 and α-synuclein converge on common mechanisms that lead to neuronal death, particularly by affecting the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Current understanding of indirect and convergent mechanisms linking LRRK2 and α-synuclein has opened doors to novel therapeutic candidates that can be targeted in PD drug discovery. These include the autophagy-lysosomal pathways and mediators including, but not limited to, chaperones and Rab proteins that can be targeted to increase α-synuclein degradation and clearance. LRRK2 kinase inhibitors or LRRK2 knockdown approaches may hold promise as potential therapeutic strategies for PD as they can prevent over-phosphorylation of LRRK2 substrates, eventually aiding in restoration of the E-L system to enhance clearance of α-synuclein aggregates. Elucidating the missing components in the pathways that potentially regulate LRKK2 and α-synuclein would give a clearer idea of the actual interaction and the unknown target molecules that mediate this complex interplay. The hope is that this additional understanding would eventually open doors to new disease-modifying therapeutic interventions for PD and provide rationale for treatment stratification.

Author Contributions

DO’H, GP, SK, and LK wrote and proofed the manuscript. SK and LK conceived of the idea for the manuscript.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.