LRRK2 is involved in the IFN-gamma response and host response to pathogens

J Immunol. 2010 Nov 1;185(9):5577-85. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000548. Epub 2010 Oct 4.

Abstract

LRRK2 was previously identified as a defective gene in Parkinson's disease, and it is also located in a risk region for Crohn's disease. In this study, we aim to determine whether LRRK2 could be involved in immune responses. We show that LRRK2 expression is enriched in human immune cells. LRRK2 is an IFN-γ target gene, and its expression increased in intestinal tissues upon Crohn's disease inflammation. In inflamed intestinal tissues, LRRK2 is detected in the lamina propria macrophages, B-lymphocytes, and CD103-positive dendritic cells. Furthermore, LRRK2 expression enhances NF-κB-dependent transcription, suggesting its role in immune response signaling. Endogenous LRRK2 rapidly translocates near bacterial membranes, and knockdown of LRRK2 interferes with reactive oxygen species production during phagocytosis and bacterial killing. These observations indicate that LRRK2 is an IFN-γ target gene, and it might be involved in signaling pathways relevant to Crohn's disease pathogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Separation
  • Crohn Disease / immunology*
  • Crohn Disease / metabolism
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Intestinal Mucosa / immunology
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Mucous Membrane / immunology
  • Mucous Membrane / metabolism
  • NF-kappa B / immunology
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / immunology*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / immunology

Substances

  • NF-kappa B
  • Interferon-gamma
  • LRRK2 protein, human
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases