Astrocytic atrophy as a pathological feature of Parkinson’s disease with LRRK2 mutation

Abstract The principal hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the selective neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurones. Mounting evidence suggests that astrocytes may contribute to dopaminergic neurodegeneration through decreased homoeostatic support and deficient neuroprotection. In this study, we...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Paula Ramos-Gonzalez, Susana Mato, Juan Carlos Chara, Alexei Verkhratsky, Carlos Matute, Fabio Cavaliere
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2021-03-01
Series:npj Parkinson's Disease
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-021-00175-w
Description
Summary:Abstract The principal hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the selective neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurones. Mounting evidence suggests that astrocytes may contribute to dopaminergic neurodegeneration through decreased homoeostatic support and deficient neuroprotection. In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived astrocytes from PD patients with LRRK2(G2019S) mutation and healthy donors of the similar age. In cell lines derived from PD patients, astrocytes were characterised by a significant decrease in S100B and GFAP-positive astrocytic profiles associated with marked decrease in astrocyte complexity. In addition, PD-derived astrocytes demonstrated aberrant mitochondrial morphology, decreased mitochondrial activity and ATP production along with an increase of glycolysis and increased production of reactive oxygen species. Taken together, our data indicate that astrocytic asthenia observed in patient-derived cultures with LRRK2(G2019S) mutation may contribute to neuronal death through decreased homoeostatic support, elevated oxidative stress and failed neuroprotection.
ISSN:2373-8057