LRRK2-mutant microglia and neuromelanin synergize to drive dopaminergic neurodegeneration in an iPSC-based Parkinson’s disease model
Published August 11, 2025
Output Details
Published August 11, 2025
Description
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of neuromelanin (NM)-containing dopamine neurons (DAn) in the *substantia nigra* of the midbrain. Non-neuronal cells are increasingly recognized as contributors to PD. We generated human microglia-like cells (hMG) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) derived from patients with LRRK2 PD-causing mutations, gene-corrected isogenic controls, and healthy donors. While neither genotype induced neurodegeneration in healthy DAn, LRRK2 hMG become hyperreactive to LPS stimulation, exhibiting increased cytokine expression, reactive oxygen species, and phagocytosis. When exposed to NM-containing particles, but not α-synuclein fibrils, LRRK2 hMG trigger DAn degeneration, in a process that is prevented by pre-treatment with the immunomodulatory drug ivermectin. Finally, post-mortem analysis of midbrain tissue of LRRK2-PD patients show increased microglia activation around NM-containing neurons, confirming our in vitro findings. Overall, our work highlights NM-activated microglia’s role in PD progression, and provides a model for testing therapeutic targets.
Identifier (DOI)
10.1038/s42003-025-08544-4
