LRRK2 and Rab10 coordinate macropinocytosis to mediate immunological responses in phagocytes

Zhiyong Liu1, Enquan Xu1, Hien Tran Zhao2

  • 1Duke Center for Neurodegeneration Research, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.

The EMBO Journal
|August 28, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) protein regulates macropinocytosis, a cellular process. LRRK2-mediated phosphorylation of Rab10 protein stalls vesicle recycling, impacting immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Genetic variations in LRRK2 are linked to Parkinson's disease, Crohn's disease, and mycobacteria infection.
  • LRRK2 and its substrate Rab10 are highly expressed in immune phagocytic cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of Rab10 in endocytosis within immune cells.
  • To elucidate the mechanism by which LRRK2 influences cellular processes and immune signaling.

Main Methods:

  • Studied primary macrophages, dendritic cells, and microglia-like cells from mice and humans.
  • Utilized Rab10 knockdown and LRRK2 kinase inhibition.
  • Analyzed macropinocytosis, phagocytosis, and clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
  • Investigated protein phosphorylation and cargo trafficking in endosomes.

Main Results:

  • Rab10 specifically regulates macropinocytosis, not phagocytosis or clathrin-mediated endocytosis.
  • LRRK2 phosphorylates Rab10, stalling EHBP1L1-mediated recycling of macropinosome cargo.
  • Suppression of Rab10 or LRRK2 activity inhibits the maturation of signaling endosomes, affecting immune responses like Akt activation and chemotaxis.

Conclusions:

  • LRRK2-mediated Rab10 phosphorylation is a novel mechanism that stalls vesicle recycling in the endolysosomal system.
  • This process promotes PI3K-Akt immunological responses, highlighting a new signaling axis.

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