Chronic oral administration of P. gingivalis induces microglial activation and degeneration of dopaminergic neurons possibly through increase in gut permeability and peripheral IL-17A in LRRK2 R1441G mice
Abstract Background The R1441G mutation in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene results in late-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD). Peripheral inflammation and gut microbiota are closely associated with the pathogenesis of PD. Chronic periodontitis is a common type of peripheral inflammation, which is associated with PD. Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg), the most common bacterium causing chronic periodontitis, can cause alteration of gut microbiota. It is not known whether Pg-induced dysbiosis plays a role in the pathophysiology of PD. Methods In this study, live Pg were orally administrated to animals, three times a week for one month. Pg-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro. The effects of oral Pg administration on the gut and brain were evaluated through behaviors, morphology, and cytokine expression. Results Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra were reduced and activated microglial cells were increased in R1441G mice given oral Pg. In addition, an increase in mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) as well as protein level of α-synuclein together with a decrease in zonula occludens-1 (Zo-1) were detected in the colon in Pg-treated R1441G mice. Furthermore, serum interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and brain IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) were increased in Pg-treated R1441G mice. Conclusions These findings suggest that LRRK2 causes gut leakage and further mediates peripheral IL-17A response in Pg-treated animals. We, thus, put forward the hypothesis that IL-17A in the serum may result in activation of the IL-17A-IL-17RA axis that aggravates dysfunction of dopaminergic neurons and provokes microglial activation in LRRK2 R1441G mice.