Objective: To assess central and peripheral cytokines among Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with mutations in the LRRK2 and GBA genes as well as among non-manifesting carriers (NMS) of these mutations in order to determine the role of inflammation in genetic PD.

Background: Inflammation is an integral part of neurodegeneration including in PD. Ashkenazi Jews have high rates of genetic PD with divergent phenotypes among GBA-PD and LRRK2-PD. The role of inflammation in the prodromal phase of PD and the association with disease phenotype has yet to be elucidated.

Method: The following cytokines were assessed from peripheral blood and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF): TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and INF- γ. A comprehensive intake including general medical conditions, use of anti-inflammatory treatments, motor and cognitive assessments and additional laboratory measures were recorded as well, enabling the construction of the MDS prodromal score.

Results: from 362 participants was collected: 31 idiopathic PD (iPD), 30 LRRK2-PD, 77 GBA-PD, 3 homozygote GBA-PD, 3 GBA–LRRK2-PD, 67 LRRK2-NMC, 105 GBA-NMC, 14 LRRK2–GBA-NMC and 32 healthy controls. No between-group differences in peripheral or CSF cytokines were detected. No correlation between disease characteristics or risk for prodromal PD could be associated with any inflammatory measure.

Conclusion: Inflammation as assessed by a panel of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines does not play a role is disease severity or risk among GBA and LRRK2 mutation carriers.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/mutations-in-gba-and-lrrk2-are-not-associated-with-increased-inflammatory-markers/