Mutations in the Leucine-rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene are a common cause of late-onset familial Parkinson's disease (PD) and mutations in LRRK2 are also associated with sporadic Parkinson's disease. These LRRK2 transgenic mice are potential valuable animal models of PD and can be used to study the molecular basis of PD due to LRRK2 mutations. These mice can potentially be used to evaluate the efficacy of neuroprotective or neurorestorative agents for PD. JHU faculty have generated several lines of transgenic mice over-expressing full length wild type LRRK2 and mutated LRRK2.
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The LRRK2 transgenic mice can be used to study the underlying molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration due to LRK2 mutations. Understanding these mechanisms can lead to the identification of new drug targets which can be directly tested in these animal models, providing the opportunity to develop new therapies for the treatment of PD. These mice can be used to discover potential biomarkers that can be used to diagnose PD and/or monitor its progression.
