Functional and Morphological Correlates in the Drosophila LRRK2 loss-of-function Model of Parkinson's Disease: Drug Effects of Withania somnifera (Dunal) Administration

PLoS One. 2016 Jan 4;11(1):e0146140. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146140. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The common fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) is a simple animal species that contributed significantly to the development of neurobiology whose leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 mutants (LRRK2) loss-of-function in the WD40 domain represent a very interesting tool to look into physiopathology of Parkinson's disease (PD). Accordingly, LRRK2 Dm have also the potential to contribute to reveal innovative therapeutic approaches to its treatment. Withania somnifera Dunal, a plant that grows spontaneously also in Mediterranean regions, is known in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory and protective properties against neurodegeneration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of its standardized root methanolic extract (Wse) on the LRRK2 loss-of-function Dm model of PD. To this end mutant and wild type (WT) flies were administered Wse, through diet, at different concentrations as larvae and adults (L+/A+) or as adults (L-/A+) only. LRRK2 mutants have a significantly reduced lifespan and compromised motor function and mitochondrial morphology compared to WT flies 1% Wse-enriched diet, administered to Dm LRRK2 as L-/A+and improved a) locomotor activity b) muscle electrophysiological response to stimuli and also c) protected against mitochondria degeneration. In contrast, the administration of Wse to Dm LRRK2 as L+/A+, no matter at which concentration, worsened lifespan and determined the appearance of increased endosomal activity in the thoracic ganglia. These results, while confirming that the LRRK2 loss-of-function in the WD40 domain represents a valid model of PD, reveal that under appropriate concentrations Wse can be usefully employed to counteract some deficits associated with the disease. However, a careful assessment of the risks, likely related to the impaired endosomal activity, is required.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antiparkinson Agents / isolation & purification
  • Antiparkinson Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antiparkinson Agents / toxicity
  • Drosophila Proteins / deficiency*
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila melanogaster / drug effects*
  • Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Endosomes / drug effects
  • Ganglia, Invertebrate / drug effects
  • Ganglia, Invertebrate / ultrastructure
  • Larva
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
  • Locomotion / drug effects
  • Longevity / drug effects
  • Methanol
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / ultrastructure
  • Neuromuscular Junction / drug effects
  • Neuromuscular Junction / physiopathology
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / pathology
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / physiopathology
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Extracts / toxicity
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / deficiency*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Synaptic Potentials / drug effects
  • Withania / chemistry*

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Plant Extracts
  • LRRK2 protein, Drosophila
  • Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Methanol

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Fondazione Banco di Sardegna (ITA) no.0172 /2014. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.