Gastrodia elata Blume prevents dopaminergic neuron degeneration via glial Nrf2 signaling in Lrrk2-G2019S Parkinson's disease models

Background: Parkinson9s disease (PD) remains an incurable neurodegenerative disease. The most frequent missense mutations in familial PD occur in the highly conserved LRRK2/PARK8 gene. Both fly and mouse models of PD carrying the LRRK2 transgene with a dominant G2019S mutation exhibit locomotion defects and loss of dopaminergic neurons. Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) is an herbal medicine traditionally used to treat neurological diseases and has been reported to have neuroprotective effects in toxin-induced PD models. However, the underpinning molecular mechanisms of GE beneficiary to G2019S-induced PD remain unclear. Methods: We pharmacologically treated the Drosophila G2019S model with water extract of GE (WGE) to evaluate the neuroprotective and locomotion-improving effects. The biochemical analyses and genetic manipulations were further applied to dissect the potential molecular pathways involved in WGE treatment. We also validated the effects and mechanisms of WGE in a G2019S transgenic mouse model. Results: We show that these G2019S mutant flies fed with WGE showed improved locomotion and stable dopaminergic neurons. WGE suppressed the accumulation and hyperactivation of G2019S mutant protein in dopaminergic neurons, and activated the antioxidation and detoxification factor Nrf2 in glia. Activated Nrf2 antagonizes G2019S-induced Mad/Smad signaling in glia. The effects of WGE on the Drosophila G2019S model were recapitulated in a G2019S transgenic mouse. Conclusion: We conclude that WGE prevents locomotion defects and the neuronal loss induced by G2019S mutation via glial Nrf2 upregulation, unveiling a potential therapeutic avenue for PD. Keywords: Parkinson9s disease, Lrrk2, Gastrodia elata Blume, Drosophila, dopaminergic neuron, Nrf2, BMP/Mad, glia