Transgenic Mice Expressing Human α-Synuclein in Noradrenergic Neurons Develop Locus Ceruleus Pathology and Nonmotor Features of Parkinson's Disease.

Degeneration of locus ceruleus (LC) neurons and dysregulation of noradrenergic signaling are ubiquitous features of Parkinson's disease (PD). The LC is among the first brain regions affected by α-synuclein (asyn) pathology, yet how asyn affects these neurons remains unclear. LC-derived norepinephrine (NE) can stimulate neuroprotective mechanisms and modulate immune cells, while dysregulation of NE neurotransmission may exacerbate disease progression, particularly nonmotor symptoms, and contribute to the chronic neuroinflammation associated with PD pathology. Although transgenic mice overexpressing asyn have previously been developed, transgene expression is usually driven by pan-neuronal promoters and thus has not been selectively targeted to LC neurons. Here we report a novel transgenic mouse expressing human wild-type asyn under control of the noradrenergic-specific dopamine ß-hydroxylase promoter (DBH-hSNCA). These mice developed oligomeric and conformation-specific asyn in LC neurons, alterations in hippocampal and LC microglial abundance, upregulated GFAP expression, degeneration of LC fibers, decreased striatal DA metabolism, and age-dependent behaviors reminiscent of nonmotor symptoms of PD that were rescued by adrenergic receptor antagonists. These mice provide novel insights into how asyn pathology affects LC neurons and how central noradrenergic dysfunction may contribute to early PD pathophysiology.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT ɑ-Synuclein (asyn) pathology and loss of neurons in the locus ceruleus (LC) are two of the most ubiquitous neuropathologic features of Parkinson's disease (PD). Dysregulated norepinephrine (NE) neurotransmission is associated with the nonmotor symptoms of PD, including sleep disturbances, emotional changes such as anxiety and depression, and cognitive decline. Importantly, the loss of central NE may contribute to the chronic inflammation in, and progression of, PD. We have generated a novel transgenic mouse expressing human asyn in LC neurons to investigate how increased asyn expression affects the function of the central noradrenergic transmission and associated behaviors. We report cytotoxic effects of oligomeric and conformation-specific asyn, astrogliosis, LC fiber degeneration, disruptions in striatal dopamine metabolism, and age-dependent alterations in nonmotor behaviors without inclusions.

G protein-coupled receptor kinase GRK5 phosphorylates moesin and regulates metastasis in prostate cancer.

G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRK) regulate diverse cellular functions ranging from metabolism to growth and locomotion. Here, we report an important contributory role for GRK5 in human prostate cancer. Inhibition of GRK5 kinase activity attenuated the migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells and, concordantly, increased cell attachment and focal adhesion formation. Mass spectrometric analysis of the phosphoproteome revealed the cytoskeletal-membrane attachment protein moesin as a putative GRK5 substrate. GRK5 regulated the subcellular distribution of moesin and colocalized with moesin at the cell periphery. We identified amino acid T66 of moesin as a principal GRK5 phosphorylation site and showed that enforcing the expression of a T66-mutated moesin reduced cell spreading. In a xenograft model of human prostate cancer, GRK5 silencing reduced tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Taken together, our results established GRK5 as a key contributor to the growth and metastasis of prostate cancer.