Fly model used in study of mutations in LRRK2 associated with Parkinson's disease

Mortiboys H, Furmston R, Bronstad G, Aasly J, Elliott C, Bandmann O. UDCA [ursodeoxycholic acid] exerts beneficial effect on mitochondrial dysfunction in LRRK2(G2019S) carriers and in vivo. Neurology. 2015 Sep 8;85(10):846-52. PMID: 26253449; PMCID: PMC4560055.

From the abstract: "OBJECTIVE: To further characterize mitochondrial dysfunction in LRRK2(G2019S) mutant Parkinson disease (PD) patient tissue (M-LRRK2(G2019S)), determine whether ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) also exerts a beneficial effect on mitochondrial dysfunction in nonmanifesting LRRK2(G2019S) mutation carriers (NM-LRRK2(G2019S)), and assess UDCA for its beneficial effect on neuronal dysfunction in vivo. ... CONCLUSION: ... The beneficial effect of UDCA on mitochondrial function in both NM-LRRK2(G2019S) and M-LRRK2(G2019S) as well as on the function of dopaminergic neurons expressing LRRK2(G2019S) suggests that UDCA is a promising drug for future neuroprotective trials."


See also: Greenamyre JT, Sanders LH, Gasser T. Fruit flies, bile acids, and Parkinson disease: a mitochondrial connection? Neurology. 2015 Sep 8;85(10):838-9. PMID: 26253445.