α-Synuclein Gene Hypomethylation in LRRK2 Parkinson's Disease Patients

Abstract

Background α-Synuclein (SNCA) gene hypomethylation was reported in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (iPD). Based on a high clinical resemblance between iPD and leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2)-driven Parkinson's disease (L2PD), we investigated the epigenetic status of SNCA in an extensive LRRK2 clinical cohort from Spain.

Methods We assessed the methylation levels of 23 CpG sites in the SNCA promoter region using peripheral blood DNA from L2PD patients (n = 151), LRRK2 nonmanifesting carriers (n = 55), iPD patients (n = 115), and healthy control subjects (n = 154) (total: N = 475).

Results Compared with control subjects, we found significant SNCA hypomethylation in 11 of 23 CpGs in L2PD (48%), whereas 22 CpGs (96%) were hypomethylated in iPD. In line with a healthy status, asymptomatic mutation carriers had similar SNCA methylation profiles to control subjects.

Conclusions This study shows for the first time that SNCA hypomethylation occurs in patients with L2PD. Further studies addressing SNCA methylation status in additional worldwide LRRK2 cohorts are warranted. © 2024 The Author(s). Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.