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Mutations in the LRRK2 gene cause familial Parkinson's disease presenting with pleomorphic neuropathology that can involve α-synuclein or tau accumulation. LRRK2 mutations are thought to converge toward a pathogenic increase in LRRK2 kinase activity. A subset of small Rab GTPases have been identified as LRRK2 substrates, with LRRK2-dependent phosphorylation resulting in Rab inactivation. We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to generate a novel series of isogenic iPSC lines deficient in the two most well validated LRRK2 substrates, Rab8a and Rab10, from two independent, deeply phenotyped healthy control lines. Thorough characterization of NGN2-induced neurons revealed divergent effects of Rab8a and Rab10 deficiency on lysosomal pH, LAMP1 association with Golgi, α-synuclein insolubility and tau phosphorylation, while parallel effects on lysosomal numbers and Golgi clustering were observed. Our data demonstrate largely antagonistic effects of genetic Rab8a or Rab10 inactivation which provide discrete insight into the pathologic features of their biochemical inactivation by pathogenic LRRK2 mutation.

Emerging evidence has established neuroinflammation as a primary driver of progressive neuronal loss observed across neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). The NLRP3 inflammasome is a cytosolic immunoprotective danger sensing complex, which when aberrantly activated drives neuroinflammation, propagates amyloid deposition, and neurodegeneration. Herein, we report the therapeutic benefit of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), using a novel and selective brain-penetrant small molecule NLRP3 inhibitor, VEN-02XX, which we profiled in the 5XFAD/Rubicon KO AD model. We demonstrate for the first time that targeting NLRP3, post-symptomatic establishment, rescues cognitive deficits, mitigates neuronal loss, and is sufficient to significantly reduce reactive microgliosis, neuroinflammation and tau pathology. Our data further suggest that pharmacological inhibition of NLRP3, after disease onset, has the potential to reduce cortical and hippocampal amyloid burden. Together, these results highlight the potential for NLRP3 inhibition as a symptomatic and disease modifying therapeutic target for AD pathology and more broadly NDDs.