The Parkinson's disease-linked G2019S mutation of LRRK2 increases NADPH oxidase-2 activity in neutrophils for superior control of bacterial infections.

The G2019S mutation in LRRK2 enhances NADPH oxidase-2 activity in neutrophils, improving bacterial infection control in mice by 2- to 3-fold.

• Why it matters: Understanding how LRRK2 mutations influence immune responses can reveal new insights into infection management and inflammatory diseases, especially given their links to Parkinson's and other conditions.
• What they did: Researchers examined the effects of the p.G2019S mutation in mice infected with Salmonella typhimurium or Listeria monocytogenes, focusing on neutrophil NADPH oxidase-2 activity and bacterial control mechanisms.
• The result: The mutation increases phosphorylation of NADPH oxidase-2 subunits, promoting their relocation to lysosomes and resulting in superior bacterial clearance, though with potential tissue damage under chronic inflammation.