Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-23-2025

Comments

This article is the author’s final published version in npj Parkinson's Disease, Volume 11, 2025, Article number 86.

The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00925-0. Copyright © The Author(s) 2025.

Abstract

Post-infection sequela of several viruses have been linked with Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we investigated whether mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 alone or in combination with two putative Parkinsonian toxins, MPTP and paraquat, increased the susceptibility to develop Parkinsonian pathology. We also examined if G2019S LRRK2 mice had any change in sensitivity to SARS-CoV-2 as well as if vaccination against this virus altered any neuropathology. Infection with WA-1/2020 or Omicron B1.1.529 strains sensitized both WT and G2019S LRRK2 mice to the neuropathological effects of a subtoxic exposure to MPTP, but not paraquat. These neuropathologies were rescued in WT mice vaccinated with mRNA- or protein-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. However, G2019S LRRK2 mutant mice were only protected with the protein-based vaccine. These results highlight the role of both environmental exposures and familial background on the development of Parkinsonian pathology secondary to viral infection and the benefit of vaccines in reducing these risks.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Language

English

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