Linking the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 gene, animal models, and Parkinson's disease

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common genetic causes for both familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). How mutant LRRK2 causes dopaminergic neuronal loss is still unclear. Tremendous efforts have been put into developing both in vitro and in vivo model systems to decipher the mechanisms underlying LRRK2-induced dopamine neurodegeneration. Among all model systems, animal models have been aimed at reproducing human disease pathology and have provided crucial insights into the pathogenesis of LRRK2-associated PD. In this chapter, we focus on genetic animal models of LRRK2 including invertebrate and vertebrate models.