Cited by 103Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsImmune Response and Inflammation

TLR2 and TLR4 in Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis: The environment takes a toll on the gut

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Gorecki, Anastazja M., Anyaegbu, Chidozie C., Anderton, Ryan S.·2021·Translational Neurodegeneration

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an incurable, devastating disorder that is characterized by pathological protein aggregation and neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra. In recent years, growing evidence has implicated the gut environment and the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis and progression of PD, especially in a subset of people who exhibit prodromal gastrointestinal dysfunction. Specifically, perturbations of gut homeostasis are hypothesized to contribute to α-synuclein aggregation in enteric neurons, which may spread to the brain over decades and eventually result in the characteristic central nervous system manifestations of PD, including neurodegeneration and motor impairments. However, the mechanisms linking gut disturbances and α-synuclein aggregation are still unclear. A plethora of research indicates that toll-like receptors (TLRs), especially TLR2 and TLR4, are critical mediators of gut homeostasis. Alongside their established role in innate immunity throughout the body, studies are increasingly demonstrating that TLR2 and TLR4 signalling shapes the development and function of the gut and the enteric nervous system. Notably, TLR2 and TLR4 are dysregulated in patients with PD, and may thus be central to early gut dysfunction in PD. To better understand the putative contribution of intestinal TLR2 and TLR4 dysfunction to early α-synuclein aggregation and PD, we critically discuss the role of TLR2 and TLR4 in normal gut function as well as evidence for altered TLR2 and TLR4 signalling in PD, by reviewing clinical, animal model and in vitro research. Growing evidence on the immunological aetiology of α-synuclein aggregation is also discussed, with a focus on the interactions of α-synuclein with TLR2 and TLR4. We propose a conceptual model of PD pathogenesis in which microbial dysbiosis alters the permeability of the intestinal barrier as well as TLR2 and TLR4 signalling, ultimately leading to a positive feedback loop of chronic gut dysfunction promoting α-synuclein aggregation in enteric and vagal neurons. In turn, α-synuclein aggregates may then migrate to the brain via peripheral nerves, such as the vagal nerve, to contribute to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration typically associated with PD.

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  1. [46]Zhang F Gao XD Wu WW Gao Y Zhang YW Wang S-P Polymorphisms in toll-like receptors 2, 4 and 5 are associated with Legionella pneumophila infection Infection 2013 41 5 941 948 23526294

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Authors
Gorecki, A. M., Anyaegbu, C. C., & Anderton, R. S.
Affiliations
  • The University of Western Australia (AU)
  • Curtin University (AU)
  • The University of Notre Dame Australia (AU)
Corresponding author
Gorecki, Anastazja M.
Venue
Translational Neurodegeneration
Published
2021-11-17
Volume
10
Issue
1
Pages
47-47
ISSN
2047-9158 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3215959508
Cited by
103
References
204
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 28 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1
FWCI
2.05
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Translational Neurodegeneration (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • ResearchOnline@ND (The University of Notre Dame) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • australian government (Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship)
  • parkinson’s western australia (Zrinski Grant)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune Response and Inflammation
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, TLR2, TLR4, Toll-like receptors, gut-brain axis, alpha-synuclein aggregation, gut dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, enteric nervous system, vagus nerve, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, innate immunity
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Parkinson Disease, Substantia Nigra, Toll-Like Receptor 2, Toll-Like Receptor 4, Dysbiosis

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