Leucine Rich Repeat Kinase 2 is not required for lysozyme expression in intestinal Paneth cells

Genetic variants in Leucine-rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) gene have been linked to Parkinsons disease (PD) and are also associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), specifically Crohns disease (CD), a transmural inflammation that can affect the entire length of the gastrointestinal tract and is commonly seen in the ileum1. In ileal CD, defects in specialized intestinal epithelial cells known as Paneth cells are believed to drive disease pathogenesis2,3. Paneth cells contribute to mucosal defense by secreting antimicrobial peptides including lysozyme and to the maintenance of intestinal stem cells by secreting growth factors. A previous article published by Zhang et al4 in Nature Immunology identified a key role for LRRK2 in selective sorting and secretion of lysozyme in Paneth cells. However, after extended analyses, we find that LRRK2 is not required for lysozyme expression in the murine gut and is not expressed in either murine or human Paneth cells.