LRP10 (Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 10) belongs to a distinct subfamily of LDL receptor proteins that includes LRP3 and LRP12. The mature human LRP10 consists of a 424 amino acid extracellular domain (ECD), a 21 amino acid transmembrane segment, and a 252 amino acid cytoplasmic domain. The ECD contains 4 LDLR-A domains and 2 CUB (C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1) domains . Within the ECD, human LRP10 shares 90% amino acid sequence identity with mouse and rat LRP10 .
Unlike classical LDL receptor family members, LRP10 has smaller extracellular regions, which makes it structurally unique, suggesting specialized functions beyond typical lipoprotein metabolism .
LRP10 is predominantly localized in the trans-Golgi network (TGN), plasma membrane, retromer, and early endosomes, suggesting its role in intracellular trafficking . In human brain tissue, LRP10 is predominantly expressed in astrocytes and neurovasculature but is undetectable in neurons under normal conditions . Similarly, in studies using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models, LRP10 shows high expression in iPSC-derived astrocytes but cannot be observed in iPSC-derived neurons . This cell type-specific expression pattern suggests that LRP10-mediated pathology may occur through non-neuronal mechanisms in neurological diseases.
LRP10 is also expressed in various other tissues and may be involved in apolipoprotein internalization , indicating its potential role in lipid metabolism across different organ systems.
LRP10 functions as a trafficking protein that shuttles between the trans-Golgi Network (TGN), plasma membrane (PM), and endosomes . Its cytoplasmic domain contains acidic dileucine (DXXLL) motifs that are crucial for its trafficking function . In vesicle trafficking pathways, LRP10 partially co-localizes and interacts with sortilin-related receptor 1 (SORL1) , suggesting coordination between these receptors in protein transport.
Experimental approaches to study LRP10 trafficking typically involve:
Fluorescent tagging of LRP10 for live-cell imaging
Co-localization studies with organelle markers
Immunoprecipitation to identify trafficking partners
Mutational analysis of trafficking motifs in the cytoplasmic domain
In patients carrying the LRP10 p.Arg235Cys variant, significantly enlarged LRP10-positive vesicles have been detected , indicating disrupted trafficking that may contribute to disease pathogenesis.
Loss-of-function variants in the LRP10 gene have been associated with:
Autosomal-dominant Parkinson's disease (PD)
PD dementia
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB)
Progressive supranuclear palsy
LRP10 has been detected in Lewy bodies (LB) at late maturation stages in brains from idiopathic PD and DLB patients, as well as in LRP10 variant carriers . The high expression of LRP10 in non-neuronal cells, coupled with its undetectable levels in neurons under normal conditions, suggests that LRP10-mediated pathogenicity may be initiated via cell non-autonomous mechanisms .
Key LRP10 variants associated with neurodegenerative conditions include:
| LRP10 Variant | Associated Condition |
|---|---|
| p.Gly453Ser | Mixed Alzheimer's disease/Lewy body disease |
| p.Arg151Cys | Dementia with Lewy bodies |
| p.Gly326Asp | Alzheimer's disease without Lewy pathology |
| c.1424+5G>A (splice variant) | Dementia with Lewy bodies |
| p.Arg235Cys | Enlarged LRP10-positive vesicles observed |
All patients carrying these variants had a positive family history for dementia or PD , supporting the genetic link between LRP10 and neurodegenerative conditions.
Several methodological approaches have been validated for studying LRP10 interactions:
Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP):
Effective for identifying direct binding partners of LRP10
Example protocol: Cells expressing LRP10 constructs can be lysed in RIPA buffer (50 mM Tris/HCl pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 1% Triton X-100, 0.5% Na-Deoxycholate) with protease inhibitors (1 mM PMSF, 1 μg/ml Aprotinin)
Protein complexes can be precipitated using antibodies against LRP10 or potential interaction partners
GST pull-down assays:
Proximity-based labeling methods:
BioID or APEX techniques for identifying proximal proteins in living cells
Confocal microscopy for co-localization studies:
When examining LRP10 interactors, it's important to consider both the extracellular domain interactions and the cytoplasmic domain interactions, as they may mediate different functions.
Several effective approaches have been validated in the literature:
LRP10 overexpression systems:
Gene knockout strategies:
Domain-specific mutants:
iPSC-derived cell models:
Statistical analysis of experiments should employ appropriate tests based on data distribution. For non-normally distributed data, the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test is recommended .
Recombinant human LRP10 is commercially available as an Fc chimera protein containing the extracellular domain (His17-Pro438) . This construct can be used for:
Binding kinetics analysis:
Pulldown assays:
Recombinant LRP10-Fc can be immobilized on protein A/G beads to capture binding partners from cellular lysates
Elution and mass spectrometry analysis can identify novel interactors
Competitive binding assays:
To identify compounds that can disrupt pathological interactions
Cell-based binding assays:
Flow cytometry using labeled recombinant LRP10 to identify cell types with binding capacity
When designing binding studies, researchers should consider the physiological pH and ionic conditions, as these may significantly affect LRP10 interactions.
LRP10 has been identified as a regulator of amyloid precursor protein (APP) trafficking and processing, which has implications for Alzheimer's disease research:
Direct interaction with APP:
Effect on APP processing:
Methodological approach for studying this relationship:
Express LRP10 and APP in cellular models and examine APP localization
Measure Aβ production using ELISAs for Aβ40 and Aβ42
Track APP trafficking using fluorescent tagging and live-cell imaging
Analyze the effect of LRP10 variants on APP processing
This research area is particularly relevant for understanding the potential role of LRP10 in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and developing therapeutic strategies targeting LRP10-APP interactions.
Recent research has revealed an unexpected role for LRP10 in immune regulation, particularly in CD8 T cell homeostasis:
Effect on CD8 T cell populations:
Mechanism of immune regulation:
Impact on anti-tumor immunity:
These findings position LRP10 as a negative regulator of CD8 T cell homeostasis and a host factor that controls tumor resistance, with potential implications for immunotherapy development.
Based on published methodologies, researchers interested in LRP10's immune function should consider:
Bone marrow chimera studies:
Homeostatic expansion assays:
Cytokine receptor signaling analysis:
Examination of IL7R signaling and downstream pathway activation
Western blot analysis of signaling molecules including STAT5 phosphorylation
Glycosylation analysis:
Tumor resistance models:
Challenge with syngeneic tumor cell lines
Analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes
Response to immune checkpoint inhibition
These methodological approaches provide a comprehensive framework for investigating the role of LRP10 in immune function across different experimental contexts.
When investigating complex interactions involving LRP10, proper experimental design is crucial:
Implementing these experimental design principles will maximize the efficiency and statistical power of LRP10 research projects.
When investigating LRP10 variants associated with neurodegenerative diseases, several methodological considerations are important:
Model system selection:
Patient-derived iPSCs differentiated into relevant cell types
CRISPR-engineered cell lines with specific variants
Transgenic animal models expressing human LRP10 variants
Analysis of variant effects on LRP10 function:
Protein analysis techniques:
Mechanism studies:
Statistical approaches:
Power calculations to determine appropriate sample sizes
Multiple comparison corrections when testing several variants
Consideration of biological versus technical replicates
These considerations will help researchers design rigorous studies that provide meaningful insights into how LRP10 variants contribute to disease pathogenesis.