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New and Old TSPO PET Radioligands for Imaging Brain Microglial Activation in Neurodegenerative Disease

  • Neuroimaging (N. Pavese, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

We will discuss the developments in TSPO PET imaging and the contribution this technique has had to understanding neuroinflammation in vivo, as well as the limitations inherent to the currently available radioligands and the potential future direction.

Recent Findings

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging targeting the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) has led to major advances in understanding the pathological role played by microglia activation and neuroinflammation in a diverse range of neurodegenerative conditions.

Summary

The first-generation radioligand 11[C](R)-PK11195 has been the most widely studied and has led to considerable advancements in defining the role of neuroinflammation in neuronal degeneration and dysfunction. However, limitations including low signal-to-noise ratio and high nonspecific binding have led to the development of new TSPO-specific radioligands in an attempt to improve the quality of TSPO imaging. Unfortunately, these new radioligands have not been without their own problems, and the expected improvement in image quality has not been achieved.

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Author notes

  1. Laura Best and Christine Ghadery contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

    Laura Best & Nicola Pavese

  2. The Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson’s Disease & Movement Disorder Unit, Toronto Western Hospital & Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network; Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Christine Ghadery & Antonio P. Strafella

  3. Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK

    Yen Foung Tai

Authors
  1. Laura Best
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  2. Christine Ghadery
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  3. Nicola Pavese
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  4. Yen Foung Tai
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  5. Antonio P. Strafella
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christine Ghadery.

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Best, L., Ghadery, C., Pavese, N. et al. New and Old TSPO PET Radioligands for Imaging Brain Microglial Activation in Neurodegenerative Disease. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 19, 24 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-019-0934-y

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