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Positron emission tomography imaging of neuroinflammation

Sujatha Kannan1, Bindu Balakrishnan, Otto Muzik

  • 1Carman and Ann Adams Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA. skannan@med.wayne.edu

Journal of Child Neurology
|September 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Positron emission tomography (PET) with [(11)C](R)PK11195 can detect neuroinflammation in newborns. This imaging technique targets peripheral benzodiazepine receptors on activated microglia, aiding in early diagnosis of conditions like cerebral palsy.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Medical Imaging
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Neuroinflammation, indicated by activated microglia, is a hallmark of central nervous system injury.
  • Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors on microglia are sensitive biomarkers for neuroinflammation.
  • [(11)C](R)PK11195 is a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for imaging these receptors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the potential of [(11)C](R)PK11195 PET imaging for detecting neonatal brain neuroinflammation.
  • To assess the utility of this imaging method in a model of maternal inflammation-induced cerebral palsy.

Main Methods:

  • Small-animal PET imaging studies were conducted using a neonatal rabbit model.
  • The model mimicked inflammation induced by maternal chorioamnionitis.
  • [(11)C](R)PK11195 was used as the PET tracer to visualize peripheral benzodiazepine receptor expression.

Main Results:

  • PET imaging with [(11)C](R)PK11195 successfully detected neuroinflammation in the neonatal brain.
  • The tracer effectively localized to sites of activated microglia.

Conclusions:

  • [(11)C](R)PK11195 PET imaging is a promising tool for detecting neuroinflammation in newborns.
  • This technique may aid in the early diagnosis of neurological conditions in infants born to mothers with chorioamnionitis.

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