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Published on: June 14, 2018
Longitudinal change in TSPO PET imaging in progressive multiple sclerosis
Yeona Kang1,2, Sneha Pandya2, Nicole Zinger3
1Department of Mathematics, Howard University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Abstract:
The objective of this pilot study was to assess a 2-year change in innate immune burden in 15 progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using PK11195-PET. Sixteen age-matched healthy controls (HC) were included for baseline comparison. PK11195 uptake was higher in MS patients compared to HC within normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and multiple gray matter regions. In patients, PK11195 uptake increased in NAWM (p = 0.01), cortex (p = 0.04), thalamus (p = 0.04), and putamen (p = 0.02) at 12 months. Among patients remaining at 24 months, there was no further increase in PK11195. Our data suggest that innate immune activity may increase over time in patients with progressive MS.
Insights
Innate immune activity increases in progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients over time, as shown by higher PK11195-PET uptake in brain regions. This pilot study tracked changes over two years, revealing significant increases within the first year.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Radiology
- Neurology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system.
- Innate immune system activation is implicated in MS pathogenesis.
- Assessing innate immune burden non-invasively is crucial for understanding disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate changes in innate immune burden over two years in progressive MS patients.
- To compare innate immune activity between MS patients and healthy controls (HC).
- To utilize Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with PK11195 to quantify neuroinflammation.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving 15 progressive MS patients and 16 age-matched HC.
- PK11195-PET imaging was used to measure translocator protein (TSPO) expression, a marker of neuroinflammation.
- Imaging was performed at baseline and at 12 and 24 months.
Main Results:
- MS patients exhibited higher baseline PK11195 uptake in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and gray matter regions compared to HC.
- A significant increase in PK11195 uptake was observed in MS patients' NAWM, cortex, thalamus, and putamen at 12 months.
- No further significant increase in PK11195 uptake was noted between 12 and 24 months in the subgroup of patients assessed at 24 months.
Conclusions:
- Progressive MS is associated with increasing innate immune activity in the brain.
- PK11195-PET imaging can detect longitudinal changes in neuroinflammation in MS.
- These findings suggest a dynamic role for innate immunity in the progression of multiple sclerosis.
