Positron emission tomography imaging in evaluation of MS pathology in vivo

Positron emission tomography (PET) gives an opportunity to quantitate the expression of specific molecular targets in vivo and longitudinally in brain and thus enhances our possibilities to understand and follow up multiple sclerosis (MS)-related pathology. For successful PET imaging, one needs a re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Multiple Sclerosis Journal 2018-10, Vol.24 (11), p.1399-1412
Main Authors: Högel, Heidi, Rissanen, Eero, Vuorimaa, Anna, Airas, Laura
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cortex
Inflammation
Medical imaging
Microglial cells
Multiple sclerosis
Myelination
Neuroimaging
Pathology
Positron emission tomography
Radioisotopes
Substantia grisea
Synaptic density
Tomography
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Summary:Positron emission tomography (PET) gives an opportunity to quantitate the expression of specific molecular targets in vivo and longitudinally in brain and thus enhances our possibilities to understand and follow up multiple sclerosis (MS)-related pathology. For successful PET imaging, one needs a relevant target molecule within the brain, to which a blood–brain barrier–penetrating specific radioligand will bind. 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO)-binding radioligands have been used to detect activated microglial cells at different stages of MS, and remyelination has been measured using amyloid PET. Several PET ligands for the detection of other inflammatory targets, besides TSPO, have been developed but not yet been used for imaging MS patients. Finally, synaptic density evaluation has been successfully tested in human subjects and gives opportunities for the evaluation of the development of cortical and deep gray matter pathology in MS. This review will discuss PET imaging modalities relevant for MS today.
ISSN:1352-4585
1477-0970
DOI:10.1177/1352458518791680