PET Imaging of Neuroinflammation

Aisling M. Chaney, Emily M. Deal, Isaac M. Jackson, Michelle L. James

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neuroinflammation involves the activation of microglia and astrocytes, release of cytokines and chemokines, production of reactive oxygen species, and oftentimes the infiltration of peripheral leukocytes into the central nervous system (CNS). In its transient form, neuroinflammation is largely protective; however, mounting evidence from clinical and preclinical investigations indicates that prolonged or maladaptive neuroinflammation is a key pathological driver of many neurological diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric illnesses, pain syndromes, stroke, and traumatic brain injury. As our understanding of the anatomical distribution and beneficial versus toxic nature of neuroinflammation is quite limited and derives mainly from preclinical rodent models and static postmortem human brain tissue histology, there is a need to develop tools to study neuroinflammation in living human subjects in real time. Such clinical imaging tools will not only enhance our understanding of neuroinflammation in health and disease in vivo, but also provide a means to effectively assess disease progression and efficacy of novel treatments longitudinally in individual patients.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMolecular Imaging
Subtitle of host publicationPrinciples and Practice
PublisherElsevier
Pages1335-1371
Number of pages37
ISBN (Electronic)9780128163863
ISBN (Print)9780128163870
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2021

Keywords

  • Immune imaging
  • Inflammation
  • Microglia
  • Neuroimmune
  • Neuroinflammation
  • Positron emission tomography

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