title: TSPO imaging in parkinsonian disorders.
abstract: Microglial activation is a key aspect of the neuroinflammatory process in neurodegenerative disorders including idiopathic and atypical parkinsonian disorders. With positron emission tomography (PET) it has become possible to image this phenomenon in vivo and over the last years patterns of microglia activation corresponding with the known distribution of neuropathological changes in these disorders have been demonstrated using this technique. In addition the effects of interventions aimed at suppressing microglia activation as part of interventional trials have successfully been demonstrated. Current research aims at evaluating PET tracers for microglial activation with more favorable properties than the prototypical [11C]-(R)-PK11195, as well as developing tracers targeting additional parameters of the neuroinflammatory process like astroglial function.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, The University of Manchester, 27 Palatine Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 3LJ UK.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerhard
keywords: Microglia; Neuroinflammation; Parkinson’s disease; TSPO; [11C]-(R)-PK11195- PET