title: Microglial positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in epilepsy: Applications, opportunities and pitfalls.
abstract: Neuroinflammation is increasingly implicated in epileptogenesis and epilepsy. Microglia are an important mediator of central nervous system inflammation, and the development of positron emission tomography (PET) radioligands which bind the Translocator Protein (TSPO), an outer mitochondrial membrane protein expressed by microglia, has enabled in vivo measurement of neuroinflammation. Here, we outline the principles and potential pitfalls of TSPO PET imaging in relation to epilepsy, and opportunities for using TSPO imaging as a biomarker for future anti-inflammatory based therapeutics in epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahmud
authors.affiliation: Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.affiliation: Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Burlington Danes Building, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK. Electronic address: m.johnson@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D004827:Epilepsy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D017628:Microglia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018079:Receptors, GABA; C499229:TSPO protein, human
keywords: Epilepsy; Microglia; PET; Positron emission tomography; TSPO; Translocator protein