LPS challenge in PD using TSPO PET-MR imaging
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Molecular imaging of LPS-induced microglial activation in Parkinson's disease (PD): a TSPO PET-MR imaging study.
IRAS ID
289952
Contact name
Marios Politis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Exeter
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The mechanisms that lead to Parkinson's disease (PD) are still unknown. Among the possible hypotheses, neuroinflammation has been consistently detected in the brains of patients with PD. Until a few years ago, it was impossible to study directly neuroinflammation in living patients. Fortunately, the advent of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with the use of tracers that bind to a selected target called Translocator Protein (TSPO), has made it possible to study neuroinflammation. Nevertheless, one PET scan gives a static picture of neuroinflammation, and neuroinflammation is a dynamic process. It would be desirable to measure how the cells that mediate neuroinflammation react in response to stimuli. It has been discovered that one substance called Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is capable to induce brief, reversible inflammatory reactions in humans.
In this study, we will ask a group of patients with PD and a group of healthy volunteers, to perform one PET scan with the tracer [11C]PBR28, that studies neuroinflammation, before, and after four hours from the injection of a small quantity (1 ng/Kg) of LPS. We hypothesize that patients with PD are more susceptible to neuroinflammatory triggers and show higher inflammatory reactions in their brains, compared with healthy volunteers. By measuring the changes in the blood of substances linked to inflammation called cytokines, we will also understand the levels of which specific protein increase in PD and we may understand considerably more with regards to this potential critical mechanism leading to PD.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/NW/0232
Date of REC Opinion
1 Sep 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion