Abstract
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Objectives EAE is a widely utilized animal model of multiple sclerosis. There is still no established method to detect the real-time immune process in vivo. This study will investigate whether animal PET in conjunction with MRI could be used to monitor EAE development and if this approach is sensitive enough to evaluate phytosterol therapeutic effect. Phytosterol has been proven to modulate immune response in vitro.
Methods EAE was induced in SJL mice by administration of proteolipid protein. There were two groups of mice, 6 mice in each group, were treated by phytosterol or placebo respectively. All mice were scanned by PET and MRI at two time-points: before EAE induction and at onset of EAE. FDG was administered through IP injection. To assess the treatment effects, the relative standard uptake values in the spinal cord of the PET images were calculated.
Results Significant increased FDG uptake was observed in spinal cord of EAE mice compared with that of normal controls. There was no obvious central nervous system lesion on MRI study during the onset of EAE.
Conclusions PET is more sensitive than MRI to detect the early neuroinflammation process during the onset of EAE. Serial PET imaging could be applied to monitor autoimmune disease development in vivo and potentially evaluate the therapeutic effects.
- © 2009 by Society of Nuclear Medicine