RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 PET Imaging of Disease Progression and Treatment Effects in the Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Rat Model
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 1330
OP 1335
DO 10.2967/jnumed.114.137216
VO 55
IS 8
A1 Daniele de Paula Faria
A1 Maria L.H. Vlaming
A1 Sjef C.V.M. Copray
A1 Frans Tielen
A1 Herma J.A. Anthonijsz
A1 Jurgen W.A. Sijbesma
A1 Carlos A. Buchpiguel
A1 Rudi A.J.O. Dierckx
A1 José W.A. van der Hoorn
A1 Erik F.J. de Vries
YR 2014
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/55/8/1330.abstract
AB The experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model is a model of multiple sclerosis that closely mimics the disease characteristics in humans. The main hallmarks of multiple sclerosis are neuroinflammation (microglia activation, monocyte invasion, and T-cell infiltration) and demyelination. PET imaging may be a useful noninvasive technique for monitoring disease progression and drug treatment efficacy in vivo. Methods: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis was induced by myelin-oligodendrocyte glycoprotein immunization in female Dark Agouti rats. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis rats were imaged at baseline and at days 6, 11, 15, and 19 after immunization to monitor monocyte and microglia activation (11C-PK11195) and demyelination (11C-MeDAS) during normal disease progression and during treatment with dexamethasone. Results: 11C-PK11195 PET detected activation of microglia and monocytes in the brain stem and spinal cord during disease progression. The uptake of 11C-PK11195 was elevated in dexamethasone-treated animals that had shown mild clinical symptoms that had resolved at the time of imaging. Demyelination was not detected by 11C-MeDAS PET, probably because of the small size of the lesions (average, 0.13 mm). Conclusion: PET imaging of neuroinflammation can be used to monitor disease progression and the consequences of treatment in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis rat model. PET imaging was more sensitive than clinical symptoms for detecting inflammatory changes in the central nervous system.