PET Imaging Unveils Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms in Psychiatric Disorders: From Microglial Activation to Therapeutic Innovation.

ABSTRACT: Recent advancements in neuroinflammation research have significantly enhanced our understanding of its pivotal role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, leveraging its unique ability to quantify biological processes in vivo non-invasively, has emerged as a transformative tool for investigating neuroimmune mechanisms. The 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a biomarker of activated microglia and astrocytes during neuroinflammation, enables PET-based visualization of neuroinflammatory activity, offering novel insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of psychiatric conditions. This review synthesizes recent TSPO PET imaging findings across major psychiatric disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), obs

SUBMITTER: Liu YD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12559163 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature