Activated microglia do not increase 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) expression in the multiple sclerosis brain.

ABSTRACT: To monitor innate immune responses in the CNS, the 18 kDa Translocator protein (TSPO) is a frequently used target for PET imaging. The frequent assumption that increased TSPO expression in the human CNS reflects pro-inflammatory activation of microglia has been extrapolated from rodent studies. However, TSPO expression does not increase in activated human microglia in vitro. Studies of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions reveal that TSPO is not restricted to pro-inflammatory microglia/macrophages, but also present in homeostatic or reparative microglia. Here, we investigated quantitative relationships between TSPO expression and microglia/macrophage phenotypes in white matter and lesions of brains with MS pathology. In white matter from brains with no disease pathology, normal appearing white

SUBMITTER: Nutma E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8453709 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature