Imaging the Influence of Red Blood Cell Docosahexaenoic Acid Status on the Expression of the 18 kDa Translocator Protein in the Brain: A [¹¹C]PBR28 Positron Emission Tomography Study in Young Healthy Men.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) shows anti-inflammatory/proresolution effects in the brain. Higher red blood cell (RBC) DHA in humans is associated with improved cognitive performance and a lower risk for suicide. Here, we hypothesized that binding to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a proxy for microglia levels, will be higher in individuals with low DHA relative to high DHA levels. We also postulated that higher TSPO would predict poor cognitive performance and impaired stress resilience.

Methods

RBC DHA screening was performed in 320 healthy males. [¹¹C]PBR28 positron emission tomography was used to measure binding to TSPO in 38 and 32 males in the lowest and highest RBC DHA quartiles. Volumes of distribution expressed relative to total plasma liga

SUBMITTER: Tollefson S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9816959 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature