biostudies-literatureWalsh JNHS Trust NIHR Biomedical Research centreMedical Research CouncilNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network1361-1371https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8874873biostudies-literatureUnknown144(5)Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a major cause of stroke and dementia. The underlying pathogenesis is poorly understood, but both neuroinflammation and increased blood-brain barrier permeability have been hypothesized to play a role, and preclinical studies suggest the two processes may be linked. We used PET magnetic resonance to simultaneously measure microglial activation using the translocator protein radioligand 11C-PK11195, and blood-brain barrier permeability using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. A case control design was used with two disease groups with sporadic SVD (n = 20), monogenic SVD (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, CADASIL), and normal controls (n = 20) were studied. Hotspots of increased glial activation and Brain : a journal of neurologyMicroglial activation and blood-brain barrier permeability in cerebral small vessel disease.PMC8874873NF-SI-0617-10006MR/M024873/1MR/N026896/1MR/M009041/1MR/K02308X/1Fryer TDTozer DJSari HHong YTShah NJRosenberg GDrazyk AO'Brien JTMarkus HSWalsh JWilliams GAigbirhio FIfalseMicroglial activation and blood-brain barrier permeability in cerebral small vessel disease.Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a major cause of stroke and dementia. The underlying pathogenesis is poorly understood, but both neuroinflammation and increased blood-brain barrier permeability have been hypothesized to play a role, and preclinical studies suggest the two processes may be linked. We used PET magnetic resonance to simultaneously measure microglial activation using the translocator protein radioligand 11C-PK11195, and blood-brain barrier permeability using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI. A case control design was used with two disease groups with sporadic SVD (n = 20), monogenic SVD (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy, CADASIL), and normal controls (n = 20) were studied. Hotspots of increased glial activation and 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Jun2025-04-21T23:16:11.858Z2025-04-05T19:05:19.457ZS-EPMC88748733400000910.1093/brain/awab003