This is a study aimed to characterize \[18F\]PBR111 as an in vivo marker of microglial activation in Multiple Sclerosis. Regional binding of \[18F\]PBR111 will be quantified with PET in the brain of up to 24 patients with multiple sclerosis and up to 24 age- and gender- matched healthy volunteers.
Multiple Sclerosis is characterized by brain areas of focal neuroinflammation. Imaging of microglia activation in multiple sclerosis could represent a useful marker of neuroinflammation. A novel PET tracer with high affinity to TSPO, \[18F\]PBR111, is a promising tool for PET imaging of activated microglia. This is a study aimed to characterize \[18F\]PBR111 as an in vivo marker of microglial activation in Multiple Sclerosis. Regional binding of \[18F\]PBR111 will be quantified with PET in the brain of up to 24 patients with multiple sclerosis and up to 24 age- and gender- matched healthy volunteers. A subgroup of patients and healthy volunteers will be scanned twice in consecutive days, to test the reproducibility of the measure. Another subgroup of patients will be re-scanned with \[18F\]PBR111 after 4-6 months. MRI-based measures will be acquired at baseline and, in those patients with later repeat PET scans, also after 4-6 months. Data from this study will inform about the possible implementation of the \[18F\]PBR111 ligand to monitor the neuroinflammatory process, disease progression, and response to treatment in MS patients.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
50
radioligand to assess binding to TSPO
GSK Investigational Site
London, London, United Kingdom
VT of [18F]PBR111
Regional VT of \[18F\]PBR111 at baseline in MS patients and age- , gender-, and TSPO binding profile- matched healthy controls
Time frame: day 30
Test-retest variability of regional [18F]PBR111
Test-retest variability of regional \[18F\]PBR111 VT in 2 consecutive days in MS patients and age- ,gender-, and TSPO binding profile- matched healthy controls
Time frame: 8 months
regional [18F]PBR111 VT
Change in regional \[18F\]PBR111 VT over \~ 4 months after a baseline assessment in MS patients
Time frame: 1.5 years
White matter lesion load and distribution
White matter lesion load (volume of pathological tissue) and distribution as measured by Gadolinium-enhanced and T2-weighted MRI in MS patients
Time frame: 1.5 years
Cortical grey matter lesion load and distribution
Cortical grey matter lesion load and distribution as estimated by the appropriate MRI technique (including high-field MRI in some cases)
Time frame: 1.5 years
Genetic polymorphisms related to the TSPO gene
Genetic polymorphisms related to the TSPO gene and/or genes encoding other proteins which may modulate the binding of ligands to TSPO or TSPO function
Time frame: 1.5 years
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