Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00137

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Comparing and combining TSPO-PET tracers in tauopathies.

Crook, H. ; Franzmeier, N. ; Rahmouni, N. ; Gnoerich, J.Extern* ; Fryer, T. D. ; Hong, Y. T. ; Roemer-Cassiano, S. N. ; Palleis, C.DZNE* ; Strauss, A. ; Jones, P. S. ; Aigbirhio, F. I. ; Hopewell, R. ; Rauchmann, B. S.Extern* ; Massarweh, G. ; Perneczky, R.DZNE* ; Levin, J.DZNE* ; Höglinger, G. U.DZNE* ; Rowe, J. B. ; O'Brien, J. T. ; Rosa-Neto, P. ; Brendel, M.DZNE* ; Malpetti, M.

2026
Springer-Verl. Heidelberg [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s00259-025-07579-3

Abstract: Neuroinflammation is a key pathological driver in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Positron emission tomography (PET) with tracers targeting the translocator protein (TSPO) enables the in vivo quantification of microgliosis. TSPO tracers have shown similar disease-specific patterns across cohorts. However, direct quantitative comparisons between commonly used TSPO-PET tracers in tauopathies have not been performed. Here, we apply a TSPO-PET standardization pipeline across clinically matched AD cohorts and PSP cohorts, to quantify, compare and combine multi-centre TSPO-PET data.Patients with PSP were scanned with either [11C]PK11195 or [18F]GE-180 at one of two centres, while patients with AD and control participants were scanned with either [11C]PK11195, [18F]GE-180 or [11C]PBR28 at one of three centres. A standardised pre-processing pipeline was implemented and participant standardised uptake volume ratio (SUVR) values were z-scored using tracer-specific control participant values. In a data-driven approach, dissimilarity analyses were employed to assess differences between tracers across clinically matched cohorts.In PSP, dissimilarity analysis suggested that [11C]PK11195 and [18F]GE-180 binding patterns were comparable following standardisation. In AD, comparability across tracers was less robust, with [11C]PK11195 and [18F]GE-180 being most comparable, followed by [18F]GE-180 vs. [11C]PBR28, then by [11C]PK11195 vs. [11C]PBR28.The pipeline was effective at harmonising TSPO-PET tracers and standardising the regional quantification of neuroinflammation in clinically matched cohorts of PSP, while the standardisation pipeline results were less robust across AD cohorts.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Positron-Emission Tomography: methods (MeSH) ; Positron-Emission Tomography: standards (MeSH) ; Receptors, GABA: metabolism (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Radioactive Tracers (MeSH) ; Tauopathies: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Tauopathies: metabolism (MeSH) ; Alzheimer Disease: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Alzheimer Disease: metabolism (MeSH) ; Radiopharmaceuticals (MeSH) ; Carbazoles (MeSH) ; Isoquinolines (MeSH) ; Alzheimer’s disease. ; Neuroinflammation ; Positron emission tomography ; Progressive supranuclear palsy ; Translocator protein ; Receptors, GABA ; TSPO protein, human ; Radioactive Tracers ; PK 11195 ; GE-180 ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Carbazoles ; Isoquinolines

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Clinical Research (Munich) (Clinical Research (Munich))
2. Vascular Cognitive Impairment & Post-Stroke Dementia (AG Dichgans)
3. Clinical Neurodegeneration (AG Levin)
4. Molecular Neurodegeneration (AG Haass)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)
2. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; DEAL Springer ; DEAL Springer ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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