Journal Article

DZNE-2026-01020

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Whole-body TSPO-PET reveals stage-dependent disruption of systemic immune organ interactions in glioblastoma.

Mueller, G. ; Zatcepin, A.Extern* ; Bartos, L. M. ; Hoermann, L. ; Wesser, L. ; Park, H. E. ; Thevis, J. F. ; Haertel, M. ; Kunze, L.Extern* ; Palumbo, G. ; Kolabas, Z. I. ; Lindner, S. ; Werner, R. A. ; Albert, N. L. ; von Baumgarten, L. ; Ziegler, S. ; Brendel, M. (Last author)DZNE*

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

This record in other databases:    

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s00259-026-08057-0

Abstract: Strong expression of the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) is observed in glioma and tumor-associated myeloid cells within the tumor microenvironment. However, TSPO expression also extends beyond the tumor and may reflect systemic immune regulation. We therefore assessed inter-organ associations of TSPO expression in mice at different stages of glioblastoma using whole-body TSPO-PET imaging.Whole-body TSPO-PET images were acquired using [18F]GE-180 in sham-inoculated mice (n = 18) and glioblastoma-bearing mice at early (5-13 days, n = 20) and late (18-19 days, n = 29) stages. The tumor and organs (brain, heart, lungs, skull, and various bones) were segmented to compare TSPO-PET signals between mouse cohorts. Pearson correlation served to analyze cohort-specific organ-organ interaction, and deviations were quantified using correlation abnormality scores. [18F]DPA-714 TSPO-PET scans (n = 53) of a validation cohort served for longitudinal assessment of TSPO organ-organ interaction, which was analyzed relative to tumor stage and survival.Late-stage glioblastoma mice showed increased TSPO expression in the tumor region, but no significant TSPO alterations in other organs. In contrast, organ-organ interactions, including lungs and non-tumor brain regions, were disrupted in early- and late-stage glioblastoma mice compared to sham mice. Late-stage glioblastoma mice had high correlation abnormality scores across several organ systems, as was also observed in data obtained with the second TSPO tracer. Longitudinal TSPO organ-organ interactions, but not TSPO-PET signals in single organs, were associated with tumor stage and survival.Glioblastoma induces stage-dependent systemic TSPO alterations and organ-organ interaction changes, suggesting that whole-body TSPO-PET network analysis may track tumor-associated immune dynamics.

Keyword(s): Animals (MeSH) ; Glioblastoma: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Glioblastoma: immunology (MeSH) ; Glioblastoma: pathology (MeSH) ; Glioblastoma: metabolism (MeSH) ; Positron-Emission Tomography (MeSH) ; Receptors, GABA: metabolism (MeSH) ; Mice (MeSH) ; Whole Body Imaging (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: diagnostic imaging (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: immunology (MeSH) ; Brain Neoplasms: pathology (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Carbazoles (MeSH) ; Glioblastoma ; Immune system ; Inflammation ; Mouse ; TSPO-PET ; Whole-body ; Receptors, GABA ; Bzrp protein, mouse ; GE-180 ; Carbazoles

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Molecular Neurodegeneration (AG Haass)

Research Program(s):

1. 352 - Disease Mechanisms (POF4-352) (POF4-352)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

---

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

---