Figure 2.

Radiolabeled TSPO ligands can be used to image astrocyte activation in vivo. (A) In a rat model, astrocytes were chronically activated (GFAP staining, brown) by lentiviral gene transfer of the cytokine ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). (B) ¹⁸F-labeled DPA-714, a TSPO ligand, binding spatially correlates with areas of astrocyte activation, as observed with in vivo PET imaging. As adapted from Lavisse et al. (2012). Such TSPO targeted agents can be used to image TSPO expressing gliomas in pre-clinical models. (C) A pre-clinical rat model of glioma detected with MRI (D) ¹⁸F-PBR06, a TSPO ligand, binding spatially correlates with glioma growth, as observed in vivo with PET. As adapted from Buck et al. (2011).