Microglial activation in schizophrenia: Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker?
Publication date
2020-01
Authors
Sneeboer, Marjolein A M
van der Doef, Thalia
Litjens, M
Psy, N. B.B.
Melief, J.
Hol, Elly M
Kahn, R. S.
De Witte, Lot
Editors
Advisors
Supervisors
Document Type
Article
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License
taverne
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) with translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) radioligands has frequently been used to investigate microglial activation in schizophrenia in vivo. However, the specificity of this marker is increasingly debated. Here we show that TSPO expression is 1) not increased in postmortem brain tissue of schizophrenia patients; 2) not correlated with expression of microglial activation markers; 3) not restricted to microglia; and 4) not upregulated in ex vivo activated human primary microglia. Our data are in line with recent reports showing that TSPO expression is not increased in schizophrenia and that it is not a specific marker for activated microglia. This study emphasizes the need for further development of tracers to study the role of microglial activation in schizophrenia and other diseases.
Keywords
Microglia, Neuroinflammation, PET imaging, Post-mortem, Schizophrenia, TSPO, Taverne, Psychiatry and Mental health, Biological Psychiatry, Journal Article
Citation
Sneeboer, M A M, van der Doef, T, Litjens, M, Psy, N B B, Melief, J, Hol, E M, Kahn, R S & de Witte, L D 2020, 'Microglial activation in schizophrenia : Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker?', Schizophrenia Research, vol. 215, pp. 167-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.045