Microglial activation in schizophrenia: Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker?

Marjolein A.M. Sneeboer; Thalia van der Doef; Manja Litjens; N. B.B. Psy; J. Melief; Elly M. Hol; René S. Kahn; Lot D. de Witte

doi:10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.045

Microglial activation in schizophrenia: Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker?

Marjolein A.M. Sneeboer, Thalia van der Doef, Manja Litjens, N. B.B. Psy, J. Melief, Elly M. Hol, René S. Kahn, Lot D. de Witte

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30 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	167-172
Number of pages	6
Journal	Schizophrenia Research
Volume	215
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.045
State	Published - Jan 2020

Keywords

Microglia
Neuroinflammation
PET imaging
Post-mortem
Schizophrenia
TSPO

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10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.045

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@article{a0afde1f93fa4403a4b2ed9a238edec6,

title = "Microglial activation in schizophrenia: Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker?",

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",

author = "Sneeboer, {Marjolein A.M.} and {van der Doef}, Thalia and Manja Litjens and Psy, {N. B.B.} and J. Melief and Hol, {Elly M.} and Kahn, {Ren{\'e} S.} and {de Witte}, {Lot D.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2020",

month = jan,

doi = "10.1016/j.schres.2019.10.045",

language = "English",

volume = "215",

pages = "167--172",

journal = "Schizophrenia Research",

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publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

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T1 - Microglial activation in schizophrenia

T2 - Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker?

AU - Sneeboer, Marjolein A.M.

AU - van der Doef, Thalia

AU - Litjens, Manja

AU - Psy, N. B.B.

AU - Melief, J.

AU - Hol, Elly M.

AU - Kahn, René S.

AU - de Witte, Lot D.

PY - 2020/1

Y1 - 2020/1

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Microglia

KW - Neuroinflammation

KW - PET imaging

KW - Post-mortem

KW - Schizophrenia

KW - TSPO

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VL - 215

SP - 167

EP - 172

JO - Schizophrenia Research

JF - Schizophrenia Research

ER -

Microglial activation in schizophrenia: Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker?

Abstract

Keywords

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Microglial activation in schizophrenia: Is translocator 18 kDa protein (TSPO) the right marker?