Objective: Abnormal activation of immune system is an important pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease, but the relationship between peripheral inflammation, central glia activation and dopaminergic degeneration remains unclear.

Background: To evaluate the impact of central glia activation on disease severity and dopaminergic presynaptic function, and the associations between the central glia activation and peripheral inflammatory biomarkers related to T lymphocytes.

Method: In this case-control study, we recruited 23 healthy participants and 24 participants with early-middle stage Parkinson’s disease. We used 18F-PBR06 PET/MR to evaluate glia activation, 18F-FP-DTBZ PET/MR to assess dopaminergic denervation; the percentage of T cells and subpopulations of T helper (Th1/Th2/Th17) cells and the level of serum inflammatory cytokines were assessed to measure peripheral inflammation. We used Sanger sequencing to exclude the mix-affinity binders of 18F-PBR06-PET.

Results: Compared to healthy controls, patients with Parkinson’s disease had increased 18F-PBR06-PET standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) in the ipsilateral putamen. 18F-FP-DTBZ-PET SUVR was positively associated with 18F-PBR06-PET SUVR in the brainstem.  Patients with Parkinson’s disease had elevated Th1 cells and serum levels of IL10 and IL17A compared to healthy controls. The serum levels of IL6 and IL17A were positively correlated with glia activation in the putamen.

Conclusion: Parkinson’s disease is associated with early putaminal microglial activation. An increase of serum cytokines associated with Th17 lymphocytes appears to be involved with central glia activation in Parkinson’s disease.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/brain-glia-activation-and-peripheral-inflammation-in-parkinsons-disease-a-pet-study/