PET imaging of microglia using PBR28suv determines therapeutic efficacy of autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells therapy in traumatic brain injury

Supinder S. Bedi, Michael C. Scott, Max A. Skibber, Akshita Kumar, Henry W. Caplan, Hasen Xue, David Sequeira, Alison L. Speer, Fanni Cardenas, Franciska Gudenkauf, Karen Uray, Amit K. Srivastava, Alan R. Prossin, Charles S. Cox

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in activated microglia. Activated microglia can be measured in vivo by using positron emission topography (PET) ligand peripheral benzodiazepine receptor standardized uptake values (PBR28suv). Cell based therapies have utilized autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNCs) to attenuate activated microglia after TBI. This study aims to utilize in vivo PBR28suv to assess the efficacy of BMMNCs therapy after TBI. Seventy-two hours after CCI injury, BMMNCs were harvested from the tibia and injected via tail-vein at 74 h after injury at a concentration of 2 million cells per kilogram of body weight. There were three groups of rats: Sham, CCI-alone and CCI-BMMNCs (AUTO). One hundred twenty days after injury, rodents were imaged with PBR28 and their cognitive behavior assessed utilizing the Morris Water Maze. Subsequent ex vivo analysis included brain volume and immunohistochemistry. BMMNCs therapy attenuated PBR28suv in comparison to CCI alone and it improved spatial learning as measured by the Morris Water Maze. Ex vivo analysis demonstrated preservation of brain volume, a decrease in amoeboid-shaped microglia in the dentate gyrus and an increase in the ratio of ramified to amoeboid microglia in the thalamus. PBR28suv is a viable option to measure efficacy of BMMNCs therapy after TBI.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number16142
Pages (from-to)16142
JournalScientific Reports
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 26 2023

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Rats
  • Microglia
  • Bone Marrow
  • Electrons
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic/diagnostic imaging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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