The role of I2BS in Parkinson’s disease

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Imidazoline-2 Binding Site as a novel neuroinflammatory target in Parkinson’s disease: An [11C]BU99008 Positron Emission Tomography study

  • IRAS ID

    201181

  • Contact name

    Marios Politis

  • Contact email

    marios.politis@kcl.ac.uk

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    3 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Astrocytes are cells in the brain that are activated in response to injury of the neurons and are involved in a process called neuroinflammation. Imidazoline-2 binding sites (I2BS) are expressed during the activation of astrocytes. We have now developed a ligand called [11C]BU99008 which is used together with positron emission tomography (PET) and can measure I2BS in the brain and therefore assess the presence of neuroinflammation in the human brain including in people with Parkinson’s disease.

    In this study we hypothesize that neuroinflammation is a critical process underlying the development of Parkinson’s disease and activation of astrocytes plays a key role. We believe that I2BS will be overexpressed in the brain of people with Parkinson’s disease and will reflect substantial activation of astrocytes and therefore neuroinflammation.

    Each patient will receive one [11C]BU99008 PET scan and one 3-Tesla MRI scan:
    Group A: up to 30 PD patients
    Group B: up to 30 aged and gender matched healthy controls.

  • REC name

    London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    16/LO/0638

  • Date of REC Opinion

    21 Apr 2016

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion