Myelin PET Imaging in Demyelinative Disease

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K09369
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Neurology
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry
• Principal Investigator: Imabayashi Etsuko 国立研究開発法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 脳病態統合イメージングセンター, 室長 (30406491)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 宿里 充穗 昭和薬科大学, 薬学部, 助教 (20525571)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: PET / [11C]PiB / 脱髄 / 髄鞘

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Around the axon, Myelin (myelin) exists for insulation and it takes important role in efficient and fast neurotransmission carried out by electric signal. When the myelin sheath is once injured, the nerve conduction velocity decreases and various nervous symptoms are caused. Although MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) is considered to be useful for examining lesions of such demyelinating diseases, findings of MRI are nonspecific, and many diseases cause the same MRI findings. Ideally, tracers those accumulate to demyelinated lesion should be examined and at first, our target was [11C] MeDAS. Though, this tracer is difficult to use for clinical purpose. Accordingly, we decided to use [11C] PiB. [11C] PiB is matured tracer for tracing brain amyloid accumuration.　Recently in demyelinating lesions are reportedly found as defects in white matter in [11C] PiB PET.　We examined the relationship between that accumulation and white matter signal in MRI.

Free Research Field

脳核医学