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Clinical Research and Public HealthIn-Press PreviewInflammationNeuroscience Open Access | 10.1172/JCI186591

Exploring [11C]CPPC as a CSF1R-targeted PET imaging marker for early Parkinson’s disease severity

Kelly A. Mills,1 Yong Du,2 Jennifer M. Coughlin,1 Catherine A. Foss,2 Andrew G. Horti,2 Katelyn R. Jenkins,3 Yana Skorobogatova,2 Ergi Spiro,2 Chelsie S. Motley,1 Robert F. Dannals,2 Wojciech G. Lesniak,2 Jae-Jin Song,1 Yu Ree Choi,1 Javier Redding-Ochoa,1 Juan C. Troncoso,1 Valina L. Dawson,1 Tae-In Kam,1 Martin G. Pomper,2 and Ted M. Dawson1

1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

2Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiologic Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

3Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States of America

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Published April 15, 2025 - More info

J Clin Invest. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI186591.
Copyright © 2025, Mills et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Published April 15, 2025 - Version history
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Abstract

BACKGROUND. Microglia-mediated brain immune changes play a role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) but imaging microglia in living people with PD has relied on positron emission tomography (PET) ligands that lack specificity in labeling immune cells in the nervous system. We aimed to develop imaging of colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) as a microglial-sensitive marker of innate immunity.

METHODS. Immunohistochemistry using a CSF1R antibody evaluated colocalization with Iba-1 in PD (n = 4) and control (n = 4) human brain samples. Autoradiography using a CSF1R tritiated ligand in PD (n = 5) and controls (n = 4) human brain samples was performed to obtain Bmax. PET imaging using a CSF1R radioligand was performed in 10 controls and 12 people with PD and VT was compared between groups and correlated with disease severity.

RESULTS. Immunohistochemistry of CSF1R in human brain shows colocalization with Iba-1 and is significantly increased in PD compared to controls. Autoradiography revealed significantly increased CSF1R ligand binding in the inferior parietal cortex of PD patients. [11C]CPPC PET showed higher binding in people with moderate PD compared to controls and correlated with more severe motor disability and poorer verbal fluency.

CONCLUSION. This study underscores the significance of CSF1R imaging as a promising biomarker for brain immune function in Parkinson's disease, which may be associated with cognitive and motor disease severity

FUNDING. PET imaging: the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the RMS Family Foundation. Radiotracer development: NIH (R01AG066464 and P41 EB024495). Postmortem brain tissues: NIH P30 AG066507 and BIOCARD study NIH U19 AG033655.

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