Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO): Molecular sensor of brain injury and repair

Chen, Ming-Kai; Guilarte, Tomás R.

doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.12.004

Cited by 506Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsPharmacological Receptor Mechanisms and EffectsTraumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances

Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO): Molecular sensor of brain injury and repair

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Chen, Ming-Kai, Guilarte, Tomás R.·2008·Pharmacology & Therapeutics

DOI 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.12.004PMC PMC2453598

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Abstract

For over 15 years, the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), recently named translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) has been studied as a biomarker of reactive gliosis and inflammation associated with a variety of neuropathological conditions. Early studies documented that in the brain parenchyma, TSPO is exclusively localized in glial cells. Under normal physiological conditions, TSPO levels are low in the brain neuropil but they markedly increase at sites of brain injury and inflammation making it uniquely suited for assessing active gliosis. This research has generated significant efforts from multiple research groups throughout the world to apply TSPO as a marker of "active" brain pathology using in vivo imaging modalities such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) in experimental animals and humans. Further, in the last few years, there has been an increased interest in understanding the molecular and cellular function(s) of TSPO in glial cells. The latest evidence suggests that TSPO may not only serve as a biomarker of active brain disease but also the use of TSPO-specific ligands may have therapeutic implications in brain injury and repair. This review presents an overview of the history and function of TSPO focusing on studies related to its use as a sensor of active brain disease in experimental animals and in human studies.

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TSPO-binding radioligands used to assess neuroinflammation via PET imaging may have value as a biosensor of ongoing disease and may also be a target to reduce inflammation-mediated damage in diseases such as HIV-associated neurological disorders and dementia.
“Use of TSPO-binding radioligands to assess neuroinflammation via PET imaging indicates that they may have value as a biosensor of ongoing disease and may also be a target to reduce inflammation-mediated damage in diseases such as HIV-associated neurological disorders and dementia ([17] and see [15;18] for review).”
From Expression of the translocator protein of 18 kDa by microglia, macrophages and astrocytes based on immunohistochemical localization in abnormal human brain (2009) · cites this paper as [18]

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“…neurotoxicantinduced injury, TSPO has been used as a biomarker of brain injury and inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases (Cagnin et al., 2001a; Cagnin et al., 2004; Gerhard et al., 2003; Gerhard et al., 2004; Gerhard et al., 2006; Messmer and Reynolds, 1998; Ouchi et al., 2005; Pavese et al.,…”
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Authors: Chen, M.-K., & Guilarte, T. R.
Affiliations: Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author: Guilarte, Tomás R.
ORCID: Guilarte, Tomás R.
Venue: Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2008-04
Volume: 118
Issue: 1
Pages: 1-17
ISSN: 0163-7258 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.12.004
PMC: PMC2453598
OpenAlex: W2077541192
Cited by: 506
References: 14
Citations by year: 2026: 12 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 27 · 2018: 40 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 51 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 30
FWCI: 1.89
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Pharmacology & Therapeutics (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
FIU - Digital Commons (Florida International University) (submittedVersion)
Funders: National Institutes of Health (5r01es007062-24)
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (T32ES007062, R01-ES007062, ES-07062)
Topics: Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Pharmacological Receptor Mechanisms and Effects
Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
Keywords: translocator protein (TSPO), TSPO, reactive gliosis, neuroinflammation, brain injury, brain repair, TSPO PET imaging, TSPO ligands, glial cells
MeSH terms: Animals, Brain Injuries, Disease Models, Animal, Gliosis, Humans, Ligands, Gene Expression, Drug Delivery Systems, Receptors, GABA, Positron-Emission Tomography

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Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO): Molecular sensor of brain injury and repair

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