Impact of immunosuppressive therapy on brain derived cytokines after liver transplantation

Reduced microglia activity in patients with long-term immunosuppressive therapy after liver transplantation

“…Synthesis of 18 F-GE-180 and PET/CT imaging 18 F-GE-180 was produced in a GMP-conform synthesis using a single-use disposable cassette (FASTlab PET GE-180 cassette, GE Healthcare, UK) on an automated synthesis module (FASTlab™, GE Healthcare, UK) and the corresponding S-enantiomeric pure mesylate precursor (3.5 mg, GMP grade) [23]. 18 F-fluoride was obtained from a 11-MeV cyclotron (Eclipse HP, Siemens, Knoxville, USA) using the 18 O(p,n) 18 F nuclear reaction on enriched (97-98%) 18 O-water or obtained from external sources [19].…”

“…A low-dose computerized tomography (CT) scan (100 kV, 30 mAs) was acquired for attenuation correction of the PET data. Thereafter, a list mode emission scan of 90-min duration was started simultaneously with intravenous injection of 178 ± 7 MBq (range 157-195) 18 F-GE-180 over 10s into an antecubital vein. Administered dose of 18 F-GE-180 was 2.14 ± 0.35 MBq/kg bodyweight (range 1.62-3.11 MBq/kg).…”

“…Thereafter, a list mode emission scan of 90-min duration was started simultaneously with intravenous injection of 178 ± 7 MBq (range 157-195) 18 F-GE-180 over 10s into an antecubital vein. Administered dose of 18 F-GE-180 was 2.14 ± 0.35 MBq/kg bodyweight (range 1.62-3.11 MBq/kg). Specific dose did not differ between TSPO genotypes (2.13 ± 0.13 MBq/kg, 2.05 ± 0.38 MBq/kg, and 2.19 ± 0.38 MBq/kg in LAB, MAB, and HAB, respectively, analysis of variance (ANOVA) p = 0.616).…”

“…The total distribution volume (V T ) of 18 F-GE-180 was used as the primary quantitative measure of regional TSPO expression in the brain. V T is the sum of the specific distribution volume (V S ) for specific binding of 18 F-GE-180 to TSPO plus the non-displaceable distribution volume (V ND ) comprising free (unbound) and unspecifically bound (not to TSPO) 18 F-GE-180 in tissue (V T = V S + V ND ). V S is proportional to the density of TSPO available for binding of 18 F-GE-180.…”

“…In order to increase the sample size for testing of potential associations between cognition and TSPO availability by combining HAB and MAB patients with CNI therapy (n = 17) in a single analysis, the polymorphism plot was used to estimate the non-displaceable distribution volume (V ND ) of 18 F-GE-180 (for further details, see Online Supplementary subsection "Polymorphism plot of 18 F-GE-180 for the preparation of testing for an association between cognition data and TSPO expression") [22,26]. The specific distribution volume (V S ) was then computed as V S = V T -V ND .…”