Brain and systemic inflammation in de novo Parkinson’s disease

ObjectiveTo assess the presence of brain and systemic inflammation in subjects newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD).BackgroundEvidence for a pathophysiologic role of inflammation in PD is growing. However, several key gaps remain as to the role of inflammation in PD, including the extent of immune activation at early stages, potential effects of PD treatments on inflammation, and whether pro-inflammatory signals are associated with clinical features and/or predict more rapid progression.MethodsWe enrolled subjects with de novo PD (n=58) and age-matched controls (n=62). Subjects underwent clinical assessments, including the Movement Disorder Society-United Parkinson’s Disease rating scale (MDS-UPDRS). Comprehensive cognitive assessment meeting MDS Level II criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) testing was performed. Blood was obtained for flow cytometry and cytokine/chemokine analyses. Subjects underwent imaging with 18F-DPA-714, a translocator protein 18kd (TSPO) ligand, and lumbar puncture if eligible and consented.ResultsBaseline demographics and medical history were comparable between groups. PD subjects showed significant differences in University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living, Scales for Outcomes in PD autonomic dysfunction, and MDS-UPDRS scores. Cognitive testing demonstrated significant differences in cognitive composite, executive function, and visuospatial domain scores at baseline. PET imaging showed increased 18F-DPA-714 signal in PD subjects. 18F-DPA-714 signal correlated with several cognitive measures and some chemokines.Conclusions18F-DPA-714 imaging demonstrated increased central inflammation in de novo PD subjects compared to controls. Longitudinal follow-up will be important to determine whether the presence of inflammation predicts cognitive decline.