89. In Vivo Investigation of Brain Translocator Protein (TSPO) and Monoamine Oxidase A (MAO-A) Relationship in Healthy Volunteers

Translocator protein (TSPO), a putative biomarker of neuroinflammation, and monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), a catabolic enzyme for monoamine neurotransmitters, are both reported to be elevated in major depressive disorder and with stress. MAO-A is implicated in oxidative stress, which is related to inflammation. Higher MAO-A levels would mean higher levels of free oxygen radicals and the potential cellular injury could stimulate an inflammatory response. TSPO is induced during inflammatory responses. We therefore used positron emission tomography (PET) to compare TSPO with MAO-A binding in healthy volunteers (HV).