Neuroimaging of Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disorder characterised by inflammatory demyelination and neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Neuroimaging has transformed our understanding of the inflammatory processes that underpin disease onset and progression by enabling in vivo visualisation of cellular and molecular events. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the cornerstone for detecting white matter lesions, blood–brain barrier disruption and atrophy. However, positron emission tomography (PET) with selective radiotracers has emerged as a powerful complement, permitting quantification of microglial activation, macrophage infiltration and the dynamics of myelin loss and repair. Advanced multimodal protocols that integrate PET, MRI and optical imaging in preclinical models have refined the spatial and temporal mapping of neuroinflammation. Together, these approaches facilitate patient stratification according to inflammatory burden, assess therapeutic efficacy and guide the development of targeted immunomodulatory and remyelinating treatments on a global scale.

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Neuroimaging of Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in neuroimaging of inflammation in multiple sclerosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Positron emission tomography (PET): A molecular imaging modality that detects γ-ray photons emitted by radiotracers, enabling quantification of cellular processes in vivo.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A non-invasive technique using magnetic fields and radiofrequency pulses to generate high-contrast images of brain structure and pathology.

18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO): A mitochondrial membrane protein upregulated in activated microglia and macrophages, serving as a biomarker for neuroinflammation.

Microglia: Resident immune cells of the central nervous system that mediate inflammatory responses and contribute to neurodegeneration and repair.

Demyelination: The pathological loss of the myelin sheath surrounding axons, leading to impaired nerve conduction.

Remyelination: The restoration of myelin sheaths by oligodendrocytes or precursor cells, essential for functional recovery.

References

1. Characteristics of TSPO expression in marmoset EAE. Journal of Neuroinflammation (2025).
2. Contribution of Intravital Neuroimaging to Study Animal Models of Multiple Sclerosis. Neurotherapeutics (2023).
3. Myelin Imaging of the Spinal Cord in Animal Models and Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Using [11C]MeDAS PET: A Translational Study. Journal of Nuclear Medicine (2024).