This research article introduces 18F-flurimedrimer (18F-FMD), a novel PET imaging tracer designed to non-invasively track innate immune cell activation in the central nervous system. Using a mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), the study demonstrates that this radiolabeled dendrimer can detect neuroinflammation at both presymptomatic and acute stages of the disease. The technology provides a significant advantage over traditional MRI by specifically identifying activated myeloid cells, such as microglia and macrophages, which drive disease progression. Furthermore, the authors show that 18F-FMD effectively monitors therapeutic responses to treatments like fingolimod and a new CSF1R-targeting dendranib. These results suggest that 18F-FMD could become a vital clinical tool for personalized medicine and real-time monitoring of inflammatory brain disorders. The study concludes that this tracer successfully bridges a gap in molecular imaging, offering a high-resolution window into the cellular dynamics of autoimmune neurodegeneration.

References:

• Kuo R C, Carlson M L, Reyes S T, et al. A radiolabeled dendrimer non-invasively identifies and tracks innate immune cell activation in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis[J]. Nature Communications, 2026.