Regional microglial activation in the substantia nigra is linked with fatigue in MS.

Objective: The goal of our study is to assess the role of microglial activation in MS-associated fatigue (MSAF) using [F-18]PBR06-PET.

Methods: Fatigue severity was measured using the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) in 12 subjects with MS (7 relapsing-remitting and 5 secondary progressive) and 10 healthy control participants who underwent [F-18]PBR06-PET. The MFIS provides a total fatigue score as well as physical, cognitive, and psychosocial fatigue subscale scores. Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) 60-90 minute frame PET maps were coregistered to 3T MRI. Voxel-by-voxel analysis using Statistical Parametric Mapping and atlas-based regional analyses were performed. SUV ratios (SUVRs) were global brain normalized.

Results: Peak voxel-based level of significance for correlation between total fatigue score and PET uptake was localized to the right substantia nigra (T-score 4.67, = 0.001). Similarly, SUVRs derived from atlas-based segmentation of the substantia nigra showed significant correlation with MFIS (r = 0.76, = 0.004). On multiple regression, the right substantia nigra was an independent predictor of total MFIS ( = 0.02) and cognitive MFIS subscale values ( = 0.007), after adjustment for age, disability, and depression. Several additional areas of significant correlations with fatigue scores were identified, including the right parahippocampal gyrus, right precuneus, and juxtacortical white matter (all < 0.05). There was no correlation between fatigue scores and brain atrophy and lesion load in patients with MS.

Conclusion: Substantia nigra microglial activation is linked to fatigue in MS. Microglial activation across key brain regions may represent a unifying mechanism for MSAF, and further evaluation of neuroimmunologic basis of MSAF is warranted.