Neuroimaging of inflammation in alcohol use disorder: a review

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a global health concern associated with several comorbidities. Various health problems related to AUD, such as cognitive deficits, have been linked to neuroinflammation. Alcohol use has been associated with changes in neuroimmune activity, although current literature has yielded mixed results. For example, markers of gliosis, including translocator protein 18-kDa (TSPO), pro-inflammatory cytokines, glutamate (Glu), and myo-inositol (mI), are disrupted in the alcohol-dependent brain. Further, neuroinflammatory-related phenomena including membrane turnover, blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and adenosine release have also shown alterations in AUD. However, current literature remains inconclusive about the directionality of these changes. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have provided insight on the relationship between alcohol use and neuroinflammatory processes, suggesting considerable treatment potential for alcohol use disorder and its inflammatory comorbidities. Here, we review current neuroimaging literature assessing the impacts of alcohol use on neuroimmune activity in the brain.