Improved mapping and quantification of serotonin transporter availability in the human brainstem with the HRRT

Altered Serotonin 1B Receptor Binding After Escitalopram for Depression Is Correlated With Treatment Effect

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is commonly treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs inhibit the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), but the downstream antidepressant mechanism of action of these drugs is poorly understood. The serotonin 1B (5-HT1B) receptor is functionally linked to 5-HTT and 5-HT1B receptor binding and 5-HT1B receptor mRNA is reduced in the raphe nuclei after SSRI administration in primates and rodents, respectively. The effect of SSRI treatment on 5-HT1B receptor binding in patients with MDD has not been examined previously. This positron emission tomography (PET) study aimed to quantify brain 5-HT1B receptor binding changes in vivo after SSRI treatment for MDD in relation to treatment effect.

METHODS

Eight unmedicated patients with moderate to severe MDD underwent PET with the 5-HT1B receptor radioligand [11C]AZ10419369 before and after 3 to 4 weeks of treatment with the SSRI escitalopram 10 mg daily. Depression severity was assessed at time of PET and after 6 to 7 weeks of treatment with the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale.

RESULTS

We observed a significant reduction in [11C]AZ10419369 binding in a dorsal brainstem (DBS) region containing the median and dorsal raphe nuclei after escitalopram treatment (P = .036). Change in DBS [11C]AZ10419369 binding correlated with Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale reduction after 3-4 (r = 0.78, P = .021) and 6-7 (r = 0.94, P < .001) weeks' treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings align with the previously reported reduction of 5-HT1B receptor binding in the raphe nuclei after SSRI administration and support future studies testing change in DBS 5-HT1B receptor binding as an SSRI treatment response marker.

Quantification of the purinergic P2X7 receptor with [11C]SMW139 improves through correction for brain-penetrating radiometabolites

The membrane-based purinergic 7 receptor (P2X₇R) is expressed on activated microglia and the target of the radioligand [¹¹C]SMW139 for in vivo assessment of neuroinflammation. This study investigated the contribution of radiolabelled metabolites which potentially affect its quantification. Ex vivo high-performance liquid chromatography with a radio detector (radioHPLC) was used to evaluate the parent and radiometabolite fractions of [¹¹C]SMW139 in the brain and plasma of eleven mice. Twelve healthy humans underwent 90-min [¹¹C]SMW139 brain PET with arterial blood sampling and radiometabolite analysis. The volume of distribution was estimated by using one- and two- tissue compartment (TCM) modeling with single (V_T) and dual (V_Tp) input functions. RadioHPLC showed three major groups of radiometabolite peaks with increasing concentrations in the plasma of all mice and humans. Two radiometabolite peaks were also visible in mice brain homogenates and therefore considered for dual input modeling in humans. 2TCM with single input function provided V_T estimates with a wide range (0.10-10.74) and high coefficient of variation (COV: 159.9%), whereas dual input function model showed a narrow range of V_Tp estimates (0.04-0.24; COV: 33.3%). In conclusion, compartment modeling with correction for brain-penetrant radiometabolites improves the in vivo quantification of [¹¹C]SMW139 binding to P2X₇R in the human brain.

In vivo correlation of serotonin transporter and 1B receptor availability in the human brain: a PET study

Synaptic serotonin levels in the brain are regulated by active transport into the bouton by the serotonin transporter, and by autoreceptors, such as the inhibitory serotonin (5-HT) 1B receptor which, when activated, decreases serotonin release. Animal studies have shown a regulatory link between the two proteins. Evidence of such coupling could translate to an untapped therapeutic potential in augmenting the effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors through pharmacological modulation of 5-HT_1B receptors. Here we will for the first time in vivo examine the relationship between 5-HT_1B receptors and serotonin transporters in the living human brain. Seventeen healthy individuals were examined with PET twice, using the radioligands [11C]AZ10419369 and [¹¹C]MADAM for quantification of the 5-HT_1B receptor and the 5-HT transporter, respectively. The binding potential was calculated for a set of brain regions, and the correlations between the binding estimates of the two radioligands were studied. [¹¹C]AZ10419369 and [¹¹C]MADAM binding was positively correlated in all examined brain regions. In most cortical regions the correlation was strong, e.g., frontal cortex, r(15) = 0.64, p = 0.01 and parietal cortex, r(15) = 0.8, p = 0.0002 while in most subcortical regions, negligible correlations was observed. Though the correlation estimates in cortex should be interpreted with caution due to poor signal to noise ratio of [¹¹C]MADAM binding in these regions, it suggests a link between two key proteins involved in the regulation of synaptic serotonin levels. Our results indicate a need for further studies to address the functional importance of 5-HT_1B receptors in treatment with drugs that inhibit serotonin reuptake.

Serotonin 1B receptor density mapping of the human brainstem using positron emission tomography and autoradiography

The serotonin 1B (5-HT_1B) receptor has lately received considerable interest in relation to psychiatric and neurological diseases, partly due to findings based on quantification using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Although the brainstem is an important structure in this regard, PET radioligand binding quantification in brainstem areas often shows poor reliability. This study aims to improve PET quantification of 5-HT_1B receptor binding in the brainstem.Volumes of interest (VOIs) were selected based on a 3D [³H]AZ10419369 Autoradiography brainstem model, which visualized 5-HT_1B receptor distribution in high resolution. Two previously developed VOI delineation methods were tested and compared to a conventional manual method. For a method based on template data, a [¹¹C]AZ10419369 PET template was created by averaging parametric binding potential (BP_ND) images of 52 healthy subjects. VOIs were generated based on a predefined volume and BP_ND thresholding and subsequently applied to test-retest [¹¹C]AZ10419369 parametric BP_ND images of 8 healthy subjects. For a method based on individual subject data, VOIs were generated directly on each individual parametric image.Both methods showed improved reliability compared to a conventional manual VOI. The VOIs created with [¹¹C]AZ10419369 template data can be automatically applied to future PET studies measuring 5-HT_1B receptor binding in the brainstem.

Simplified quantification of [18F]FE-PE2I PET in Parkinson's disease: Discriminative power, test-retest reliability and longitudinal validity during early peak and late pseudo-equilibrium

Quantification of dopamine transporter (DAT) availability with [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I PET enables the detection of presynaptic dopamine deficiency and provides a potential progression marker for Parkinson`s disease (PD). Simplified quantification is feasible, but the time window of short acquisition protocols may have a substantial impact on the reliability of striatal binding estimates. Dynamic [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I PET data of cross-sectional (33 PD patients, 24 controls), test-retest (9 patients), and longitudinal (12 patients) cohorts were used to assess the variability and reliability of specific binding ratios (SBR) measured during early peak and late pseudo-equilibrium. Receiver operating characteristics area under the curve (PD vs. controls) was high for early (0.996) and late (0.991) SBR. Early SBR provided more favourable effect size, absolute variability, and standard error of measurement than late SBR (caudate: 1.29 vs. 1.23; 6.9% vs. 9.8%; 0.09 vs. 0.20; putamen: 1.75 vs. 1.67; 7.7% vs. 14.0%; 0.08 vs. 0.17). The annual percentage change was comparable for both time windows (-7.2%-8.5%), but decline was significant only for early SBR. Whereas early and late [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I PET acquisitions have similar discriminative power to separate PD patients and controls, the early peak equilibrium acquisition can be recommended if [¹⁸F]FE-PE2I is used to measure longitudinal changes of DAT availability.

Serotonin transporter availability increases in patients recovering from a depressive episode

Molecular imaging studies have shown low cerebral concentration of serotonin transporter in patients suffering from depression, compared to healthy control subjects. Whether or not this difference also is present before disease onset and after remission (i.e. a trait), or only at the time of the depressive episode (i.e. a state) remains to be explored. We examined 17 patients with major depressive disorder with positron emission tomography using [¹¹C]MADAM, a radioligand that binds to the serotonin transporter, before and after treatment with internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy. In all, 17 matched healthy control subjects were examined once. Cerebellum was used as reference to calculate the binding potential. Differences before and after treatment, as well as between patients and controls, were assessed in a composite cerebral region and in the median raphe nuclei. All image analyses and confirmatory statistical tests were preregistered. Depression severity decreased following treatment (p < 0.001). [¹¹C]MADAM binding in patients increased in the composite region after treatment (p = 0.01), while no change was observed in the median raphe (p = 0.51). No significant difference between patients at baseline and healthy controls were observed in the composite region (p = 0.97) or the median raphe (p = 0.95). Our main finding was that patients suffering from a depressive episode show an overall increase in cerebral serotonin transporter availability as symptoms are alleviated. Our results suggest that previously reported cross-sectional molecular imaging findings of the serotonin transporter in depression most likely reflect the depressive state, rather than a permanent trait. The finding adds new information on the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder.

In vivo Brainstem Imaging in Alzheimer's Disease: Potential for Biomarker Development

The dearth of effective treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the largest public health issues worldwide, costing hundreds of billions of dollars per year. From a therapeutic standpoint, research efforts to date have met with strikingly little clinical success. One major issue is that trials begin after substantial pathological change has occurred, and it is increasingly clear that the most effective treatment regimens will need to be administered earlier in the disease process. In order to identify individuals within the long preclinical phase of AD who are likely to progress to dementia, improvements are required in biomarker development. One potential area of research that might prove fruitful in this regard is the in vivo detection of brainstem pathology. The brainstem is known to undergo pathological changes very early and progressively in AD. With an updated and harmonized AD research framework, and emerging advances in neuroimaging technology, the potential to leverage knowledge of brainstem pathology into biomarkers for AD will be discussed.

Revisiting the Logan plot to account for non-negligible blood volume in brain tissue

Background

Reference tissue-based quantification of brain PET data does not typically include correction for signal originating from blood vessels, which is known to result in biased outcome measures. The bias extent depends on the amount of radioactivity in the blood vessels. In this study, we seek to revisit the well-established Logan plot and derive alternative formulations that provide estimation of distribution volume ratios (DVRs) that are corrected for the signal originating from the vasculature.

Results

New expressions for the Logan plot based on arterial input function and reference tissue were derived, which included explicit terms for whole blood radioactivity. The new methods were evaluated using PET data acquired using [¹¹C]raclopride and [¹⁸F]MNI-659. The two-tissue compartment model (2TCM), with which signal originating from blood can be explicitly modeled, was used as a gold standard.

DVR values obtained for [¹¹C]raclopride using the either blood-based or reference tissue-based Logan plot were systematically underestimated compared to 2TCM, and for [¹⁸F]MNI-659, a proportionality bias was observed, i.e., the bias varied across regions. The biases disappeared when optimal blood-signal correction was used for respective tracer, although for the case of [¹⁸F]MNI-659 a small but systematic overestimation of DVR was still observed.

Conclusions

The new method appears to remove the bias introduced due to absence of correction for blood volume in regular graphical analysis and can be considered in clinical studies. Further studies are however required to derive a generic mapping between plasma and whole-blood radioactivity levels.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13550-017-0314-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Characterization of [11C]Lu AE92686 as a PET radioligand for phosphodiesterase 10A in the nonhuman primate brain

Purpose

[¹¹C]Lu AE92686 is a positron emission tomography (PET) radioligand that has recently been validated for examining phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) in the human striatum. [¹¹C]Lu AE92686 has high affinity for PDE10A (IC₅₀ = 0.39 nM) and may also be suitable for examination of the substantia nigra, a region with low density of PDE10A. Here, we report characterization of regional [¹¹C]Lu AE92686 binding to PDE10A in the nonhuman primate (NHP) brain.

Methods

A total of 11 PET measurements, seven baseline and four following pretreatment with unlabeled Lu AE92686 or the structurally unrelated PDE10A inhibitor MP-10, were performed in five NHPs using a high resolution research tomograph (HRRT). [¹¹C]Lu AE92686 binding was quantified using a radiometabolite-corrected arterial input function and compartmental and graphical modeling approaches.

Results

Regional time-activity curves were best described with the two-tissue compartment model (2TCM). However, the distribution volume (V_T) values for all regions were obtained by the Logan plot analysis, as reliable cerebellar V_T values could not be derived by the 2TCM. For cerebellum, a proposed reference region, V_T values increased by ∼30 % with increasing PET measurement duration from 63 to 123 min, while V_T values in target regions remained stable. Both pretreatment drugs significantly decreased [¹¹C]Lu AE92686 binding in target regions, while no significant effect on cerebellum was observed. Binding potential (BP_ND) values, derived with the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM), were 13–17 in putamen and 3–5 in substantia nigra and correlated well to values from the Logan plot analysis.

Conclusions

The method proposed for quantification of [¹¹C]Lu AE92686 binding in applied studies in NHP is based on 63 min PET data and SRTM with cerebellum as a reference region. The study supports that [¹¹C]Lu AE92686 can be used for PET examinations of PDE10A binding also in substantia nigra.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00259-016-3544-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Self-transcendence trait and its relationship with in vivo serotonin transporter availability in brainstem raphe nuclei: An ultra-high resolution PET-MRI study

Self-transcendence is an inherent human personality trait relating to the experience of spiritual aspects of the self. We examined the relationship between self-transcendence and serotonin transporter (SERT) availability in brainstem raphe nuclei, which are collections of five different serotonergic nuclei with rostro-caudal extension, using ultra-high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) with (11)C-3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethylphenylthio)benzonitrile ([(11)C]DASB) to elucidate potential roles of serotonergic neuronal activities in this personality trait. Sixteen healthy subjects completed 7.0T MRI and High Resolution Research Tomograph (HRRT) PET. The regions of interest (ROIs) included the dorsal raphe nucleus (R1), median raphe nucleus (R2), raphe pontis (R3), and the caudal raphe nuclei (R4 and R5). For the estimation of SERT availability, the binding potential (BPND) was derived using the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM2). The Temperament and Character Inventory was used to measure self-transcendence. The analysis revealed that the self-transcendence total score had a significant negative correlation with the [(11)C]DASB BPND in the caudal raphe (R5). The subscale score for spiritual acceptance was significantly negatively correlated with the [(11)C]DASB BPND in the median raphe nucleus (R2). The results indicate that the self-transcendence trait is associated with SERT availability in specific raphe subnuclei, suggesting that the serotonin system may serve as an important biological basis for human self-transcendence. Based on the connections of these nuclei with cortico-limbic and visceral autonomic structures, the functional activity of these nuclei and their related neural circuitry may play a crucial role in the manifestation of self-transcendence.

Test-retest reproducibility of [(11)C]PBR28 binding to TSPO in healthy control subjects

PURPOSE

The PET radioligand [(11)C]PBR28 binds to the translocator protein (TSPO), a marker of brain immune activation. We examined the reproducibility of [(11)C]PBR28 binding in healthy subjects with quantification on a regional and voxel-by-voxel basis. In addition, we performed a preliminary analysis of diurnal changes in TSPO availability.

METHODS

Twelve subjects were examined using a high-resolution research tomograph and [(11)C]PBR28, six in the morning and afternoon of the same day, and six in the morning on two separate days. Regional volumes of distribution (V T) were derived using a region-of-interest based two-tissue compartmental analysis (2TCM), as well as a parametric approach. Metabolite-corrected arterial plasma was used as input function.

RESULTS

For the whole sample, the mean absolute variability in V T in the grey matter (GM) was 18.3 ± 12.7 %. Intraclass correlation coefficients in GM regions ranged from 0.90 to 0.94. Reducing the time of analysis from 91 to 63 min yielded a variability of 16.9 ± 14.9 %. There was a strong correlation between the parametric and 2TCM-derived GM values (r = 0.99). A significant increase in GM V T was observed between the morning and afternoon examinations when using secondary methods of quantification (p = 0.028). In the subjects examined at the same time of the day, the absolute variability was 15.9 ± 12.2 % for the 91-min 2TCM data.

CONCLUSION

V T of [(11)C]PBR28 binding showed medium reproducibility and high reliability in GM regions. Our findings support the use of parametric approaches for determining [(11)C]PBR28 V T values, and indicate that the acquisition time could be shortened. Diurnal changes in TSPO binding in the brain may be a potential confounder in clinical studies and should be investigated further.

Functional connectivity of the dorsal and median raphe nuclei at rest

Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter critically involved in a broad range of brain functions and implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric illnesses including major depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Despite being widely distributed throughout the brain, there is limited knowledge on the contribution of 5-HT to intrinsic brain activity. The dorsal raphe (DR) and median raphe (MR) nuclei are the source of most serotonergic neurons projecting throughout the brain and thus provide a compelling target for a seed-based probe of resting-state activity related to 5-HT. Here we implemented a novel multimodal neuroimaging approach for investigating resting-state functional connectivity (FC) between DR and MR and cortical, subcortical and cerebellar target areas. Using [(11)C]DASB positron emission tomography (PET) images of the brain serotonin transporter (5-HTT) combined with structural MRI from 49 healthy volunteers, we delineated DR and MR and performed a seed-based resting-state FC analysis. The DR and MR seeds produced largely similar FC maps: significant positive FC with brain regions involved in cognitive and emotion processing including anterior cingulate, amygdala, insula, hippocampus, thalamus, basal ganglia and cerebellum. Significant negative FC was observed within pre- and postcentral gyri for the DR but not for the MR seed. We observed a significant association between DR and MR FC and regional 5-HTT binding. Our results provide evidence for a resting-state network related to DR and MR and comprising regions receiving serotonergic innervation and centrally involved in 5-HT related behaviors including emotion, cognition and reward processing. These findings provide a novel advance in estimating resting-state FC related to 5-HT signaling, which can benefit our understanding of its role in behavior and neuropsychiatric illnesses.

Reduced 5-HT(1B) receptor binding in the dorsal brain stem after cognitive behavioural therapy of major depressive disorder

Major depression is a significant contributor to the global burden of disease, and its pathophysiology is largely unknown. The serotonin hypothesis is, however, the model with most supporting data, although the details are only worked out to some extent. Recent clinical imaging measurements indeed imply a role in major depressive disorder (MDD) for the inhibitory serotonin autoreceptor 5-hydroxytryptamine1B (5-HT1B). The aim of the current study was to examine 5-HT1B receptor binding in the brain of MDD patients before and after psychotherapy. Ten patients with an ongoing untreated moderate depressive episode were examined with positron emission tomography (PET) and the 5-HT1B receptor selective radioligand [(11)C]AZ10419369, before and after treatment with internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy. All of the patients examined responded to treatment, and 70% were in remission by the time of the second PET measurement. A statistically significant 33% reduction of binding potential (BPND) was found in the dorsal brain stem (DBS) after treatment. No other significant changes in BPND were found. The DBS contains the raphe nuclei, which regulate the serotonin system. This study gives support for the importance of serotonin and the 5-HT1B receptor in the biological response to psychological treatment of MDD.

Arterial input function derived from pairwise correlations between PET-image voxels

A metabolite corrected arterial input function is a prerequisite for quantification of positron emission tomography (PET) data by compartmental analysis. This quantitative approach is also necessary for radioligands without suitable reference regions in brain. The measurement is laborious and requires cannulation of a peripheral artery, a procedure that can be associated with patient discomfort and potential adverse events. A non invasive procedure for obtaining the arterial input function is thus preferable. In this study, we present a novel method to obtain image-derived input functions (IDIFs). The method is based on calculation of the Pearson correlation coefficient between the time-activity curves of voxel pairs in the PET image to localize voxels displaying blood-like behavior. The method was evaluated using data obtained in human studies with the radioligands [(11)C]flumazenil and [(11)C]AZ10419369, and its performance was compared with three previously published methods. The distribution volumes (VT) obtained using IDIFs were compared with those obtained using traditional arterial measurements. Overall, the agreement in VT was good (∼3% difference) for input functions obtained using the pairwise correlation approach. This approach performed similarly or even better than the other methods, and could be considered in applied clinical studies. Applications to other radioligands are needed for further verification.