Featured Publications
Consensus Nomenclature for in vivo Imaging of Reversibly Binding Radioligands
Innis RB, Cunningham VJ, Delforge J, Fujita M, Gjedde A, Gunn RN, Holden J, Houle S, Huang SC, Ichise M, Iida H, Ito H, Kimura Y, Koeppe RA, Knudsen GM, Knuuti J, Lammertsma AA, Laruelle M, Logan J, Maguire RP, Mintun MA, Morris ED, Parsey R, Price JC, Slifstein M, Sossi V, Suhara T, Votaw JR, Wong DF, Carson RE. Consensus Nomenclature for in vivo Imaging of Reversibly Binding Radioligands. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2007, 27: 1533-1539. PMID: 17519979, DOI: 10.1038/sj.jcbfm.9600493.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2023
Evaluation of a First PET Tracer Suitable for Imaging the Sigma‑2 Receptor in the Brain of Nonhuman Primates
Alluri S, Zheng M, Holden D, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Felchner Z, Li S, Ropchan J, Carson R, Jia H, Huang Y. Evaluation of a First PET Tracer Suitable for Imaging the Sigma‑2 Receptor in the Brain of Nonhuman Primates. Molecular Pharmaceutics 2023, 21: 194-200. PMID: 38013422, DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00750.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBrainMacaca mulattaNeoplasmsPositron-Emission TomographyPrimatesRadiopharmaceuticalsConceptsAlzheimer's diseaseLimited brain uptakeNonhuman primate brainCentral nervous systemPotential therapeutic targetPositron emission tomography (PET) imagingEmission Tomography ImagingTransmembrane protein 97Sigma-2 receptorsFirst PET tracerBrain penetrantBrain uptakeTherapeutic targetNervous systemPrimate brainNeurological disordersPET tracersNonhuman primatesTomography imagingProtein 97CancerDiseaseBrainCell typesReceptorsEvaluating infusion methods and simplified quantification of synaptic density in vivo with [11C]UCB-J and [18F]SynVesT-1 PET
Asch R, Naganawa M, Nabulsi N, Huan Y, Esterlis I, Carson R. Evaluating infusion methods and simplified quantification of synaptic density in vivo with [11C]UCB-J and [18F]SynVesT-1 PET. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2023, 43: 2120-2129. PMID: 37669455, PMCID: PMC10925870, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x231200423.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2022
Imaging of Synaptic Density in Neurodegenerative Disorders
Carson RE, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Koohsari S, Yang Y, Chen MK, Matuskey D, Finnema SJ. Imaging of Synaptic Density in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2022, 63: 60s-67s. PMID: 35649655, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.263201.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAlzheimer DiseaseAnimalsHumansMembrane GlycoproteinsMiceNerve Tissue ProteinsPositron-Emission TomographyRadiopharmaceuticalsRatsConceptsSynaptic densityAlzheimer's diseaseNeurodegenerative disordersNeurodegenerative diseasesSynaptic vesicle protein 2APotential reference regionsSynaptic density lossLewy body dementiaProgressive supranuclear palsyDisease-modifying therapiesSpecific brain proteinsLarge patient cohortAntiepileptic drug levetiracetamPET imaging resultsMultiple neurodegenerative disordersSynaptic lossSupranuclear palsyCorticobasal degenerationNeuropathologic diseasePatient cohortRat modelClinical valueF-FDGParkinson's diseaseEfficacy assessmentComparison of three novel radiotracers for GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in non-human primates: (R)-[11C]NR2B-Me, (R)-[18F]of-Me-NB1, and (S)-[18F]of-NB1
Smart K, Zheng MQ, Ahmed H, Fang H, Xu Y, Cai L, Holden D, Kapinos M, Haider A, Felchner Z, Ropchan JR, Tamagnan G, Innis RB, Pike VW, Ametamey SM, Huang Y, Carson RE. Comparison of three novel radiotracers for GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in non-human primates: (R)-[11C]NR2B-Me, (R)-[18F]of-Me-NB1, and (S)-[18F]of-NB1. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2022, 42: 1398-1409. PMID: 35209743, PMCID: PMC9274863, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x221084416.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBrainMacaca mulattaPositron-Emission TomographyRadiopharmaceuticalsReceptors, N-Methyl-D-AspartateConceptsNon-human primatesNMDA receptorsML/GluN2B-containing NMDA receptorsFree fractionRegional non-displaceable binding potentialsNon-displaceable binding potentialGood brain uptakeAdult rhesus macaquesBrain uptakeOne-tissue compartment modelTime-activity curvesNovel radiotracersGray matterNeuropsychiatric disordersSelective radiotracerDisplaceable bindingRhesus macaquesTissue distributionAcceptable profilePotential translationRadiotracerCerebellumFurther investigationReceptors
2021
Partial volume correction analysis for 11C-UCB-J PET studies of Alzheimer's disease
Lu Y, Toyonaga T, Naganawa M, Gallezot JD, Chen MK, Mecca AP, van Dyck CH, Carson RE. Partial volume correction analysis for 11C-UCB-J PET studies of Alzheimer's disease. NeuroImage 2021, 238: 118248. PMID: 34119639, PMCID: PMC8454285, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118248.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIdentifying brain networks in synaptic density PET (11C-UCB-J) with independent component analysis
Fang XT, Toyonaga T, Hillmer AT, Matuskey D, Holmes SE, Radhakrishnan R, Mecca AP, van Dyck CH, D’Souza D, Esterlis I, Worhunsky PD, Carson RE. Identifying brain networks in synaptic density PET (11C-UCB-J) with independent component analysis. NeuroImage 2021, 237: 118167. PMID: 34000404, PMCID: PMC8452380, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118167.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic densityResting-state functional magnetic resonance imagingSynaptic vesicle protein 2ALevel-dependent signal fluctuationsBrain networksFunctional magnetic resonance imagingMagnetic resonance imagingAge-related changesHealthy controlsResonance imagingRs-fMRIEffects of sexProtein 2AMultiple comparisonsHuman brainAgePotential utilitySexFirst evidenceCovariance patternsPET Imaging Estimates of Regional Acetylcholine Concentration Variation in Living Human Brain
Smart K, Naganawa M, Baldassarri SR, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Najafzadeh S, Gao H, Navarro A, Barth V, Esterlis I, Cosgrove KP, Huang Y, Carson RE, Hillmer AT. PET Imaging Estimates of Regional Acetylcholine Concentration Variation in Living Human Brain. Cerebral Cortex 2021, 31: 2787-2798. PMID: 33442731, PMCID: PMC8355478, DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhaa387.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsACh concentrationHuman volunteersHigh ACh concentrationsMuscarinic antagonist scopolamineHealthy human volunteersHuman brainCholinergic receptorsNicotine challengeAntagonist scopolaminePreclinical studiesStriatal regionsPET scansEndogenous neurotransmittersNeuropsychiatric diseasesNonhuman primatesWhole-brain imagesDrug occupancyNicotinic ligandsClinical populationsBrainAcetylcholineDistinct functional rolesStriatumVolunteersFunctional roleAssessment of test-retest reproducibility of [18F]SynVesT-1, a novel radiotracer for PET imaging of synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A
Li S, Naganawa M, Pracitto R, Najafzadeh S, Holden D, Henry S, Matuskey D, Emery PR, Cai Z, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Carson RE, Huang Y. Assessment of test-retest reproducibility of [18F]SynVesT-1, a novel radiotracer for PET imaging of synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2021, 48: 1327-1338. PMID: 33416954, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-020-05149-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTest-retest reproducibilityTime-activity curvesBPND valuesNonhuman primatesAbsolute test-retest variabilitySynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AHigh brain uptakeNon-displaceable binding potentialExcellent test-retest reproducibilityGray matter areasHealthy human subjectsHigh uptakeTest-retest variabilityDynamic PET scanningTest-retest reliabilityBrain uptakeDistribution volume valuesCentrum semiovaleUrinary bladderOne-tissue compartment modelMaximum SUVPET scanningPET scansTracer uptakeBrain disorders
2020
Quantification of SV2A Binding in Rodent Brain Using [18F]SynVesT-1 and PET Imaging
Sadasivam P, Fang XT, Toyonaga T, Lee S, Xu Y, Zheng MQ, Spurrier J, Huang Y, Strittmatter SM, Carson RE, Cai Z. Quantification of SV2A Binding in Rodent Brain Using [18F]SynVesT-1 and PET Imaging. Molecular Imaging And Biology 2020, 23: 372-381. PMID: 33258040, PMCID: PMC8105262, DOI: 10.1007/s11307-020-01567-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBrain stemAlzheimer's diseaseMin postinjectionAnimal modelsAPP/PS1 miceReference regionStandardized uptake value ratioDynamic PET imaging dataUptake value ratioRodent brain tissueStatic PET scansDifferent imaging windowsPET imaging dataWild-type controlsReference tissue modelPS1 miceAD pathogenesisTherapeutic effectMouse modelRodent modelsLittermate controlsPET scansRodent brainPreclinical imaging studiesTherapeutic drug efficacyBinding of the synaptic vesicle radiotracer [11C]UCB-J is unchanged during functional brain activation using a visual stimulation task
Smart K, Liu H, Matuskey D, Chen MK, Torres K, Nabulsi N, Labaree D, Ropchan J, Hillmer AT, Huang Y, Carson RE. Binding of the synaptic vesicle radiotracer [11C]UCB-J is unchanged during functional brain activation using a visual stimulation task. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2020, 41: 1067-1079. PMID: 32757741, PMCID: PMC8054713, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x20946198.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVisual cortexVisual stimulationPositron emission tomography radioligandBrain activationBlood flow increasesVolume of distributionPrimary visual cortexCheckerboard visual stimulationFunctional brain activationFunctional magnetic resonanceReference tissue modelFMRI BOLD responsesSynaptic densityVisual stimulation taskOne-tissue compartment modelHealthy volunteersNeuronal firingTomography radioligandPET scansTissue influxVivo measuresRobust increaseBOLD responseTracer influxStimulation taskPTSD is associated with neuroimmune suppression: evidence from PET imaging and postmortem transcriptomic studies
Bhatt S, Hillmer AT, Girgenti MJ, Rusowicz A, Kapinos M, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Esterlis I, Davis MT, Southwick SM, Friedman MJ, Duman R, Carson R, Krystal J, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. PTSD is associated with neuroimmune suppression: evidence from PET imaging and postmortem transcriptomic studies. Nature Communications 2020, 11: 2360. PMID: 32398677, PMCID: PMC7217830, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15930-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcetamidesAdaptor Proteins, Signal TransducingAdultBrainCase-Control StudiesFemaleGene Expression ProfilingHealthy VolunteersHumansMaleMicrogliaMiddle AgedPositron-Emission TomographyPyridinesRadiopharmaceuticalsReceptors, GABAReceptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14Sex FactorsStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticYoung AdultConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPeripheral immune activationImmune activationHigher C-reactive protein levelsC-reactive protein levelsTSPO availabilityTranslocator proteinBrain microglial activationTomography brain imagingStress-related pathophysiologyPositron emission tomography (PET) brain imagingNeuroimmune activationMicroglial activationPTSD symptom severityImmunologic regulationPostmortem studiesPTSD subgroupHealthy individualsSymptom severityTrauma exposurePTSD groupStress disorderLower relative expressionBrain imagingPET imagingInverse changes in raphe and cortical 5‐HT1B receptor availability after acute tryptophan depletion in healthy human subjects
Baldassarri SR, Park E, Finnema SJ, Planeta B, Nabulsi N, Najafzadeh S, Ropchan J, Huang Y, Hannestad J, Maloney K, Bhagwagar Z, Carson RE. Inverse changes in raphe and cortical 5‐HT1B receptor availability after acute tryptophan depletion in healthy human subjects. Synapse 2020, 74: e22159. PMID: 32324935, PMCID: PMC7426238, DOI: 10.1002/syn.22159.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSeparating dopamine D2 and D3 receptor sources of [11C]-(+)-PHNO binding potential: Independent component analysis of competitive binding
Smart K, Gallezot JD, Nabulsi N, Labaree D, Zheng MQ, Huang Y, Carson RE, Hillmer AT, Worhunsky PD. Separating dopamine D2 and D3 receptor sources of [11C]-(+)-PHNO binding potential: Independent component analysis of competitive binding. NeuroImage 2020, 214: 116762. PMID: 32201327, PMCID: PMC7263955, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116762.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchKinetic Modeling and Test–Retest Reproducibility of 11C-EKAP and 11C-FEKAP, Novel Agonist Radiotracers for PET Imaging of the κ-Opioid Receptor in Humans
Naganawa M, Li S, Nabulsi N, Lin SF, Labaree D, Ropchan J, Gao H, Mei M, Henry S, Matuskey D, Carson RE, Huang Y. Kinetic Modeling and Test–Retest Reproducibility of 11C-EKAP and 11C-FEKAP, Novel Agonist Radiotracers for PET Imaging of the κ-Opioid Receptor in Humans. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2020, 61: 1636-1642. PMID: 32169917, PMCID: PMC9364890, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.119.227694.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPET imaging of mGluR5 in Alzheimer’s disease
Mecca AP, McDonald JW, Michalak HR, Godek TA, Harris JE, Pugh EA, Kemp EC, Chen MK, Salardini A, Nabulsi NB, Lim K, Huang Y, Carson RE, Strittmatter SM, van Dyck CH. PET imaging of mGluR5 in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2020, 12: 15. PMID: 31954399, PMCID: PMC6969979, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-0582-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEarly Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's diseaseMild cognitive impairmentBrain amyloidHippocampus of ADPositron emission tomography radioligandSubtype 5 receptorsMild AD dementiaGray matter atrophyAssociation cortical regionsAmnestic mild cognitive impairmentImportant therapeutic targetCerebellum reference regionDynamic PET scansHippocampal mGluR5MethodsSixteen individualsMGluR5 bindingSynaptotoxic actionAD dementiaAD pathogenesisMatter atrophyInitial administrationAD groupSynaptic transmissionEntorhinal cortex
2019
Measuring the effects of ketamine on mGluR5 using [18F]FPEB and PET
Holmes SE, Gallezot JD, Davis MT, DellaGioia N, Matuskey D, Nabulsi N, Krystal JH, Javitch JA, DeLorenzo C, Carson RE, Esterlis I. Measuring the effects of ketamine on mGluR5 using [18F]FPEB and PET. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2019, 40: 2254-2264. PMID: 31744389, PMCID: PMC7585925, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19886316.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEffects of ketamineKetamine infusionGlutamate transmissionMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Ketamine-induced effectsKetamine-induced changesGlutamate receptor 5Promising treatment targetDrug challenge studiesTwo-tissue compartment modelMGluR5 radioligandBlood pressureMGluR5 availabilityBaseline scanOutcome measuresHealthy subjectsHeart ratePsychiatric disordersReceptor 5Modulatory effectsMGluR5Treatment targetsChallenge studiesArterial input functionChallenge paradigmAssessment of a white matter reference region for 11C-UCB-J PET quantification
Rossano S, Toyonaga T, Finnema SJ, Naganawa M, Lu Y, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, De Bruyn S, Otoul C, Stockis A, Nicolas JM, Martin P, Mercier J, Huang Y, Maguire RP, Carson RE. Assessment of a white matter reference region for 11C-UCB-J PET quantification. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2019, 40: 1890-1901. PMID: 31570041, PMCID: PMC7446568, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19879230.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHuman Positron Emission Tomography Neuroimaging
Hooker JM, Carson RE. Human Positron Emission Tomography Neuroimaging. Annual Review Of Biomedical Engineering 2019, 21: 551-581. PMID: 31167104, DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-062117-121056.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchQuantification of PET infusion studies without true equilibrium: A tissue clearance correction
Hillmer AT, Carson RE. Quantification of PET infusion studies without true equilibrium: A tissue clearance correction. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2019, 40: 860-874. PMID: 31088233, PMCID: PMC7168787, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19850000.Peer-Reviewed Original Research