2023
Investigating CNS distribution of PF‐05212377, a P‐glycoprotein substrate, by translation of 5‐HT6 receptor occupancy from non‐human primates to humans
Sawant‐Basak A, Chen L, Lockwood P, Boyden T, Doran A, Mancuso J, Zasadny K, McCarthy T, Morris E, Carson R, Esterlis I, Huang Y, Nabulsi N, Planeta B, Fullerton T. Investigating CNS distribution of PF‐05212377, a P‐glycoprotein substrate, by translation of 5‐HT6 receptor occupancy from non‐human primates to humans. Biopharmaceutics & Drug Disposition 2023, 44: 48-59. PMID: 36825693, DOI: 10.1002/bdd.2351.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNon-human primatesBrain penetrationPositron emission tomographyReceptor occupancyUnbound concentrationsPre-clinical evidenceVivo brain penetrationConcentration-dependent increaseP-glycoprotein substratesPlasma ECsP-gpAlzheimer's diseaseEmission tomographyRat BBBTarget engagementCumulative evidenceDependent increaseTransporter substratesCNS distributionBBBRatsDiseasePrimatesSpecies differencesHumans
2022
Examining sex differences in responses to footshock stress and the role of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5: an [18F]FPEB and positron emission tomography study in rats
Asch RH, Pothula S, Toyonaga T, Fowles K, Groman SM, Garcia-Milian R, DiLeone RJ, Taylor JR, Esterlis I. Examining sex differences in responses to footshock stress and the role of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 5: an [18F]FPEB and positron emission tomography study in rats. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022, 48: 489-497. PMID: 36100654, PMCID: PMC9852230, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01441-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImaging the effect of ketamine on synaptic density (SV2A) in the living brain
Holmes SE, Finnema SJ, Naganawa M, DellaGioia N, Holden D, Fowles K, Davis M, Ropchan J, Emory P, Ye Y, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Pietrzak RH, Duman RS, Sanacora G, Krystal JH, Carson RE, Esterlis I. Imaging the effect of ketamine on synaptic density (SV2A) in the living brain. Molecular Psychiatry 2022, 27: 2273-2281. PMID: 35165397, PMCID: PMC9133063, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01465-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsKetamine's therapeutic effectsMajor depressive disorderTherapeutic effectPositron emission tomographyPosttraumatic stress disorderHealthy controlsSynaptic connectionsSynaptic vesicle protein 2APost-synaptic mechanismsEffects of ketamineDiscovery of ketamineNon-human primatesAntidepressant effectsDepressive disorderSingle administrationSynaptic densityPsychiatric disordersDepression severityKetamineEmission tomographyTerminal densityLiving brainStress disorderRobust reductionDissociative symptoms
2021
Macro- and Microscale Stress–Associated Alterations in Brain Structure: Translational Link With Depression
Banasr M, Sanacora G, Esterlis I. Macro- and Microscale Stress–Associated Alterations in Brain Structure: Translational Link With Depression. Biological Psychiatry 2021, 90: 118-127. PMID: 34001371, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.04.004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor depressive disorderStress-related disordersCytoarchitectural alterationsPathophysiology of MDDChronic stress pathologyDepressive-like behaviorChronic stress modelAnimal stress modelsPositron emission tomographyHuman brain tissueAstroglial alterationsSynaptic deficitsNeurochemical changesDepressive disorderBehavioral deficitsRodent modelsBrain tissueEmission tomographyDepression symptomatologyLiving brainBrain structuresNovel drugsTranslational linkStress pathologyDisordersPET 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 role