Featured Publications
First-in-Human Evaluation of 18F-SynVesT-1, a Radioligand for PET Imaging of Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A
Naganawa M, Li S, Nabulsi N, Henry S, Zheng MQ, Pracitto R, Cai Z, Gao H, Kapinos M, Labaree D, Matuskey D, Huang Y, Carson RE. First-in-Human Evaluation of 18F-SynVesT-1, a Radioligand for PET Imaging of Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2020, 62: 561-567. PMID: 32859701, PMCID: PMC8049363, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.249144.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-UCBSynaptic densityRegional time-activity curvesTime-activity curvesDistribution volumeMetabolite-corrected arterial input functionPET imagingMultilinear analysis 1Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAntiepileptic drug levetiracetamTotal distribution volumeNondisplaceable distribution volumeCentrum semiovaleBlocking doseHealthy volunteersHuman studiesDrug levetiracetamLassen plotNeuropsychiatric disordersPET radioligandArterial input functionNonhuman primatesLevetiracetamReference regionRadioligandAssessing Synaptic Density in Alzheimer Disease With Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging
Chen MK, Mecca AP, Naganawa M, Finnema SJ, Toyonaga T, Lin SF, Najafzadeh S, Ropchan J, Lu Y, McDonald JW, Michalak HR, Nabulsi NB, Arnsten AFT, Huang Y, Carson RE, van Dyck CH. Assessing Synaptic Density in Alzheimer Disease With Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A Positron Emission Tomographic Imaging. JAMA Neurology 2018, 75: 1215-1224. PMID: 30014145, PMCID: PMC6233853, DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1836.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographic imagingSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ASynaptic densityAlzheimer's diseaseEmission tomographic imagingHigh-resolution PET scanningPET scanningCognitive impairmentDisease-modifying therapiesDisease-modifying treatmentsNormal participantsCross-sectional studyPittsburgh compound BMajor structural correlateAmnestic mild cognitive impairmentMagnetic resonance imagingMild cognitive impairmentJ PET imagingRestoration of synapsesSpecific bindingNeurologic evaluationSynaptic lossDisease stagePostmortem studiesOutcome measuresReduced synaptic vesicle protein 2A binding in temporal lobe epilepsy: A [11C]UCB‐J positron emission tomography study
Finnema SJ, Toyonaga T, Detyniecki K, Chen M, Dias M, Wang Q, Lin S, Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Lu Y, Nabulsi NB, Huang Y, Spencer DD, Carson RE. Reduced synaptic vesicle protein 2A binding in temporal lobe epilepsy: A [11C]UCB‐J positron emission tomography study. Epilepsia 2020, 61: 2183-2193. PMID: 32944949, DOI: 10.1111/epi.16653.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedial temporal lobe sclerosisTemporal lobe epilepsyTLE subjectsPositron emission tomographyLobe epilepsyJ BPSynaptic vesicle protein 2APartial volume correctionTemporal lobe sclerosisPositron emission tomography studyEmission tomography studiesSeizure onset zonePromising biomarker approachJ bindingPresurgical selectionSclerotic hippocampusHippocampal asymmetryTLE patientsRegional binding patternsControl subjectsCentrum semiovaleContralateral regionsEpilepsy patientsOutcome measuresOnset zone
2023
Evaluating 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
2021
Lower prefrontal cortical synaptic vesicle binding in cocaine use disorder: An exploratory 11C‐UCB‐J positron emission tomography study in humans
Angarita GA, Worhunsky PD, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Nabulsi NB, Li C, Esterlis I, Skosnik PD, Radhakrishnan R, Pittman B, Gueorguieva R, Potenza MN, Finnema SJ, Huang Y, Carson RE, Malison RT. Lower prefrontal cortical synaptic vesicle binding in cocaine use disorder: An exploratory 11C‐UCB‐J positron emission tomography study in humans. Addiction Biology 2021, 27: e13123. PMID: 34852401, PMCID: PMC8891080, DOI: 10.1111/adb.13123.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCocaine use disorderAnterior cingulate cortexRecent cocaine useSynaptic densityMedial orbitofrontal cortexPrefrontal cortexCocaine useOrbitofrontal cortexUse disordersVentromedial prefrontal cortexPositron emission tomography scanPositron emission tomography studyEmission tomography scanSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AHealthy control subjectsVolume of distributionEmission tomography studiesAcute cocaineControl subjectsTomography scanCocaine exposurePreclinical studiesHC subjectsDendritic spinesLifetime cocaine useImaging Pituitary Vasopressin 1B Receptor in Humans with the PET Radiotracer 11C-TASP699
Naganawa M, Nabulsi NB, Matuskey D, Henry S, Ropchan J, Lin SF, Gao H, Pracitto R, Labaree D, Zhang MR, Suhara T, Nishino I, Sabia H, Ozaki S, Huang Y, Carson RE. Imaging Pituitary Vasopressin 1B Receptor in Humans with the PET Radiotracer 11C-TASP699. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2021, 63: 609-614. PMID: 34385336, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.121.262430.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMultilinear analysis 1Test-retest variabilityPlasma concentrationsHealthy subjectsR occupancyR antagonistBrain regionsMetabolite-corrected arterial input functionAbsolute test-retest variabilityAdrenal axis activityNovel PET radiotracersSubstantial specific bindingDose-dependent fashionVasopressin 1b receptorTest-retest reproducibilityHalf maximal inhibitory concentrationAdverse eventsAxis activityOutcome measuresReceptor occupancyTime-activity curvesArginine vasopressinPosterior pituitaryDistribution volumeNeuropsychiatric disordersIdentifying 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 patternsAssessment 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 efficacyPreliminary in vivo evidence of lower hippocampal synaptic density in cannabis use disorder
D’Souza D, Radhakrishnan R, Naganawa M, Ganesh S, Nabulsi N, Najafzadeh S, Ropchan J, Ranganathan M, Cortes-Briones J, Huang Y, Carson RE, Skosnik P. Preliminary in vivo evidence of lower hippocampal synaptic density in cannabis use disorder. Molecular Psychiatry 2020, 26: 3192-3200. PMID: 32973170, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00891-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsBrainHippocampusMarijuana AbuseNerve Tissue ProteinsPositron-Emission TomographyPyridinesConceptsHippocampal synaptic densityCannabis use disorderHealthy controlsSynaptic densityPositron emission tomographyUse disordersDSM-5 cannabis use disorderVivo evidenceAdministration of cannabinoidsHippocampal synaptic integrityVerbal memory taskSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AHuman cannabis usersEffects of cannabisWarrants further studyPlasma input functionMemory taskCentrum semiovaleAdult rodentsOne-tissue compartment modelSynaptic integrityHippocampal functionCannabis misuseArterial samplingEmission tomographySimplified Quantification of 11C-UCB-J PET Evaluated in a Large Human Cohort
Naganawa M, Gallezot JD, Finnema SJ, Matuskey D, Mecca A, Nabulsi NB, Labaree D, Ropchan J, Malison RT, D'Souza DC, Esterlis I, Detyniecki K, van Dyck CH, Huang Y, Carson RE. Simplified Quantification of 11C-UCB-J PET Evaluated in a Large Human Cohort. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2020, 62: 418-421. PMID: 32646875, PMCID: PMC8049341, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.243949.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPTSD 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 imagingSynaptic Changes in Parkinson Disease Assessed with in vivo Imaging
Matuskey D, Tinaz S, Wilcox KC, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Dias M, Henry S, Pittman B, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Suridjan I, Comley RA, Huang Y, Finnema SJ, Carson RE. Synaptic Changes in Parkinson Disease Assessed with in vivo Imaging. Annals Of Neurology 2020, 87: 329-338. PMID: 31953875, PMCID: PMC7065227, DOI: 10.1002/ana.25682.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSubstantia nigraParkinson's diseaseNormal controlsSynaptic changesPositron emission tomographic imagingSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AParkinson's disease groupParkinson's disease subjectsEmission tomographic imagingPrimary brain areasAnn NeurolPostmortem autoradiographyBilateral diseaseNonmotor symptomsSynaptic lossNeuronal alterationsRelevant cortical areasStriatal dopamineBrainstem nucleiDisease groupDopamine neuronsLocus coeruleusCortical areasRed nucleusDopamine system
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 paradigmIn Vivo Synaptic Density Imaging with 11C-UCB-J Detects Treatment Effects of Saracatinib in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer Disease
Toyonaga T, Smith LM, Finnema SJ, Gallezot JD, Naganawa M, Bini J, Mulnix T, Cai Z, Ropchan J, Huang Y, Strittmatter SM, Carson RE. In Vivo Synaptic Density Imaging with 11C-UCB-J Detects Treatment Effects of Saracatinib in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer Disease. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2019, 60: 1780-1786. PMID: 31101744, PMCID: PMC6894376, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.223867.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAPP/PS1 micePS1 miceAlzheimer's diseaseWT miceSynaptic densityC-UCBDrug washoutTreatment effectsPresenilin 1 (PS1) double transgenic miceHippocampal synaptic densityAPP/PS1Double transgenic miceEnd of treatmentWild-type miceAmyloid precursor proteinEarly Alzheimer's diseaseSignificant differencesSUVR-1New PET tracersMild cognitive impairmentAD miceSynaptic deficitsOral gavageAD treatmentHealthy subjects
2017
Kinetic evaluation and test–retest reproducibility of [11C]UCB-J, a novel radioligand for positron emission tomography imaging of synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A in humans
Finnema SJ, Nabulsi NB, Mercier J, Lin SF, Chen MK, Matuskey D, Gallezot JD, Henry S, Hannestad J, Huang Y, Carson RE. Kinetic evaluation and test–retest reproducibility of [11C]UCB-J, a novel radioligand for positron emission tomography imaging of synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A in humans. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2017, 38: 2041-2052. PMID: 28792356, PMCID: PMC6259313, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x17724947.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchIn vivo imaging of translocator protein, a marker of activated microglia, in alcohol dependence
Hillmer AT, Sandiego CM, Hannestad J, Angarita GA, Kumar A, McGovern EM, Huang Y, O'Connor KC, Carson RE, O'Malley SS, Cosgrove KP. In vivo imaging of translocator protein, a marker of activated microglia, in alcohol dependence. Molecular Psychiatry 2017, 22: 1759-1766. PMID: 28242869, PMCID: PMC5573660, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.10.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcetamidesAdultAlcoholismBrainBrain MappingCarbon RadioisotopesCells, CulturedCytokinesFemaleHumansInflammationLipopolysaccharidesMaleMicrogliaMonocytesNeuroimagingPolymorphism, Single NucleotidePositron-Emission TomographyPyridinesRadiopharmaceuticalsReceptors, GABASeverity of Illness IndexConceptsAlcohol-dependent subjectsAlcohol dependenceTSPO levelsTranslocator proteinProinflammatory cytokine interleukin-6Peripheral immune profilePeripheral immune responseCytokine interleukin-6Absence of lipopolysaccharideSubset of subjectsAlcohol use disorderPositron emission tomographyAlcohol-dependent individualsMicroglial activationImmune profileNeuroimmune systemCytokine expressionBrain levelsProinflammatory responseInterleukin-6Healthy controlsInterleukin-8Immune responseLast drinkUse disorders
2016
Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of 11C-UCB-J as a PET Tracer for Imaging the Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A in the Brain
Nabulsi N, Mercier J, Holden D, Carré S, Najafzadeh S, Vandergeten MC, Lin SF, Deo A, Price N, Wood M, Lara-Jaime T, Montel F, Laruelle M, Carson RE, Hannestad J, Huang Y. Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of 11C-UCB-J as a PET Tracer for Imaging the Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A in the Brain. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2016, 57: 777-784. PMID: 26848175, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.115.168179.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AWhole-body biodistributionPET radiotracersNonhuman primatesDose-limiting organHigher free fractionGray matter regionsBaseline VTNondisplaceable distribution volumeAntiepileptic drugsVitro inhibition constantSynaptic densityPreclinical evaluationMonkey brainDistribution volumeArterial samplingEndocrine cellsRegional volumesMatter regionsRhesus macaquesPET tracersUCBFree fractionBrainTarget occupancyIn vivo variation in same-day estimates of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 binding using [11C]ABP688 and [18F]FPEB
DeLorenzo C, Gallezot JD, Gardus J, Yang J, Planeta B, Nabulsi N, Ogden RT, Labaree DC, Huang YH, Mann JJ, Gasparini F, Lin X, Javitch JA, Parsey RV, Carson RE, Esterlis I. In vivo variation in same-day estimates of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 binding using [11C]ABP688 and [18F]FPEB. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2016, 37: 2716-2727. PMID: 27742888, PMCID: PMC5536783, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x16673646.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMetabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5Test-retest studySubtype 5Absolute test-retest variabilityBrain glutamatergic systemSame dayPositron emission tomography (PET) tracerTest-retest variabilityEmission tomography tracerGlutamatergic systemLarge cohortSmall cohortStudy designTomography tracerMGluR5ScansCohortVivo variationsDaysReplication studyBinding increasesResidual radioactivitySubjectsBinding differences
2015
Imaging robust microglial activation after lipopolysaccharide administration in humans with PET
Sandiego CM, Gallezot JD, Pittman B, Nabulsi N, Lim K, Lin SF, Matuskey D, Lee JY, O’Connor K, Huang Y, Carson RE, Hannestad J, Cosgrove KP. Imaging robust microglial activation after lipopolysaccharide administration in humans with PET. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2015, 112: 12468-12473. PMID: 26385967, PMCID: PMC4603509, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1511003112.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMicroglial activationBrain microglial activationLPS administrationInflammatory cytokinesLPS challengeRobust microglial activationSystemic LPS challengeActivation of microgliaInnate immune cellsVital sign changesHealthy male subjectsEscherichia coli lipopolysaccharidePositron emission tomography (PET) radiotracerNeuroinflammatory responseSystemic inflammationLipopolysaccharide administrationAntiinflammatory effectsBlood levelsImmune cellsNew medicationsSystemic administrationColi lipopolysaccharidePET scansPsychiatric diseasesMale subjects