Featured Publications
Imaging synaptic density in the living human brain
Finnema SJ, Nabulsi NB, Eid T, Detyniecki K, Lin SF, Chen MK, Dhaher R, Matuskey D, Baum E, Holden D, Spencer DD, Mercier J, Hannestad J, Huang Y, Carson RE. Imaging synaptic density in the living human brain. Science Translational Medicine 2016, 8: 348ra96. PMID: 27440727, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf6667.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic densityPositron emission tomographyPET imagingSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ATemporal lobe epilepsyNumerous brain disordersCentral nervous systemNumber of synapsesJ PET imagingHuman brainHuman PET studiesPredominant neuronsSurgical resectionSynaptic lossLobe epilepsyPsychiatric disordersNervous systemBrain disordersPresynaptic boutonsAlzheimer's diseaseBrain tissueEmission tomographyNeuron contactsTherapeutic monitoringPET studiesReduced 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 zoneLower synaptic density is associated with depression severity and network alterations
Holmes SE, Scheinost D, Finnema SJ, Naganawa M, Davis MT, DellaGioia N, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Pietrzak RH, Duman RS, Sanacora G, Krystal JH, Carson RE, Esterlis I. Lower synaptic density is associated with depression severity and network alterations. Nature Communications 2019, 10: 1529. PMID: 30948709, PMCID: PMC6449365, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09562-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor depressive disorderPost-traumatic stress disorderLower synaptic densitySynaptic densityPositron emission tomographyFunctional connectivityNetwork alterationsSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ASymptoms of depressionSynaptic lossDepressive disorderHealthy controlsNerve terminalsDepressive symptomsDepression severityUnmedicated individualsSynaptic connectionsEmission tomographyStress disorderVivo evidenceSymptomsDepressionSeverityDisordersAlterations
2024
Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia
Bonomi R, Hillmer A, Woodcock E, Bhatt S, Rusowicz A, Angarita G, Carson R, Davis M, Esterlis I, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Krystal J, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2406005121. PMID: 39172786, PMCID: PMC11363315, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406005121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPTSD groupPrefrontal-limbic circuitsNeuroimmune responseAssociated with anhedoniaPosttraumatic stress disorderPositron emission tomography brain imagingTranslocator protein availabilityBrain immune functionAnhedonic symptomsStress disorderPeripheral immune dysfunctionPTSDGroup differencesSeverity of symptomsPsychiatric diseasesTranslocator proteinBrain imagingAdministration of lipopolysaccharideSymptomsMicroglial markersLPS-induced increaseCompared to controlsImmune functionSickness symptomsAnhedonia
2023
Relationships of in vivo brain norepinephrine transporter and age, BMI, and gender
Koohsari S, Sadabad F, Pittman B, Gallezot J, Carson R, van Dyck C, Li C, Potenza M, Matuskey D. Relationships of in vivo brain norepinephrine transporter and age, BMI, and gender. Synapse 2023, 77: e22279. PMID: 37382240, PMCID: PMC10416616, DOI: 10.1002/syn.22279.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexMultilinear reference tissue model 2Gender-related differencesBrain norepinephrine transportersNorepinephrine transporterAge-related declineStructural MR scansBrain regionsReference tissue model 2Mass indexRaphe nucleusLocus coeruleusOccipital cortexBMI relationshipHealthy adultsHigh-resolution research tomographAvailable radiotracersHealthy participantsMR scansAgeAnatomic templateReference regionNegative associationNet availabilityPotential age
2021
Imaging brain cortisol regulation in PTSD with a target for 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1
Bhatt S, Hillmer AT, Rusowicz A, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Angarita GA, Najafzadeh S, Kapinos M, Southwick SM, Krystal JH, Carson RE, Huang Y, Cosgrove KP. Imaging brain cortisol regulation in PTSD with a target for 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2021, 131: e150452. PMID: 34651587, PMCID: PMC8516462, DOI: 10.1172/jci150452.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPositron emission tomographyVolume of distributionDehydrogenase type 1Trauma-exposed controlsPTSD groupTranslocator proteinType 1Veterans Affairs (VA) National CenterOverall PTSD severityBrain glucocorticoidBrain immuneMethodsSixteen individualsPeripheral cortisolMicroglial markersImmune suppressionTranslational Science AwardsCortisol levelsNIH National CenterTC groupCortisol regulationEmission tomographyStress disorderLower PTSD symptomsPTSD symptomsIdentifying 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 patternsComparison of [11C]UCB-J and [18F]FDG PET in Alzheimer’s disease: A tracer kinetic modeling study
Chen MK, Mecca AP, Naganawa M, Gallezot JD, Toyonaga T, Mondal J, Finnema SJ, Lin SF, O’Dell R, McDonald JW, Michalak HR, Vander Wyk B, Nabulsi NB, Huang Y, Arnsten AF, van Dyck CH, Carson RE. Comparison of [11C]UCB-J and [18F]FDG PET in Alzheimer’s disease: A tracer kinetic modeling study. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 2021, 41: 2395-2409. PMID: 33757318, PMCID: PMC8393289, DOI: 10.1177/0271678x211004312.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic densityMedial temporal regionsAlzheimer's diseaseNeocortical regionsTemporal regionsRelative outcome measuresMedial temporal lobeVivo PET imagingJ bindingOutcome measuresTemporal lobeMagnitude of reductionCN participantsBrain regionsAD participantsDiseasePET imagingConcordant reductionNormal participantsSynaptic vesiclesPerfusionMetabolismSuitable markerParticipantsSimilar patternPET 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
2020
Binding 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 taskSimplified 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 ResearchIn vivo measurement of widespread synaptic loss in Alzheimer's disease with SV2A PET
Mecca AP, Chen M, O'Dell RS, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Godek TA, Harris JE, Bartlett HH, Zhao W, Nabulsi NB, Vander Wyk B, Varma P, Arnsten AFT, Huang Y, Carson RE, van Dyck C. In vivo measurement of widespread synaptic loss in Alzheimer's disease with SV2A PET. Alzheimer's & Dementia 2020, 16: 974-982. PMID: 32400950, PMCID: PMC7383876, DOI: 10.1002/alz.12097.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWidespread synaptic lossEarly Alzheimer's diseaseSynaptic lossAlzheimer's diseaseSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AGray matter volumeMajor structural correlatePositron emission tomography (PET) imagingEmission Tomography ImagingDistribution volume ratioCerebellar reference regionNeocortical brain regionsSynaptic densityAD progressionConsistent pathologyPotential therapyMatter volumePromising biomarkerCognitive impairmentCN participantsBrain regionsDiseaseTomography imagingNormal participantsStructural correlatesPTSD 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 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 ResearchSynaptic 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 systemPET 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
PET Imaging of Pancreatic Dopamine D2 and D3 Receptor Density with 11C-(+)-PHNO in Type 1 Diabetes
Bini J, Sanchez-Rangel E, Gallezot JD, Naganawa M, Nabulsi N, Lim K, Najafzadeh S, Shirali A, Ropchan J, Matuskey D, Huang Y, Herold K, Harris PE, Sherwin RS, Carson RE, Cline GW. PET Imaging of Pancreatic Dopamine D2 and D3 Receptor Density with 11C-(+)-PHNO in Type 1 Diabetes. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2019, 61: 570-576. PMID: 31601695, PMCID: PMC7198375, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.119.234013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsT1DM individualsHealthy controlsDopamine DOutcome measuresAcute C-peptide responseSUVR-1Type 1 diabetes mellitusPET/CT scanningDuration of diabetesMaximal glycemic potentiationC-peptide responseClinical outcome measuresInsulin secretory capacityRoutine clinical measuresD3 receptor densityΒ-cell functionC-peptide releaseQuantitative PET measuresΒ-cell massDynamic PET scansQuantitative outcome measuresAgonist PET radioligandDiabetes mellitusReceptor agonistInsulin antibodiesAssessment 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 ResearchEffects of age, BMI and sex on the glial cell marker TSPO — a multicentre [11C]PBR28 HRRT PET study
Tuisku J, Plavén-Sigray P, Gaiser EC, Airas L, Al-Abdulrasul H, Brück A, Carson RE, Chen MK, Cosgrove KP, Ekblad L, Esterlis I, Farde L, Forsberg A, Halldin C, Helin S, Kosek E, Lekander M, Lindgren N, Marjamäki P, Rissanen E, Sucksdorff M, Varrone A, Collste K, Gallezot J, Hillmer A, Huang Y, Höglund C, Johansson J, Jucaite A, Lampa J, Nabulsi N, Pittman B, Sandiego C, Stenkrona P, Rinne J, Matuskey D, Cervenka S. Effects of age, BMI and sex on the glial cell marker TSPO — a multicentre [11C]PBR28 HRRT PET study. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2019, 46: 2329-2338. PMID: 31363804, PMCID: PMC6717599, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-019-04403-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsBody mass indexPositron emission tomographyEffect of ageMultilinear analysis 1PET centersGlobal gray matterMass indexSubgroup analysisClinical studiesTSPO levelsHealthy subjectsTurku PET CentreHealthy volunteersPositive correlationTemporal cortexTSPO genotypeIndividual biological propertiesMale subjectsPurposeThe purposeConclusionThese findingsLinear mixed effects modelsGray matterParietal cortexSignificant negative correlationEmission tomography