Featured Publications
Comparison of Bolus and Infusion Methods for Receptor Quantitation: Application to [18F]Cyclofoxy and Positron Emission Tomography
Carson R, Channing M, Blasberg R, Dunn B, Cohen R, Rice K, Herscovitch P. Comparison of Bolus and Infusion Methods for Receptor Quantitation: Application to [18F]Cyclofoxy and Positron Emission Tomography. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 1993, 13: 24-42. PMID: 8380178, DOI: 10.1038/jcbfm.1993.6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchQuantification of Amphetamine-Induced Changes in [11C] Raclopride Binding with Continuous Infusion
Carson R, Breier* A, de Bartolomeis* A, Saunders† R, Su* T, Schmall B, Der M, Pickar* D, Eckelman W. Quantification of Amphetamine-Induced Changes in [11C] Raclopride Binding with Continuous Infusion. Cerebrovascular And Brain Metabolism Reviews 1997, 17: 437-447. PMID: 9143226, DOI: 10.1097/00004647-199704000-00009.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2024
A pilot study to evaluate the effect of CT1812 treatment on synaptic density and other biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease
van Dyck C, Mecca A, O’Dell R, Bartlett H, Diepenbrock N, Huang Y, Hamby M, Grundman M, Catalano S, Caggiano A, Carson R. A pilot study to evaluate the effect of CT1812 treatment on synaptic density and other biomarkers in Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2024, 16: 20. PMID: 38273408, PMCID: PMC10809445, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01382-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMild to moderate dementiaPositron emission tomographyAlzheimer's diseaseVolumetric MRIModerate dementiaClinical rating scalesSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ACerebrospinal fluidMouse model of ADPharmacodynamic effectsPlacebo-controlled phase 1 clinical trialBiomarkers of AD pathologyClinical trialsCognitive measuresNominally significant differencesPhase 1 clinical trialModel of ADHippocampal cortexPhase 1/2 studyRating ScaleParallel-group trialSynaptic densityTrial registrationThe clinical trialPlacebo-controlledSigma-2 receptor ligands
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 ResearchConceptsAlzheimer'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 typesReceptorsIntrathecal delivery of nanoparticle PARP inhibitor to the cerebrospinal fluid for the treatment of metastatic medulloblastoma
Khang M, Lee J, Lee T, Suh H, Lee S, Cavaliere A, Rushing A, Geraldo L, Belitzky E, Rossano S, de Feyter H, Shin K, Huttner A, Roussel M, Thomas J, Carson R, Marquez-Nostra B, Bindra R, Saltzman W. Intrathecal delivery of nanoparticle PARP inhibitor to the cerebrospinal fluid for the treatment of metastatic medulloblastoma. Science Translational Medicine 2023, 15: eadi1617. PMID: 37910601, PMCID: PMC11078331, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adi1617.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCerebrospinal fluidDelivery of drugsEffective therapyTherapeutic indexPARP inhibitorsBlood-brain barrierSite of tumorRapid systemic clearanceXenograft mouse modelSolvent evaporation processAdministration of substancesLeptomeningeal spreadIntrathecal deliveryLeptomeningeal metastasesBrain penetrationSystemic clearanceTumor regressionPolymer nanoparticlesMetastatic medulloblastomaMouse modelPediatric medulloblastomaDrug accumulationCSF turnoverEncapsulated drugsPET imagingPreclinical evaluation of a brain penetrant PARP PET imaging probe in rat glioblastoma and nonhuman primates
Chen B, Ojha D, Toyonaga T, Tong J, Pracitto R, Thomas M, Liu M, Kapinos M, Zhang L, Zheng M, Holden D, Fowles K, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, De Feyter H, Carson R, Huang Y, Cai Z. Preclinical evaluation of a brain penetrant PARP PET imaging probe in rat glioblastoma and nonhuman primates. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2023, 50: 2081-2099. PMID: 36849748, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06162-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographyHealthy nonhuman primatesVolume of distributionDistribution volume ratioBrain kineticsRat glioblastoma modelPreclinical evaluationBrain regionsGlioblastoma modelPET tracersNonhuman primatesTumor-bearing ratsEx vivo biodistributionPET imaging resultsActive clinical trialsTreatment of glioblastomaHigh specific uptakeDynamic PET scansNoninvasive quantificationBrain positron emission tomographyNondisplaceable volumeBrain penetrationLow nonspecific uptakePrognostic informationClinical trialsInvestigating 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
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 ResearchConceptsSynaptic 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 assessmentReversal of synapse loss in Alzheimer mouse models by targeting mGluR5 to prevent synaptic tagging by C1Q
Spurrier J, Nicholson L, Fang XT, Stoner AJ, Toyonaga T, Holden D, Siegert TR, Laird W, Allnutt MA, Chiasseu M, Brody AH, Takahashi H, Nies SH, Pérez-Cañamás A, Sadasivam P, Lee S, Li S, Zhang L, Huang YH, Carson RE, Cai Z, Strittmatter SM. Reversal of synapse loss in Alzheimer mouse models by targeting mGluR5 to prevent synaptic tagging by C1Q. Science Translational Medicine 2022, 14: eabi8593. PMID: 35648810, PMCID: PMC9554345, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abi8593.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographySilent allosteric modulatorsAlzheimer's diseaseMouse modelPhospho-tau accumulationAged mouse modelAlzheimer mouse modelImmune-mediated attackSAM treatmentMicroglial mediatorsSynaptic engulfmentSynaptic lossAD miceComplement component C1qSynapse lossGlutamate responseSynaptic densityDrug washoutSynaptic localizationTherapeutic benefitCognitive impairmentAllosteric modulatorsEmission tomographyNonhuman primatesComponent C1qImaging the fetal nonhuman primate brain with SV2A positron emission tomography (PET)
Rossano S, Toyonaga T, Berg E, Lorence I, Fowles K, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Li S, Ye Y, Felchner Z, Kukis D, Huang Y, Benveniste H, Tarantal AF, Groman S, Carson RE. Imaging the fetal nonhuman primate brain with SV2A positron emission tomography (PET). European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2022, 49: 3679-3691. PMID: 35633376, PMCID: PMC9826644, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-022-05825-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographySynaptic densityFetal brainThird trimesterEmission tomographyBrain developmentGravid rhesus monkeysPost-mortem brain tissueEarly neonatal periodNonhuman primate brainLate gestational periodSubset of subjectsPostnatal brain developmentPost-mortem samplesGestational ageNeonatal periodPregnant monkeysSynapse numberGestational periodPrimary motorPrimate brainBrain growthSubcortical regionsBrain tissueCortical regionsComparison 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 ResearchConceptsNon-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
PET 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 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 ResearchConceptsHippocampal 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 tomographySynthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of an 18F‑Labeled Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A PET Imaging Probe: [18F]SynVesT‑2
Cai Z, Li S, Zhang W, Pracitto R, Wu X, Baum E, Finnema SJ, Holden D, Toyonaga T, Lin SF, Lindemann M, Shirali A, Labaree DC, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Carson RE, Huang Y. Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of an 18F‑Labeled Synaptic Vesicle Glycoprotein 2A PET Imaging Probe: [18F]SynVesT‑2. ACS Chemical Neuroscience 2020, 11: 592-603. PMID: 31961649, DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00618.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPET imaging probeHigh specific binding signalsNon-human primate brainSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ATraumatic brain injuryPost-traumatic stress disorderMultiple sclerosisBrain injuryParkinson's diseasePreclinical evaluationSpecific binding signalsPrimate brainAlzheimer's diseaseNeuropsychiatric diseasesPresynaptic vesiclesStress disorderDiseaseImaging probeTransmembrane glycoproteinSclerosisPrognosisEpilepsyInjuryStrokeSV2A
2019
In vivo imaging of D2 receptors and corticosteroids predict behavioural responses to captivity stress in a wild bird
Lattin CR, Merullo DP, Riters LV, Carson RE. In vivo imaging of D2 receptors and corticosteroids predict behavioural responses to captivity stress in a wild bird. Scientific Reports 2019, 9: 10407. PMID: 31320692, PMCID: PMC6639298, DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46845-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWild houseMore time feedingWild birdsReceptor bindingIndividual variationBirdsUnderstanding of linksCaptivityPhysiological mechanismsLong-term stressorsTime feedingStress resilienceCaptivity stressPhysiological variationsNeuroendocrine phenotypeBindingPhysiologyBehavioral responsesSubset of individualsStressorsWildlifePhenotypeImportant implicationsIndividual's physiological variationsStressIn 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 subjectsData-driven voluntary body motion detection and non-rigid event-by-event correction for static and dynamic PET
Lu Y, Gallezot JD, Naganawa M, Ren S, Fontaine K, Wu J, Onofrey JA, Toyonaga T, Boutagy N, Mulnix T, Panin VY, Casey ME, Carson RE, Liu C. Data-driven voluntary body motion detection and non-rigid event-by-event correction for static and dynamic PET. Physics In Medicine And Biology 2019, 64: 065002. PMID: 30695768, DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/ab02c2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEvaluation of 11C-LSN3172176 as a Novel PET Tracer for Imaging M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Nonhuman Primates
Nabulsi NB, Holden D, Zheng MQ, Bois F, Lin SF, Najafzadeh S, Gao H, Ropchan J, Lara-Jaime T, Labaree D, Shirali A, Slieker L, Jesudason C, Barth V, Navarro A, Kant N, Carson RE, Huang Y. Evaluation of 11C-LSN3172176 as a Novel PET Tracer for Imaging M1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptors in Nonhuman Primates. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2019, 60: 1147-1153. PMID: 30733324, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.118.222034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMuscarinic acetylcholine receptorsAcetylcholine receptorsNonhuman primatesM1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptorBrain time-activity curvesRich brain regionsArterial blood samplingNovel PET tracersSuitable reference regionRegional distribution volumesReference regionDevelopment of drugsBrain uptakeGlobus pallidusDistribution volume valuesNucleus accumbensBlood samplingPET scansTime-activity curvesCognitive impairmentAlzheimer's diseaseBrain regionsDistribution volumeSelective radiotracerRhesus monkeys