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
11C-UCB-J PET imaging is consistent with lower synaptic density in autistic adults
Matuskey D, Yang Y, Naganawa M, Koohsari S, Toyonaga T, Gravel P, Pittman B, Torres K, Pisani L, Finn C, Cramer-Benjamin S, Herman N, Rosenthal L, Franke C, Walicki B, Esterlis I, Skosnik P, Radhakrishnan R, Wolf J, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Huang Y, Carson R, Naples A, McPartland J. 11C-UCB-J PET imaging is consistent with lower synaptic density in autistic adults. Molecular Psychiatry 2024, 1-7. PMID: 39367053, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02776-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPositron emission tomographySynaptic densityAutistic adultsBrain regionsAutistic featuresClinical phenotype of autismNon-autistic participantsPhenotype of autismNon-autistic individualsRelationship to clinical characteristicsSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAssociated with clinical measuresPost-mortem studiesPositron emission tomography scanPrefrontal cortexClinician ratingsAutism groupNeural basisBrain areasNeural processesBetween-group differencesVolumetric differencesBinding potentialDensity of synapsesAutismNoninvasive quantification of [18F]SynVesT-1 binding using simplified reference tissue model 2
Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Li S, Nabulsi N, Henry S, Cai Z, Matuskey D, Huang Y, Carson R. Noninvasive quantification of [18F]SynVesT-1 binding using simplified reference tissue model 2. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2024, 1-9. PMID: 39155309, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-024-06885-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPositron emission tomographyCentrum semiovaleReference regionPositron emission tomography scanTest-retest variabilityTest-retest reproducibilitySynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AOne-tissue compartmentArterial blood samplesRetest scansGold standardBrain uptakeEmission tomographyBlood samplesCerebellumNoninvasive quantificationSRTM2ConclusionOur findingsPopulation averageHealthy participantsMetabolite analysisScan timeBPNDSemiovaleChallenges and rewards of in vivo synaptic density imaging, and its application to the study of depression
Asch R, Abdallah C, Carson R, Esterlis I. Challenges and rewards of in vivo synaptic density imaging, and its application to the study of depression. Neuropsychopharmacology 2024, 1-11. PMID: 39039139, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-024-01913-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchStudies of depressionAnimal models of chronic stressPositron emission tomographyModel of chronic stressSV2A imagingSynaptic densitySignificant depressive symptomsDevelopment of novel radiotracersDepressive symptomsNeuropsychiatric disordersSymptom severityChronic stressDrug challengeSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2 ANeural markersAnimal modelsSynaptic alterationsSynaptogenesis in vivoPreliminary findingsIn vivo quantificationCentral nervous systemDepressionEmission tomographySV2ASV2A positron emission tomographyDeficits in prefrontal metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 are associated with functional alterations during emotional processing in bipolar disorder
Asch R, Worhunsky P, Davis M, Holmes S, Cool R, Boster S, Carson R, Blumberg H, Esterlis I. Deficits in prefrontal metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 are associated with functional alterations during emotional processing in bipolar disorder. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2024, 361: 415-424. PMID: 38876317, PMCID: PMC11250898, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.06.025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Bipolar disorderGlutamate receptor 5Positron emission tomographyFear processingEmotional processingAssociated with greater activationEmotion processing taskAssociated with impulsivityFunctional brain differencesAssociated with functional alterationsParietal brain regionsPathology of BDIncreased cortical activityAssociated with difficultiesDepressive disorderHealthy comparisonReceptor availabilityBrain differencesPre/postcentral gyriAttention difficultiesGreater activationBrain regionsPsychomotor functionTreatment developmentSynaptic loss and its association with symptom severity in Parkinson’s disease
Holmes S, Honhar P, Tinaz S, Naganawa M, Hilmer A, Gallezot J, Dias M, Yang Y, Toyonaga T, Esterlis I, Mecca A, Van Dyck C, Henry S, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Louis E, Comley R, Finnema S, Carson R, Matuskey D. Synaptic loss and its association with symptom severity in Parkinson’s disease. Npj Parkinson's Disease 2024, 10: 42. PMID: 38402233, PMCID: PMC10894197, DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00655-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSynaptic density lossPositron emission tomographyBinds to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAssociated with symptom severityParkinson's diseaseHigh-resolution positron emission tomographySynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2ADuration of illnessPositron emission tomography scanBrain perfusionIllness durationSymptom severitySeverity of symptomsHC groupSubstantia nigraSynaptic densityLiving brainPD individualsClinical insightsDensity lossPD patientsEmission tomographyBrainSynaptic lossSynapse lossA 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
Imaging the brain’s immune response to alcohol with [11C]PBR28 TSPO Positron Emission Tomography
Raval N, Angarita G, Matuskey D, Miller R, Drake L, Kapinos M, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Carson R, O’Malley S, Cosgrove K, Hillmer A. Imaging the brain’s immune response to alcohol with [11C]PBR28 TSPO Positron Emission Tomography. Molecular Psychiatry 2023, 28: 3384-3390. PMID: 37532797, PMCID: PMC10743097, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02198-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVolume of distributionBlood alcohol levelsPositron emission tomographyBrain immune responseImmune responseAlcohol challengeEmission tomographyPeak blood alcohol levelsMultilinear analysis 1Peripheral immune functionVivo human evidenceLaboratory alcohol challengeTSPO positron emission tomographyBinge levelsPlasma cytokinesImmune dysfunctionNeuroimmune systemIL-6MCP-1Cytokines TNFAcute effectsScan dayArterial bloodHuman evidenceImmune functionPreclinical 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 differencesHumansIn Vivo Imaging and Kinetic Modeling of Novel Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Radiotracers [11C]OCM-44 and [18F]OCM-50 in Non-Human Primates
Smart K, Zheng M, Holden D, Felchner Z, Zhang L, Han Y, Ropchan J, Carson R, Vasdev N, Huang Y. In Vivo Imaging and Kinetic Modeling of Novel Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Radiotracers [11C]OCM-44 and [18F]OCM-50 in Non-Human Primates. Pharmaceuticals 2023, 16: 194. PMID: 37259346, PMCID: PMC9959234, DOI: 10.3390/ph16020194.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPositron emission tomographyNon-human primatesMetabolite-corrected arterial input functionML/Free fractionWarrants further evaluationPotential therapeutic targetGood brain uptakeAdult rhesus macaquesPlasma free fractionArterial blood samplingGray matter regionsTwo-tissue compartment modelBrain uptakeRegional time-activity curvesBlood samplingPsychiatric disordersPET scansTherapeutic targetTime-activity curvesGray matterBrain regionsEmission tomographyFurther evaluationArterial input functionSerotonin transporter availability in physically aggressive personality disordered patients: associations with trait and state aggression, and response to fluoxetine
Rosell D, Slifstein M, Thompson J, Xu X, Perez-Rodriguez M, McClure M, Hazlett E, New A, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Carson R, Siever L, Abi-Dargham A, Koenigsberg H. Serotonin transporter availability in physically aggressive personality disordered patients: associations with trait and state aggression, and response to fluoxetine. Psychopharmacology 2023, 240: 361-371. PMID: 36640190, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-022-06306-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAnterior cingulate cortexAnti-aggressive effectsIED patientsPositron emission tomographyVentral striatumTransporter availabilityChildhood traumaSerotonin transporter availabilityRational treatment selectionIntermittent explosive disorderFluoxetine 20Fluoxetine treatmentSerotonergic abnormalitiesHealthy comparison participantsTreatment selectionRisk individualsObjectivesThe aimPatientsCingulate cortexExplosive disorderEmission tomographyImpulsive aggressionNovel therapeuticsFluoxetineNeuroanatomical basis
2022
Noninvasive Quantitative PET Imaging in Humans of the Pancreatic Beta-Cell Mass Biomarkers VMAT2 and Dopamine D2/D3 Receptors In Vivo
Bini J, Carson R, Cline G. Noninvasive Quantitative PET Imaging in Humans of the Pancreatic Beta-Cell Mass Biomarkers VMAT2 and Dopamine D2/D3 Receptors In Vivo. Methods In Molecular Biology 2022, 2592: 61-74. PMID: 36507985, DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2807-2_4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographyBeta-cell massFunctional beta-cell massDopamine D2/D3 receptorsD2/D3 receptorsBeta-cell lossType 2 diabetesEfficacy of therapeuticsQuantitative positron emission tomographyInsulin secretionDopamine receptorsD3 receptorsGlucose regulationPET radioligandEmission tomographyType 1Clinical usePET imagingReceptorsQuantitative PET imagingVMAT2Cellular transportersImagingVivoQuantitative imagingDifferences in Quantification of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Across Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder
Holmes S, Asch R, Davis M, DellaGioia N, Pashankar N, Gallezot J, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Sanacora G, Carson R, Blumberg H, Esterlis I. Differences in Quantification of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 Across Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. Biological Psychiatry 2022, 93: 1099-1107. PMID: 36764853, PMCID: PMC10164841, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2022.10.018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor depressive disorderMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Glutamate receptor 5MGluR5 availabilityBipolar disorderPositron emission tomographyHC groupDepressive disorderReceptor 5Emission tomographyHealthy control individualsPossible treatment targetsGlutamate transmissionBD depressionTreatment strategiesBD groupMGluR5Depressive symptomsNovel treatmentsCognitive alterationsTreatment targetsSynaptic plasticityControl individualsAccurate diagnosisSignificant negative correlationReversal 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 regions
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 symptomsAssociation of Aβ deposition and regional synaptic density in early Alzheimer’s disease: a PET imaging study with [11C]UCB-J
O’Dell R, Mecca AP, Chen MK, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Lu Y, Godek TA, Harris JE, Bartlett HH, Banks ER, Kominek VL, Zhao W, Nabulsi NB, Ropchan J, Ye Y, Vander Wyk BC, Huang Y, Arnsten AFT, Carson RE, van Dyck CH. Association of Aβ deposition and regional synaptic density in early Alzheimer’s disease: a PET imaging study with [11C]UCB-J. Alzheimer's Research & Therapy 2021, 13: 11. PMID: 33402201, PMCID: PMC7786921, DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-00742-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRegional Aβ depositionAβ depositionEarly Alzheimer's diseaseSynaptic lossSynaptic densityAlzheimer's diseaseDistribution volume ratioPositron emission tomographyHippocampal synaptic densityMild AD dementiaDeposition of AβSignificant inverse associationAmnestic mild cognitive impairmentWhole-brain analysisMild cognitive impairmentCerebellar reference regionPET imaging studiesPlaque burdenAD dementiaInverse associationPostmortem studiesClinical severityNeurodegenerative processesClinical diseaseLarge cohort