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 studiesLower 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
Challenges 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 tomographySynaptic 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 loss
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 functionInvestigating 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 symptoms
2020
Preliminary 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 tomography
2019
Effects 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 tomographyKappa-opioid receptors, dynorphin, and cocaine addiction: a positron emission tomography study
Martinez D, Slifstein M, Matuskey D, Nabulsi N, Zheng MQ, Lin SF, Ropchan J, Urban N, Grassetti A, Chang D, Salling M, Foltin R, Carson RE, Huang Y. Kappa-opioid receptors, dynorphin, and cocaine addiction: a positron emission tomography study. Neuropsychopharmacology 2019, 44: 1720-1727. PMID: 31026862, PMCID: PMC6785004, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-019-0398-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCocaine use disorderStress-induced relapsePositron emission tomographyCocaine bingeKappa-opioid receptor/dynorphin systemKOR selective agonistPositron emission tomography studyKappa-opioid receptorsCold pressor testCocaine self-administration sessionsEmission tomography studiesSelf-administration sessionsStress-induced cocaineEndogenous dynorphinDynorphin systemHealthy controlsPressor testSelective agonistPET scansAnimal studiesKOR bindingReceptor availabilitySignificant associationBrain regionsEmission tomography
2018
Dose-Related Target Occupancy and Effects on Circuitry, Behavior, and Neuroplasticity of the Glycine Transporter-1 Inhibitor PF-03463275 in Healthy and Schizophrenia Subjects
D’Souza D, Carson RE, Driesen N, Johannesen J, Ranganathan M, Krystal JH, Ahn K, Bielen K, Carbuto M, Deaso E, D’Souza D, Ranganathan M, Naganawa M, Ranganathan M, D’Souza D, Nabulsi N, Zheng M, Lin S, Huang Y, Carson R, Driesen N, Ahn K, Morgan P, Suckow R, He G, McCarthy G, Krystal J, Johannesen J, Kenney J, Gelernter J, Gueorguieva R, Pittman B. Dose-Related Target Occupancy and Effects on Circuitry, Behavior, and Neuroplasticity of the Glycine Transporter-1 Inhibitor PF-03463275 in Healthy and Schizophrenia Subjects. Biological Psychiatry 2018, 84: 413-421. PMID: 29499855, PMCID: PMC6068006, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.12.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAzabicyclo CompoundsBrainCognitive DysfunctionDose-Response Relationship, DrugDouble-Blind MethodFemaleGlycine Plasma Membrane Transport ProteinsHumansImidazolesKetamineLong-Term PotentiationMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMemory, Short-TermMiddle AgedPositron-Emission TomographySchizophreniaYoung AdultConceptsHealthy control subjectsLong-term potentiationSchizophrenia patientsControl subjectsCognitive impairmentClinical trialsGlyT1 occupancyN-methyl-D-aspartate receptor functionGlycine transporter-1 inhibitorKetamine-induced disruptionKetamine-induced effectsFunctional magnetic resonance imagingMagnetic resonance imagingPositron emission tomographyMemory-related activationF-MKSubstudy 1Schizophrenia subjectsResonance imagingReceptor functionCortical regionsEmission tomographyTarget engagementPotentiationSchizophrenia
2017
Estradiol modulates neural response to conspecific and heterospecific song in female house sparrows: An in vivo positron emission tomography study
Lattin CR, Stabile FA, Carson RE. Estradiol modulates neural response to conspecific and heterospecific song in female house sparrows: An in vivo positron emission tomography study. PLOS ONE 2017, 12: e0182875. PMID: 28832614, PMCID: PMC5568339, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182875.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographyEmpty implantsNeuronal activityVivo positron emission tomography studiesPositron emission tomography studyBrain glucose metabolismEmission tomography studiesNeural responsesBrain activityNeuronal effectsEstradiol implantsImplant removalHigher estradiolHormone exposureGlucose metabolismBrain regionsEmission tomographyEstradiolTomography studyPET imagingAuditory processingImplantsFemalesAuditory perceptionConspecific songAltered metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 markers in PTSD: In vivo and postmortem evidence
Holmes SE, Girgenti MJ, Davis MT, Pietrzak RH, DellaGioia N, Nabulsi N, Matuskey D, Southwick S, Duman RS, Carson RE, Krystal JH, Esterlis I, Friedman M, Kowall N, Brady C, McKee A, Stein T, Huber B, Kaloupek D, Alvarez V, Benedek D, Ursano R, Williamson D, Cruz D, Young K, Duman R, Krystal J, Mash D, Hardegree M, Serlin G. Altered metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 markers in PTSD: In vivo and postmortem evidence. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2017, 114: 8390-8395. PMID: 28716937, PMCID: PMC5547601, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1701749114.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderMGluR5 availabilityPositron emission tomographyGlutamate systemMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Treatment of PTSDHuman posttraumatic stress disorderGlutamate receptor 5Mechanism-based treatmentsExpression of FKBP5Promising treatment targetHuman postmortem tissueTargeted pharmacological treatmentStress psychopathologyPharmacological treatmentExpression of proteinsReceptor 5MGluR5Treatment targetsPostmortem tissueEmission tomographyStress disorderPostmortem samplesPromising targetDisordersQuantification of Tumor Hypoxic Fractions Using Positron Emission Tomography with [18F]Fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) Kinetic Analysis and Invasive Oxygen Measurements
Kelada OJ, Rockwell S, Zheng MQ, Huang Y, Liu Y, Booth CJ, Decker RH, Oelfke U, Carson RE, Carlson DJ. Quantification of Tumor Hypoxic Fractions Using Positron Emission Tomography with [18F]Fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) Kinetic Analysis and Invasive Oxygen Measurements. Molecular Imaging And Biology 2017, 19: 893-902. PMID: 28409339, PMCID: PMC5640490, DOI: 10.1007/s11307-017-1083-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPositron emission tomographyTumor hypoxic fractionHypoxic fractionEmission tomographyLung cancer radiotherapy patientsPO2 measurementsAbsolute tumor volumeC miceDirect pO2 measurementsBlood ratioClinical impactTumor volumeHypoxia quantificationSubcutaneous tumorsPurposeThe purposeTracer kinetic modelingRadiotherapy patientsPET imagingPatientsPO2 valuesScansPatlak modelTomographyTwo-compartmentTBR