Featured Publications
Lower 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
2021
In vivo evidence of lower synaptic vesicle density in schizophrenia
Radhakrishnan R, Skosnik PD, Ranganathan M, Naganawa M, Toyonaga T, Finnema S, Hillmer AT, Esterlis I, Huang Y, Nabulsi N, Carson RE, D’Souza D. In vivo evidence of lower synaptic vesicle density in schizophrenia. Molecular Psychiatry 2021, 26: 7690-7698. PMID: 34135473, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01184-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSynaptic vesicle densityHealthy controlsVesicle densityHigh-resolution research tomographySynaptic densitySCZ patientsVivo measuresNovel positron emission tomography (PET) ligandGender-matched healthy controlsCumulative antipsychotic exposurePositron emission tomography (PET) ligandSynaptic spine densityPsychosis symptom severityGray matter volumeJ bindingAntipsychotic exposureSpine densityDisease progressionFrontal cortexOccipital cortexTomography ligandTemporal cortexAnterior cingulateVivo findingsParietal cortexIdentifying 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 patterns
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
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 antibodiesKappa-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
Evaluation of Pancreatic VMAT2 Binding with Active and Inactive Enantiomers of [18F]FP-DTBZ in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Naganawa M, Lim K, Nabulsi NB, Lin SF, Labaree D, Ropchan J, Herold KC, Huang Y, Harris P, Ichise M, Cline GW, Carson RE. Evaluation of Pancreatic VMAT2 Binding with Active and Inactive Enantiomers of [18F]FP-DTBZ in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Type 1 Diabetes. Molecular Imaging And Biology 2018, 20: 835-845. PMID: 29468404, PMCID: PMC6533199, DOI: 10.1007/s11307-018-1170-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVesicular monoamine transporter type 2Non-displaceable uptakeHealthy controlsSUV ratioType 1 diabetes mellitus groupInactive enantiomerDiabetes mellitus groupBeta-cell massFirst human studyGroup differencesPositron emission tomography (PET) radiotracerTransporter type 2Mellitus groupVT valuesSignificant group differencesT1DM patientsRenal cortexHealthy subjectsPurposePrevious studiesHuman studiesUptake valueType 2Separate daysDistribution volumeReference SUVEvaluation of PET Brain Radioligands for Imaging Pancreatic β-Cell Mass: Potential Utility of 11C-(+)-PHNO
Bini J, Naganawa M, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Ropchan J, Lim K, Najafzadeh S, Herold KC, Cline GW, Carson RE. Evaluation of PET Brain Radioligands for Imaging Pancreatic β-Cell Mass: Potential Utility of 11C-(+)-PHNO. Journal Of Nuclear Medicine 2018, 59: 1249-1254. PMID: 29371405, PMCID: PMC6071501, DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.117.197285.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsT1DM subjectsΒ-cell massHealthy controlsΒ-cellsAbdominal organsType 1 diabetes mellitusC-peptide levelsHealthy control subjectsPancreatic β-cell massDeficient insulin secretionReceptor agonist radioligandPET/CTIslets of LangerhansDynamic PET/CTCommon cellular receptorPancreatic bindingDiabetes mellitusDiabetic subjectsControl subjectsNeurologic tissueC-peptideInsulin secretionMean SUVAgonist radioligandDiabetes therapy
2017
Ketamine-induced reduction in mGluR5 availability is associated with an antidepressant response: an [11C]ABP688 and PET imaging study in depression
Esterlis I, DellaGioia N, Pietrzak RH, Matuskey D, Nabulsi N, Abdallah CG, Yang J, Pittenger C, Sanacora G, Krystal JH, Parsey RV, Carson RE, DeLorenzo C. Ketamine-induced reduction in mGluR5 availability is associated with an antidepressant response: an [11C]ABP688 and PET imaging study in depression. Molecular Psychiatry 2017, 23: 824-832. PMID: 28397841, PMCID: PMC5636649, DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.58.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMajor depressive disorderMGluR5 availabilityPositron emission tomographyKetamine administrationControl groupAspartate glutamate receptor antagonistIntravenous ketamine administrationKetamine-induced reductionMetabotropic glutamatergic receptorsRapid antidepressant effectsGlutamate receptor antagonistsKetamine-induced changesEffects of ketaminePET imaging studiesMechanism of actionGlutamate surgeAntidepressant effectsAntidepressant efficacyAntidepressant responseGlutamatergic receptorsControl subjectsReceptor antagonistHealthy controlsDepressive disorderSustained decreaseMetabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Glutamate Involvement in Major Depressive Disorder: A Multimodal Imaging Study
Abdallah CG, Hannestad J, Mason GF, Holmes SE, DellaGioia N, Sanacora G, Jiang L, Matuskey D, Satodiya R, Gasparini F, Lin X, Javitch J, Planeta B, Nabulsi N, Carson RE, Esterlis I. Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Glutamate Involvement in Major Depressive Disorder: A Multimodal Imaging Study. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience And Neuroimaging 2017, 2: 449-456. PMID: 28993818, PMCID: PMC5630181, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2017.03.019.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMajor depressive disorderMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Positron emission tomographyGlutamate receptor 5Healthy controlsGlx levelsMGluR5 availabilityDepressive disorderReceptor 5Glx/Cr levelsAnterior cingulate glutamateGlutamate/CrRole of mGluR5Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopyDistribution volume ratioMultimodal Imaging StudyACC glutamateGlutamatergic systemGlutamate involvementGlutamate levelsPostmortem studiesEmission tomographyImaging studiesMGluR5Cr levelsIn 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
OCD is associated with an altered association between sensorimotor gating and cortical and subcortical 5-HT1b receptor binding
Pittenger C, Adams TG, Gallezot JD, Crowley MJ, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Gao H, Kichuk SA, Simpson R, Billingslea E, Hannestad J, Bloch M, Mayes L, Bhagwagar Z, Carson RE. OCD is associated with an altered association between sensorimotor gating and cortical and subcortical 5-HT1b receptor binding. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2016, 196: 87-96. PMID: 26919057, PMCID: PMC4808438, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2016.02.021.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrepulse inhibitionObsessive-compulsive disorderReceptor availabilitySensorimotor gatingOCD patientsImpaired sensorimotor gatingOCD-like behaviorNon-depressed OCD patientsPositron emission tomographyBasal gangliaSerotonergic regulationHealthy controlsSerotonin systemPositive correlationWidespread positive correlationsDiagnostic groupsCortical regionsEmission tomographyOrbitofrontal cortexPatientsReceptor bindingOCD diagnosisSignificant correlationSignificant main effectImportant alterations
2015
11C-PBR28 imaging in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls: test-retest reproducibility and focal visualization of active white matter areas
Park E, Gallezot JD, Delgadillo A, Liu S, Planeta B, Lin SF, O’Connor K, Lim K, Lee JY, Chastre A, Chen MK, Seneca N, Leppert D, Huang Y, Carson RE, Pelletier D. 11C-PBR28 imaging in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls: test-retest reproducibility and focal visualization of active white matter areas. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2015, 42: 1081-1092. PMID: 25833352, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-015-3043-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsNormal-appearing white matterVolume of distributionTest-retest variabilityWhole brain white matterHealthy controlsMicroglial activationTest-retest reproducibilityGray matterMultiple sclerosisMS subjectsWhite matterWhole brain gray matterGood test-retest reproducibilityAbsolute test-retest variabilityActive MS patientsPositron emission tomography (PET) ligandMultiple sclerosis patientsMain outcome measuresWhite matter areasMS WM lesionsBrain gray matterDemyelinating injuryTest-retest resultsVT valuesMS patients
2008
Relationship between serotonin-1A binding and HPA axis in subjects with major depression and healthy controls
Carlson P, Bain E, Tinsley R, Nugent A, Carson R, Luckenbaugh D, Kling M, Gold P, Remaley A, Drevets W. Relationship between serotonin-1A binding and HPA axis in subjects with major depression and healthy controls. NeuroImage 2008, 41: t146. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2008.04.114.Peer-Reviewed Original Research