Towards a therapeutic window of D2/3 occupancy for treatment of psychosis in Alzheimer's disease, with [18F]fallypride positron emission tomography.

OBJECTIVE: Dopamine D2/3 receptor positron emission tomography tracers have guided antipsychotic prescribing in young people with schizophrenia by establishing a 'therapeutic window' of striatal D2/3 receptor occupancy. Older people, particularly those with dementia, are highly susceptible to motor side effects and may benefit from the appropriate application of imaging techniques. The study aimed to adapt [18F]fallypride imaging for use in occupancy studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and to investigate whether data acquisition could be made more tolerable by piloting the protocol in a small sample. METHODS: Six participants with AD (three men; 85.0 ± 5.6 years old; MMSE = 16.0 ± 2.4) were recruited prior to commencing amisulpride for the treatment of psychosis and associated agitation. [18F]fallypride binding potential (BPND ) was determined using an interrupted scanning protocol at baseline (n = 6) and after 27.0 ± 6.1 days of amisulpride (25-50 mg) treatment (n = 4). D2/3 occupancy was calculated by percentage reduction in BPND between scanning sessions. Image data were re-analysed after reducing individual sampling times to 20 min. RESULTS: The protocol was tolerated well, apart from the final (40 min) session of the post-treatment scan in one participant. Higher occupancies were achieved in the striatum (caudate 47-70%, putamen 31-58%) and thalamus (54-76%) than in the inferior temporal gyrus (27-43%). There was high agreement between occupancy values derived using longer and shorter sampling times (mean absolute difference 6.1% in the inferior temporal gyrus; <2% all other regions). CONCLUSIONS: The protocol is feasible for use in AD and represents the first step towards establishing dose-occupancy relationships across older clinical populations.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of [(18)F]tetrafluoroborate: a PET imaging agent for thyroid disease and reporter gene imaging of the sodium/iodide symporter.

PURPOSE: The human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) is a well-established target in thyroid disease and reporter gene imaging using gamma emitters (123)I-iodide, (131)I-iodide and (99m)Tc-pertechnetate. However, no PET imaging agent is routinely available. The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate (18)F-labelled tetrafluoroborate ([(18)F]TFB) for PET imaging of hNIS. METHODS: [(18)F]TFB was prepared by isotopic exchange of BF (4) (-) with [(18)F]fluoride in hot hydrochloric acid and purified using an alumina column. Its identity, purity and stability in serum were determined by HPLC, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and mass spectrometry. Its interaction with NIS was assessed in vitro using FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells, with and without stimulation by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), in the presence and absence of perchlorate. Biodistribution and PET imaging studies were performed using BALB/c mice, with and without perchlorate inhibition. RESULTS: [(18)F]TFB was readily prepared with specific activity of 10 GBq/mg. It showed rapid accumulation in FRTL-5 cells that was stimulated by TSH and inhibited by perchlorate, and rapid specific accumulation in vivo in thyroid (SUV = 72 after 1 h) and stomach that was inhibited 95% by perchlorate. CONCLUSION: [(18)F]TFB is an easily prepared PET imaging agent for rodent NIS and should be evaluated for hNIS PET imaging in humans.

Intrinsic activated microglia map to the peri-infarct zone in the subacute phase of ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Microglial activation is an important component of the neuroinflammatory response to ischemic stroke. Experimental studies have outlined such patterns temporally and spatially. In vivo studies in stroke patients have relied on positron emission tomography and (R)-PK11195, a ligand that binds peripheral benzodiazepine binding sites. In this study we sought to establish temporal and spatial patterns of microglial activation in ischemic stroke with particular emphasis on a defined peri-infarct zone. METHODS: Using this technique, we studied carotid territory ischemic stroke patients in 3 time windows up to 30 days after ictus. Controls were studied in a single session. [11C](R)-PK11195 injection was followed by 3-dimensional acquisition over 60 minutes. Cerebral blood volume (CBV) was measured afterward with the use of standard C15O paradigms. Analysis employed the reference tissue model in which ipsilateral cerebellum was used to generate parametric binding potential maps corrected for CBV. Data were coregistered to T1-based MRI. Using control data to identify 99% confidence limits, a region of interest analysis was applied to identify significant binding in core infarction, contralateral hemisphere, and within a defined peri-infarct zone. RESULTS: Four patients (mean age, 66 years) were imaged across 9 sessions. Four age-matched controls were studied. Within this model, ipsilateral cerebellum was validated as a reference tissue. With the use of control-derived confidence limits and correction for CBV, significant binding potential rises were identified beyond 72 hours and extending to 30 days in core infarction, contralateral hemisphere, and peri-infarct zone. CONCLUSIONS: In ischemic stroke patients, minimal activation of microglia is seen before 72 hours. Beyond this, binding potential rises in core infarction, peri-infarct zone, and contralateral hemisphere to 30 days. This may represent a therapeutic opportunity that extends beyond time windows traditionally reserved for neuroprotection.

3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluorothymidine as a new marker for monitoring tumor response to antiproliferative therapy in vivo with positron emission tomography.

3'-Deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine ([(18)F]FLT) has been proposed as a new marker for imaging tumor proliferation by positron emission tomography (PET). The uptake of [(18)F]FLT is regulated by cytosolic S-phase-specific thymidine kinase 1 (TK1). In this article, we have investigated the use of [(18)F]FLT to monitor the response of tumors to antiproliferative treatment in vivo. C3H/Hej mice bearing the radiation-induced fibrosarcoma 1 tumor were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 165 mg/kg i.p.). Changes in tumor volume and biodistribution of [(18)F]FLT and 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose ([(18)F]FDG) were measured in three groups of mice (n = 8-12/group): (a) untreated controls; (b) 24 h after 5-FU; and (c) 48 h after 5-FU. In addition, dynamic [(18)F]FLT-PET imaging was performed on a small animal scanner for 60 min. The metabolism of [(18)F]FLT in tumor, plasma, liver, and urine was determined chromatographically. Proliferation was determined by staining histological sections for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Tumor levels of TK1 protein and cofactor (ATP) were determined by Western blotting and bioluminescence, respectively. Tumor [(18)F]FLT uptake decreased after 5-FU treatment (47.8 +/- 7.0 and 27.1 +/- 3.7% for groups b and c, respectively, compared with group a; P < 0.001). The drug-induced reduction in tumor [(18)F]FLT uptake was significantly more pronounced than that of [(18)F]FDG. The PET image data confirmed lower tumor [(18)F]FLT retention in group c compared with group a, despite a trend toward higher radiotracer delivery for group c. Other than phosphorylation in tumors, [(18)F]FLT was found to be metabolically stable in vivo. The decrease in tumor [(18)F]FLT uptake correlated with the PCNA-labeling index (r = 0.71, P = 0.031) and tumor volume changes after 5-FU treatment (r = 0.58, P = 0.001). In this model system, the decrease in [(18)F]FLT uptake could be explained by changes in catalytic activity but not translation of TK1 protein. Compared with group a, TK1 levels were lower in group b (78.2 +/- 5.2%) but higher in group c (141.3 +/- 9.1%, P < 0.001). In contrast, a stepwise decrease in ATP levels was observed from group a to b to c (P < 0.001). In conclusion, we have demonstrated the ability to measure tumor response to antiproliferative treatment with [(18)F]FLT and PET. In our model system, the radiotracer uptake was correlated with PCNA-labeling index. The decrease in [(18)F]FLT uptake after 5-FU was more pronounced than that of [(18)F]FDG. [(18)F]FLT is, therefore, a promising marker for monitoring antiproliferative drug activity in oncology that warrants additional testing.

Establishing test-retest reliability of an adapted [(18)F]fallypride imaging protocol in older people.

[(18)F]fallypride is a high-affinity dopamine D2/3 receptor tracer with the ability to reliably quantify D2/3 receptor sites in both striatal and corticolimbic regions. The translational potential of [(18)F]fallypride imaging is, however, limited by the lengthy scanning sessions (60-80 minutes duration over a total of 3-4 hours) required by current protocols. The aims of our study were to adapt [(18)F]fallypride imaging for use in clinical populations with neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders, by reducing the duration of individual scanning sessions; and to establish the reproducibility and reliability of our adapted protocol in healthy older people. Eight participants (five male and three female; mean age=75.87±4.39 years) were scanned twice, 4-6 weeks apart. [(18)F]fallypride binding potential was determined from image data collected during three sampling times: 0-30; 60-90; and 210-240 minutes post injection. High reproducibility and reliability (test-retest variability <8%; intraclass correlation coefficient >0.8) were observed in all but the prefrontal regions, and remained so when sampling times were reduced to 20 minutes (0-20; 70-90; 220-240 minutes). The adapted protocol is feasible for use across neuropsychiatric disorders in which dopamine has been implicated and is sufficiently sensitive to detect within-subject changes between 2.7% and 5.5% in striatal and limbic regions.

Evaluation of [18F]-tetrafluoroborate as a potential PET imaging agent for the human sodium/iodide symporter in a new colon carcinoma cell line, HCT116, expressing hNIS.

PURPOSE: Accumulation of iodide and other substrates via the human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) is fundamental to imaging and therapy of thyroid disease, hNIS reporter gene imaging and hNIS-mediated gene therapy. There is no readily available positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for hNIS. Our aim was to develop a colon carcinoma cell line stably expressing hNIS, and use it to evaluate a novel hNIS PET tracer, [18F]-tetrafluoroborate. METHODS: Colon carcinoma cell line, HCT116, was stably transfected with hNIS, thus producing a cell line, HCT116-C19, with high hNIS expression. A Fisher rat thyroid cell line, FRTL5, which expresses rat sodium/iodide symporter when stimulated with thyroid-stimulating hormone, was used for comparison. Accumulation of [188Re]-perrhenate, [99mTc]-pertechnetate and [18F]-tetrafluoroborate was evaluated with and without perchlorate inhibition using an automated radioimmune assay system, LigandTracer. The affinity of [18F]-tetrafluoroborate for hNIS, and its half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for the inhibition of [99mTc]-pertechnetate transport were determined from the plateau accumulation of [18F]-tetrafluoroborate and [99mTc]-pertechnetate, respectively, as a function of tetrafluoroborate concentration. RESULTS: [18F]-tetrafluoroborate accumulated effectively in both FRTL5 and HCT116-C19 cells. The accumulation in HCT116-C19 cells (plateau accumulation 31%) was comparable to that of [188Re]-perrhenate (41%) and [99mTc]-pertechnetate (46%). Its affinity for hNIS and half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) for the inhibition of pertechnetate uptake was approximately micromolar. CONCLUSION: We have produced a human colon cell line with a stable constitutive expression of functional hNIS (HCT116-hNIS-C19). [18F]-tetrafluoroborate accumulates in cells expressing hNIS or rat sodium/iodide symporter and is a potential PET imaging agent in thyroid disease and hNIS reporter gene imaging.

Comparison of lorazepam [7-chloro-5-(2-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one] occupancy of rat brain gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors measured using in vivo [3H]flumazenil (8-fluoro 5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester) binding and [11C]flumazenil micro-positron emission tomography.

The occupancy by lorazepam of the benzodiazepine binding site of rat brain GABA(A) receptors was compared when measured using either in vivo binding of [(3)H]flumazenil (8-fluoro 5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester) in terminal studies or [(11)C]flumazenil binding in anesthetized animals assessed using a small animal positron emission tomography (PET) scanner (micro-PET). In addition, as a bridging study, lorazepam occupancy was measured using [(3)H]flumazenil in vivo binding in rats anesthetized and dosed under micro-PET conditions. Plasma lorazepam concentrations were also determined, and for each occupancy method, the concentration required to produce 50% occupancy (EC(50)) was calculated because this parameter is independent of the route of lorazepam administration. For the in vivo binding assay, lorazepam was dosed orally (0.1-10 mg/kg), whereas for the micro-PET study, lorazepam was given via the i.v. route as a low dose (0.75 mg/kg bolus) and then a high dose (0.5 mg/kg bolus then 0.2 mg/ml infusion). The lorazepam plasma EC(50) in the [(11)C]flumazenil micro-PET study was 96 ng/ml [95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 74-124 ng/ml], which was very similar to the [(3)H]flumazenil micro-PET simulation study (94 ng/ml; 95% CI = 63-139 ng/ml), which in turn was comparable with the [(3)H]flumazenil in vivo binding study (134 ng/ml; 95% CI = 119-151 ng/ml). These data clearly show that despite the differences in dosing (i.v. in anesthetized versus orally in conscious rats) and detection (in vivo dynamic PET images versus ex vivo measurements in filtered and washed brain homogenates), [(11)C]flumazenil micro-PET produces results similar to [(3)H]flumazenil in vivo binding.