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Tollefson S, Himes ML, Kozinski KM, Lopresti BJ, Mason NS, Hibbeln J, Muldoon MF, Narendran R. Imaging the Influence of Red Blood Cell Docosahexaenoic Acid Status on the Expression of the 18 kDa Translocator Protein in the Brain: A [ 11C]PBR28 Positron Emission Tomography Study in Young Healthy Men. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:998-1006. [PMID: 34607054 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) shows anti-inflammatory/proresolution effects in the brain. Higher red blood cell (RBC) DHA in humans is associated with improved cognitive performance and a lower risk for suicide. Here, we hypothesized that binding to the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a proxy for microglia levels, will be higher in individuals with low DHA relative to high DHA levels. We also postulated that higher TSPO would predict poor cognitive performance and impaired stress resilience. METHODS RBC DHA screening was performed in 320 healthy males. [11C]PBR28 positron emission tomography was used to measure binding to TSPO in 38 and 32 males in the lowest and highest RBC DHA quartiles. Volumes of distribution expressed relative to total plasma ligand concentration (VT) was derived using an arterial input function-based kinetic analysis in 14 brain regions. RESULTS [11C]PBR28 VT was significantly lower (by 12% and 20% in C/T and C/C rs6971 genotypes) in males with low RBC DHA than in males with high RBC DHA. Regional VT was correlated positively and negatively with RBC DHA and serum triglycerides, respectively. No relationships between VT and cognitive performance or stress resilience measures were present. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to our hypothesis, we found lower TSPO binding in low-DHA than in high-DHA subjects. It is unclear as to whether low TSPO binding reflects differences in microglia levels and/or triglyceride metabolism in this study. Future studies with specific targets are necessary to confirm the effect of DHA on microglia. These results underscore the need to consider lipid parameters as a factor when interpreting TSPO positron emission tomography clinical findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah Tollefson
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael L Himes
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Katelyn M Kozinski
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian J Lopresti
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - N Scott Mason
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph Hibbeln
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Matthew F Muldoon
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Rajesh Narendran
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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2
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Takamura Y, Kakuta H. In Vivo Receptor Visualization and Evaluation of Receptor Occupancy with Positron Emission Tomography. J Med Chem 2021; 64:5226-5251. [PMID: 33905258 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) is useful for noninvasive in vivo visualization of disease-related receptors, for evaluation of receptor occupancy to determine an appropriate drug dosage, and for proof-of-concept of drug candidates in translational research. For these purposes, the specificity of the PET tracer for the target receptor is critical. Here, we review work in this area, focusing on the chemical structures of reported PET tracers, their Ki/Kd values, and the physical properties relevant to target receptor selectivity. Among these physical properties, such as cLogP, cLogD, molecular weight, topological polar surface area, number of hydrogen bond donors, and pKa, we focus especially on LogD and LogP as important physical properties that can be easily compared across a range of studies. We discuss the success of PET tracers in evaluating receptor occupancy and consider likely future developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Takamura
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1-1-1, Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kakuta
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1-1-1, Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
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3
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Tong J, Williams B, Rusjan PM, Mizrahi R, Lacapère JJ, McCluskey T, Furukawa Y, Guttman M, Ang LC, Boileau I, Meyer JH, Kish SJ. Concentration, distribution, and influence of aging on the 18 kDa translocator protein in human brain: Implications for brain imaging studies. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2020; 40:1061-1076. [PMID: 31220997 PMCID: PMC7181090 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x19858003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of the translocator protein (TSPO) is widely used as a biomarker of microglial activation. However, TSPO protein concentration in human brain has not been optimally quantified nor has its regional distribution been compared to TSPO binding. We determined TSPO protein concentration, change with age, and regional distribution by quantitative immunoblotting in autopsied human brain. Brain TSPO protein concentration (>0.1 ng/µg protein) was higher than those reported by in vitro binding assays by at least 2 to 70 fold. TSPO protein distributed widely in both gray and white matter regions, with distribution in major gray matter areas ranked generally similar to that of PET binding in second-generation radiotracer studies. TSPO protein concentration in frontal cortex was high at birth, declined precipitously during the first three months, and increased modestly during adulthood/senescence (10%/decade; vs. 30% for comparison astrocytic marker GFAP). As expected, TSPO protein levels were significantly increased (+114%) in degenerating putamen in multiple system atrophy, providing further circumstantial support for TSPO as a gliosis marker. Overall, findings show some similarities between TSPO protein and PET binding characteristics in the human brain but also suggest that part of the TSPO protein pool might be less available for radioligand binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junchao Tong
- Preclinical Imaging, Research Imaging
Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Human Brain Laboratory, Research Imaging
Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre and Campbell
Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Junchao Tong, Preclinical Imaging, Centre
for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5T 1R8,
Canada.
| | - Belinda Williams
- Human Brain Laboratory, Research Imaging
Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Addiction Imaging Research Group,
Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
| | - Pablo M. Rusjan
- Research Imaging Centre and Campbell
Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Romina Mizrahi
- Research Imaging Centre and Campbell
Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-Jacques Lacapère
- Sorbonne Universités-UPMC University of
Paris 06, Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University,
Paris, France
| | - Tina McCluskey
- Human Brain Laboratory, Research Imaging
Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre and Campbell
Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Yoshiaki Furukawa
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo Tokyo
Koto Geriatric Medical Center, and Faculty of Medicine, University & Post
Graduate University of Juntendo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mark Guttman
- Centre for Movement Disorders, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada
| | - Lee-Cyn Ang
- Division of Neuropathology, London
Health Science Centre, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Isabelle Boileau
- Research Imaging Centre and Campbell
Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Addiction Imaging Research Group,
Research Imaging Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
| | - Jeffrey H Meyer
- Research Imaging Centre and Campbell
Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen J Kish
- Human Brain Laboratory, Research Imaging
Centre, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Research Imaging Centre and Campbell
Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Bruno A, Barresi E, Simola N, Da Pozzo E, Costa B, Novellino E, Da Settimo F, Martini C, Taliani S, Cosconati S. Unbinding of Translocator Protein 18 kDa (TSPO) Ligands: From in Vitro Residence Time to in Vivo Efficacy via in Silico Simulations. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:3805-3814. [PMID: 31268683 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) is a validated pharmacological target for the development of new treatments for neurological disorders. N,N-Dialkyl-2-phenylindol-3-ylglyoxylamides (PIGAs) are effective TSPO modulators and potentially useful therapeutics for the treatment of anxiety, central nervous system pathologies featuring astrocyte loss, and inflammatory-based neuropathologies. For this class of compounds, no correlation exists between the TSPO binding affinity and the corresponding functional efficacy. Rather, their biological effectiveness correlates with the kinetics of the unbinding events and more specifically with the residence time (RT). So far, the structural reasons for the different recorded RT of congeneric PIGAs remain elusive. Here, to understand the different kinetics of PIGAs, their unbinding paths were studied by employing enhanced-sampling molecular dynamics simulations. Results of these studies revealed how subtle structural differences between PIGAs have a substantial effect on the unbinding energetics. In particular, during the egress from the TSPO binding site, slow-dissociating PIGAs find tight interactions with the protein LP1 region thereby determining a long RT. Further support to these findings was achieved by in vivo studies, which demonstrated how the anxiolytic effect observed for the inspected PIGAs correlated with their RT to TSPO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agostino Bruno
- Department of Pharmacy, University Federico II of Naples, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Barresi
- Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Nicola Simola
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato University Campus, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Eleonora Da Pozzo
- Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Barbara Costa
- Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University Federico II of Naples, Via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Federico Da Settimo
- Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudia Martini
- Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sabrina Taliani
- Department of Pharmacy, Università di Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via Vivaldi 43, 81100 Caserta, Italy
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Xu J, Sun J, Perrin RJ, Mach RH, Bales KR, Morris JC, Benzinger TLS, Holtzman DM. Translocator protein in late stage Alzheimer's disease and Dementia with Lewy bodies brains. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2019; 6:1423-1434. [PMID: 31402620 PMCID: PMC6689696 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.50837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Increased translocator protein (TSPO), previously known as the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), in glial cells of the brain has been used as a neuroinflammation marker in the early and middle stages of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). In this study, we investigated the changes in TSPO density with respect to late stage AD and DLB. METHODS TSPO density was measured in multiple regions of postmortem human brains in 20 different cases: seven late stage AD cases (Braak amyloid average: C; Braak tangle average: VI; Aged 74-88, mean: 83 ± 5 years), five DLB cases (Braak amyloid average: C; Braak tangle average: V; Aged 79-91, mean: 84 ± 4 years), and eight age-matched normal control cases (3 males, 5 females: aged 77-92 years; mean: 87 ± 6 years). Measurements were taken by quantitative autoradiography using [3 H]PK11195 and [3 H]PBR28. RESULTS No significant changes were found in TSPO density of the frontal cortex, striatum, thalamus, or red nucleus of the AD and DLB brains. A significant reduction in TSPO density was found in the substantia nigra (SN) of the AD and DLB brains compared to that of age-matched healthy controls. INTERPRETATION This distinct pattern of TSPO density change in late stage AD and DLB cases may imply the occurrence of microglia dystrophy in late stage neurodegeneration. Furthermore, TSPO may not only be a microglia activation marker in early stage AD and DLB, but TSPO may also be used to monitor microglia dysfunction in the late stage of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbin Xu
- Department of RadiologyWashington University School of Medicine510 S. Kingshighway BlvdSt. LouisMissouri63110
| | - Jianjun Sun
- Department of RadiologyWashington University School of Medicine510 S. Kingshighway BlvdSt. LouisMissouri63110
| | - Richard J. Perrin
- Department of Pathology & ImmunologyWashington University School of Medicine510 S. Kingshighway BlvdSt. LouisMissouri63110
| | - Robert H. Mach
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvania19104
| | | | - John C. Morris
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine510 S. Kingshighway BlvdSt. LouisMissouri63110
| | - Tammie L. S. Benzinger
- Department of RadiologyWashington University School of Medicine510 S. Kingshighway BlvdSt. LouisMissouri63110
| | - David M. Holtzman
- Department of NeurologyWashington University School of Medicine510 S. Kingshighway BlvdSt. LouisMissouri63110
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Kawahara Y, Mitsui K, Niwa T, Morimoto N, Kawaharada S, Katsumata S. Translocator protein 18kDa antagonist ameliorates stress-induced stool abnormality and abdominal pain in rodent stress models. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2018; 30:e13425. [PMID: 30069991 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.13425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by abdominal pain and abnormal bowel habits, both of which are exacerbated by psychological stress. The translocator protein 18kDa (TSPO) is a marker of reactive gliosis in a number of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and responsible for many cellular functions, including neurosteroidogenesis. Although it has been reported that psychological stress disturbs neurosteroids levels, the pathophysiological relevance of TSPO in IBS is poorly understood. METHODS We examined the effects of a TSPO antagonist, ONO-2952, on stress-induced stool abnormality and abdominal pain in rats, and on anxiety-related behavior induced by cholecystokinin. KEY RESULTS Oral administration of ONO-2952 attenuated stress-induced defecation and rectal hyperalgesia in rats with an efficacy equivalent to that of a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist. In addition, ONO-2952 suppressed cholecystokinin-induced anxiety-like behavior with an efficacy equivalent to that of psychotropic drugs. On the other hand, ONO-2952 did not affect spontaneous defecation, gastrointestinal transit, visceral nociceptive threshold, and neurosteroid production in non-stressed rats even at a dose 10 times higher than its effective dose in the stress models. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES These results suggest that TSPO antagonism results in antistress action, and that ONO-2952 is a promising candidate for IBS without side effects associated with current treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Kawahara
- Discovery Research Laboratories I, ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - K Mitsui
- Discovery Research Laboratories I, ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - T Niwa
- Discovery Research Laboratories I, ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - N Morimoto
- Discovery Research Laboratories I, ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - S Kawaharada
- Discovery Research Laboratories I, ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - S Katsumata
- Discovery Research Laboratories I, ONO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan
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Cumming P, Burgher B, Patkar O, Breakspear M, Vasdev N, Thomas P, Liu GJ, Banati R. Sifting through the surfeit of neuroinflammation tracers. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2018; 38:204-224. [PMID: 29256293 PMCID: PMC5951023 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x17748786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The first phase of molecular brain imaging of microglial activation in neuroinflammatory conditions began some 20 years ago with the introduction of [11C]-( R)-PK11195, the prototype isoquinoline ligand for translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO). Investigations by positron emission tomography (PET) revealed microgliosis in numerous brain diseases, despite the rather low specific binding signal imparted by [11C]-( R)-PK11195. There has since been enormous expansion of the repertoire of TSPO tracers, many with higher specific binding, albeit complicated by allelic dependence of the affinity. However, the specificity of TSPO PET for revealing microglial activation not been fully established, and it has been difficult to judge the relative merits of the competing tracers and analysis methods with respect to their sensitivity for detecting microglial activation. We therefore present a systematic comparison of 13 TSPO PET and single photon computed tomography (SPECT) tracers belonging to five structural classes, each of which has been investigated by compartmental analysis in healthy human brain relative to a metabolite-corrected arterial input. We emphasize the need to establish the non-displaceable binding component for each ligand and conclude with five recommendations for a standard approach to define the cellular distribution of TSPO signals, and to characterize the properties of candidate TSPO tracers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cumming
- School of Psychology and Counselling and IHBI, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Bjorn Burgher
- QIMR Berghofer Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Metro North Mental Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Omkar Patkar
- School of Psychology and Counselling and IHBI, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michael Breakspear
- QIMR Berghofer Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Metro North Mental Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Neil Vasdev
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul Thomas
- Herston Imaging Research Facility, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, Herston, Australia
| | - Guo-Jun Liu
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, Australia
- National Imaging Facility, Brain and Mind Centre and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Richard Banati
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, Australia
- National Imaging Facility, Brain and Mind Centre and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
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