Synaptic Density and Glucose Consumption in Patients with Lewy Body Diseases: An [11 C]UCB-J and [18 F]FDG PET Study

BACKGROUND

Patients with Lewy body diseases exhibit variable degrees of cortical and subcortical hypometabolism. However, the underlying causes behind this progressive hypometabolism remain unresolved. Generalized synaptic degeneration may be one key contributor.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate whether local cortical synaptic loss is proportionally linked to the magnitude of hypometabolism in Lewy body disease.

METHOD

Using in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) we investigated cerebral glucose metabolism and quantified the density of cerebral synapses, as measured with [¹⁸ F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([¹⁸ F]FDG) PET and [¹¹ C]UCB-J, respectively. Volumes-of-interest were defined on magnetic resonance T1 scans and regional standard uptake value ratios-1 values were obtained for 14 pre-selected brain regions. Between-group comparisons were conducted at voxel-level.

RESULTS

We observed regional differences in both synaptic density and cerebral glucose consumption in our cohorts of non-demented and demented patients with Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies compared to healthy subjects. Additionally, voxel-wise comparisons showed a clear difference in cortical regions between demented patients and controls for both tracers. Importantly, our findings strongly suggested that the magnitude of reduced glucose uptake exceeded the magnitude of reduced cortical synaptic density.

CONCLUSION

Here, we investigated the relationship between in vivo glucose uptake and the magnitude of synaptic density as measured using [¹⁸ F]FDG PET and [¹¹ C]UCB-J PET in Lewy body patients. The magnitude of reduced [¹⁸ F]FDG uptake was greater than the corresponding decline in [¹¹ C]UCB-J binding. Therefore, the progressive hypometabolism seen in Lewy body disorders cannot be fully explained by generalized synaptic degeneration. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Reduced Synaptic Density in Patients with Lewy Body Dementia: An [11 C]UCB-J PET Imaging Study

BACKGROUND

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) often develop dementia, but the underlying substrate is incompletely understood. Generalized synaptic degeneration may contribute to dysfunction and cognitive decline in Lewy body dementias, but in vivo evidence is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess the density of synapses in non-demented PD (nPD) subjects (N = 21), patients with PD-dementia or Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) (N = 13), and age-matched healthy controls (N = 15).

METHOD

Using in vivo PET imaging and the novel synaptic-vesicle-glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) radioligand [11C]UCB-J, SUVR-1 values were obtained for 12 pre-defined regions. Volumes-of-interest were defined on MRI T1 scans. Voxel-level between-group comparisons of [11C]UCB-J SUVR-1 were performed. All subjects underwent neuropsychological assessment. Correlations between [11C]UCB- J PET and domain-specific cognitive functioning were examined.

RESULTS

nPD patients only demonstrated significantly reduced SUVR-1 values in the substantia nigra (SN) compared to HC. DLB/PDD patients demonstrated reduced SUVR-1 values in SN and all cortical VOIs except for the hippocampus and amygdala. The voxel-based analysis supported the VOI results. Significant correlation was seen between middle frontal gyrus [11C]UCB-J SUVR-1 and performance on tests of executive function.

CONCLUSION

Widespread cortical reduction of synaptic density was documented in a cohort of DLB/PDD subjects using in vivo [11C]UCB-J PET. Our study confirms previously reported synaptic loss in SN of nPD patients. [11C]UCB-J binding in selected cortical VOIs of the DLB/PDD patients correlated with their levels of cognitive function across relevant neuropsychological domains. These findings suggest that the loss of synaptic density contributes to cognitive impairment in nPD and DLB/PDD. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Obeticholic acid improves hepatic bile acid excretion in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Obeticholic acid (OCA) is an agonist of the nuclear bile acid receptor farnesoid X receptor, which regulates hepatic bile acid metabolism. We tested whether OCA treatment would influence hepatic transport of conjugated bile acids in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) who responded inadequately to treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).

METHODS

Eight UDCA-treated patients with PBC with alkaline phosphatase ≥1.5 times the upper limit of normal range participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. While continuing on UDCA, the patients were randomised to two 3-month crossover treatment periods with placebo and OCA, in random order, separated by a 1-month washout period without study treatment. After each of the two treatment periods, we determined rate constants for transport of conjugated bile acids between blood, hepatocytes, biliary canaliculi, and bile ducts by positron emission tomography of the liver using the conjugated bile acid tracer [N-methyl-¹¹C]cholylsarcosine (¹¹C-CSar). The hepatic blood perfusion was measured using infusion of indocyanine green and Fick's principle.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, OCA increased hepatic blood perfusion by a median of 11% (p = 0.045), the unidirectional uptake clearance of ¹¹C-CSar from blood into hepatocytes by a median of 11% (p = 0.01), and the rate constant for secretion of ¹¹C-CSar from hepatocytes into biliary canaliculi by a median of 73% (p = 0.03). This resulted in an OCA-induced decrease in the hepatocyte residence time of ¹¹C-CSar by a median of 30% (p = 0.01), from group median 11 min to 8 min.

CONCLUSIONS

This study of UDCA-treated patients with PBC showed that, compared with placebo, OCA increased the hepatic transport of the conjugated bile acid tracer ¹¹C-CSar, and thus endogenous conjugated bile acids, from hepatocytes into biliary canaliculi. As a result, OCA reduced the time hepatocytes are exposed to potentially cytotoxic bile acids.

LAY SUMMARY

Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic liver disease in which the small bile ducts are progressively destroyed. We tested whether the treatment with obeticholic acid (OCA) would improve liver excretion of bile acids compared with placebo in 8 patients with primary biliary cholangitis. A special scanning technique (PET scan) showed that OCA increased the transport of bile acids from blood to bile. OCA thereby reduced the time that potentially toxic bile acids reside in the liver by approximately one-third.

Preclinical PET Studies of [11C]UCB-J Binding in Minipig Brain

PURPOSE

Loss of neuronal synapse function is associated with a number of brain disorders. The [¹¹C]UCB-J positron emission tomography (PET) tracer allows for in vivo examination of synaptic density, as it binds to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) expressed in presynaptic terminals. Here, we characterise [¹¹C]UCB-J imaging in Göttingen minipigs.

PROCEDURES

Using PET imaging, we examined tracer specificity and compared kinetic models. We explored the use of a standard blood curve and centrum semiovale white matter as a reference region. We compared in vivo [¹¹C]UCB-J PET imaging to in vitro autoradiography, Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The uptake kinetics of [¹¹C]UCB-J could be described using a 1-tissue compartment model and blocking of SV2A availability with levetiracetam showed dose-dependent specific binding. Population-based blood curves resulted in reliable [¹¹C]UCB-J binding estimates, while it was not possible to use centrum semiovale white matter as a non-specific reference region. Brain [¹¹C]UCB-J PET signals correlated well with [³H]UCB-J autoradiography and SV2A protein levels.

CONCLUSIONS

[¹¹C]UCB-J PET is a valid in vivo marker of synaptic density in the minipig brain, with binding values close to those reported for humans. Minipig models of disease could be valuable for investigating the efficacy of putative neuroprotective agents for preserving synaptic function in future non-invasive, longitudinal studies.

Human biodistribution, dosimetry, radiosynthesis and quality control of the bile acid PET tracer [N-methyl-11C]cholylsarcosine

INTRODUCTION

[N-methyl-¹¹C]cholylsarcosine ([¹¹C]CSar) is a tracer for imaging and quantitative assessment of intrahepatic cholestatic liver diseases and drug-induced cholestasis by positron emission tomography (PET). The purpose of this study is to determine whole-body biodistribution and dosimetry of [¹¹C]CSar in healthy humans. The results are compared with findings in a patient with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and a patient with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) as well as with preclinical findings in pigs. Radiosynthesis and quality control for preparation of [¹¹C]CSar for clinical use are also presented.

METHODS

Radiosynthesis and quality control of [¹¹C]CSar were set up in compliance with Danish/European regulations. Both healthy participants (3 females, 3 males) and patients underwent whole-body PET/CT to determine the biodistribution of [¹¹C]CSar. The two patients were under treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid at the time of the study. Dosimetry was estimated from the PET data using the Olinda 2.0 software.

RESULTS

The radiosynthesis provided [¹¹C]CSar in a solution ready for injection. The biodistribution studies revealed that gallbladder wall, small intestine, and liver were critical organs in both healthy participants and patients with the gallbladder wall receiving the highest dose (up to 0.5 mGy/MBq). The gender-averaged (±SD) effective dose for the healthy participants was 6.2 ± 1.4 μSv/MBq. The effective dose for the PSC and the PBC patient was 5.2 and 7.0 μSv/MBq, respectively.

CONCLUSION

A radiosynthesis for preparation of [¹¹C]CSar for clinical use was developed and approved by the Danish Medicines Agency. The most critical organ was the gallbladder wall although the amount of [¹¹C]CSar in the gallbladder was found to vary significantly between individuals. The estimated effective dose for humans was comparable to that estimated in anesthetized pigs although the absorbed dose estimates to some organs, such as the stomach, was different. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PATIENT CARE: [¹¹C]CSar PET/CT enables detailed quantitative assessment of patients with cholestatic liver disease by tracing the separate hepatobiliary transport steps of endogenous bile acids. The present work offers a radiosynthetic method and dosimetry data suitable for clinical implementation of [¹¹C]CSar.