Human Brain Imaging of α7 nAChR with [18F]ASEM: a New PET Radiotracer for Neuropsychiatry and Determination of Drug Occupancy

  • Dean F. Wong
  • , Hiroto Kuwabara
  • , Martin Pomper
  • , Daniel P. Holt
  • , James R. Brasic
  • , Noble George
  • , Boris Frolov
  • , William Willis
  • , Yongjun Gao
  • , Heather Valentine
  • , Ayon Nandi
  • , Lorena Gapasin
  • , Robert F. Dannals
  • , Andrew G. Horti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

69 Scopus citations

Abstract

Procedures: Five healthy male subjects were imaged for 90 min following IV [18F]ASEM. Two subjects were scanned for the second time (test/retest; TRV). Mouse biodistribution of [18F]ASEM was carried out in CD1 mice injected with using human equivalent doses of DMXB-A, EVP-6124, and varenicline to block specific binding.

Purpose: Using the α7-nAChR radiotracer, [18F]ASEM, we present the first successful human positron emission tomography (PET) studies. Rodent occupancy with three clinically employed α7-nAChR drugs confirms the specificity of the radiotracer.

Results: [18F]ASEM readily entered the brain and peaked at 15 min post-injection with reversible kinetics and a peak %SUV of about 400 %. The regional human brain distribution of [18F]ASEM matched previous in vitro data and baboon PET results. The precuneus, parietal, occipital, cingulate cortexes, putamen, and thalamus showed high values of distribution volume (>20 ml/ml) and binding potentials >1 with TRV averaged 10.8 ± 5.1 %. In mouse distribution studies, there was significant dose-dependent blockade in the mouse brain with DMXB-A as well as the other two α7-nAChR drugs.

Conclusions: The characteristics of [18F]ASEM are consistent with the ability to quantify α7-nAChR in the human brain. [18F]ASEM is suitable for imaging neuropsychiatric disorders and target engagement (receptor occupancy) of potential α7-nAChR drugs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)730-738
Number of pages9
JournalMolecular Imaging and Biology
Volume16
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2014

Keywords

  • Alpha-7
  • DMXB-A
  • GTS-21
  • Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
  • PET brain imaging
  • Radiotracer kinetic modeling
  • Receptor occupancy
  • Schizophrenia

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