The objective of this grant is to develop imaging agents for studying serotonin transporters (SERT) of the central nervous system (CNS) using positron emission tomography (PET). Changes in serotonergic neuronal function in the CNS occur in patients with major depression. A series of new antidepressants preferentially increase 5-HT (serotonin) transmission by inhibiting serotonin reuptake. These selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have revolutionized the management of depression for millions of patients, and they are now widely prescribed for treating various other mental disorders such as compulsive obsessive and social phobic disorders. The PET imaging agents to be tested in this project are critically important for studying binding sites of psychoactive drugs and monitoring the effectiveness of such drug treatment in the living human brain. In the past funding period we have prepared many fluorinated biphenylthiol derivatives with limited success. However, recently we found that changing the substitution at a different position of biphenylthiol appears to hold the key for improving the specific SERT binding (uptake and retention in the hypothalamus where SERT binding sites are highly concentrated) and more importantly for reducing the non-specific binding (in the cerebellum). In this renewal application three specific aims are proposed: 1) to synthesize and test a series of 18F labeled biphenylthiol derivatives as SERT ligands for PET imaging studies. 2) to perform in vivo biological evaluation of selectivity and kinetics of binding to SERT in the brain of rats. 3) to compare PET imaging agents proposed in this project and other SERT ligands labeled with 18F in non-human primates with the ultimate objective of identifying one or two final candidates suitable for human study. In vivo PET or SPECT imaging studies may provide an effective approach in estimating the drug occupancy of the target sites - SERT binding sites by the antidepressants used for treatment. Thus, imaging of SERT binding sites may open a small window allowing a direct measurement of drug action at the target sites in the brain. There is a compelling need to develop improved the PET imaging agents for studying this important target modulating the serotonin function in the brain. It is likely that 18F labeled tracers for imaging SERT can be prepared by regional radiopharmacies and distributed within any major metropolitan area. Thus, the imaging tool would be widely available to benefit a large number of patients.

Public Health Relevance

Changes in serotonergic neuronal function in the brain occur in patients with major depression. The serotonin transporter imaging agents to be tested in this project are critically important for studying binding of antidepressants in the living human brain. The proposed tracers for imaging SERT can be prepared by regional radiopharmacies and distributed within any major metropolitan area benefiting a large number of patients undergoing antidepressant treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH068782-06
Application #
7845613
Study Section
Medical Imaging Study Section (MEDI)
Program Officer
Brady, Linda S
Project Start
2003-07-01
Project End
2012-04-30
Budget Start
2010-05-01
Budget End
2011-04-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$349,202
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
042250712
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Qiao, Hongwen; Zhang, Yan; Wu, Zehui et al. (2016) One-step preparation of [(18)F]FPBM for PET imaging of serotonin transporter (SERT) in the brain. Nucl Med Biol 43:470-7
Lemoine, Laetitia; Lieberman, Brian P; Ploessl, Karl et al. (2013) Characterization of FlipIDAM as a SERT-selective SPECT imaging agent. Nucl Med Biol 40:879-86
Zheng, Pinguan; Lieberman, Brian P; Ploessl, Karl et al. (2013) A new single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging agent for serotonin transporters: [(125)I]Flip-IDAM, (2-((2-((dimethylamino)methyl)-4-iodophenyl)thio)phenyl)methanol. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 23:869-72
Zhu, Lin; Li, Genxun; Choi, Seok Rye et al. (2013) An improved preparation of [18F]FPBM: a potential serotonin transporter (SERT) imaging agent. Nucl Med Biol 40:974-9
Qiao, Hongwen; Zhu, Lin; Lieberman, Brian P et al. (2012) Synthesis and evaluation of novel tropane derivatives as potential PET imaging agents for the dopamine transporter. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 22:4303-6
Wang, Julie L; Oya, Shunichi; Parhi, Ajit K et al. (2010) In vivo studies of the SERT-selective [18F]FPBM and VMAT2-selective [18F]AV-133 radiotracers in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Nucl Med Biol 37:479-86
Wang, Julie L; Deutsch, Eric C; Oya, Shunichi et al. (2010) FlipADAM: a potential new SPECT imaging agent for the serotonin transporter. Nucl Med Biol 37:577-86
Wang, Julie L; Parhi, Ajit K; Oya, Shunichi et al. (2009) In vivo characterization of a series of 18F-diaryl sulfides (18F-2-(2'-((dimethylamino)methyl)-4'-(fluoroalkoxy)phenylthio)benzenamine) for PET imaging of the serotonin transporter. J Nucl Med 50:1509-17
Kung, Hank F; Lieberman, Brian P; Zhuang, Zhi-Ping et al. (2008) In vivo imaging of vesicular monoamine transporter 2 in pancreas using an (18)F epoxide derivative of tetrabenazine. Nucl Med Biol 35:825-37
Wang, Julie L; Parhi, Ajit K; Oya, Shunichi et al. (2008) 2-(2'-((Dimethylamino)methyl)-4'-(3-[(18)F]fluoropropoxy)-phenylthio)benzenamine for positron emission tomography imaging of serotonin transporters. Nucl Med Biol 35:447-58

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