scholarly journals The Place of PET to Assess New Therapeutic Effectiveness in Neurodegenerative Diseases

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Claire Dupont ◽  
Bérenger Largeau ◽  
Denis Guilloteau ◽  
Maria Joao Santiago Ribeiro ◽  
Nicolas Arlicot
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Therapeutic Effectiveness ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
Positron Emission

In vivo exploration of neurodegenerative diseases by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has matured over the last 20 years, using dedicated radiopharmaceuticals targeting cellular metabolism, neurotransmission, neuroinflammation, or abnormal protein aggregates (beta-amyloid and intracellular microtubule inclusions containing hyperphosphorylated tau). The ability of PET to characterize biological processes at the cellular and molecular levels enables early detection and identification of molecular mechanisms associated with disease progression, by providing accurate, reliable, and longitudinally reproducible quantitative biomarkers. Thus, PET imaging has become a relevant imaging method for monitoring response to therapy, approved as an outcome measure in bioclinical trials. The aim of this paper is to review and discuss the current inputs of PET in the assessment of therapeutic effectiveness in neurodegenerative diseases connected by common pathophysiological mechanisms, including Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and also in psychiatric disorders. We also discuss opportunities for PET imaging to drive more personalized neuroprotective and therapeutic strategies, taking into account individual variability, within the growing framework of precision medicine.

scholarly journals Development of a blood sample detector for multi-tracer positron emission tomography using gamma spectroscopy

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Velasco ◽  
Adriana Mota-Cobián ◽  
Jesús Mateo ◽  
Samuel España
Keyword(s):  
Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Blood Sample ◽  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Spectroscopic Analysis ◽  
Gamma Spectroscopy ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Positron Emission

Abstract Background Multi-tracer positron emission tomography (PET) imaging can be accomplished by applying multi-tracer compartment modeling. Recently, a method has been proposed in which the arterial input functions (AIFs) of the multi-tracer PET scan are explicitly derived. For that purpose, a gamma spectroscopic analysis is performed on blood samples manually withdrawn from the patient when at least one of the co-injected tracers is based on a non-pure positron emitter. Alternatively, these blood samples required for the spectroscopic analysis may be obtained and analyzed on site by an automated detection device, thus minimizing analysis time and radiation exposure of the operating personnel. In this work, a new automated blood sample detector based on silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) for single- and multi-tracer PET imaging is presented, characterized, and tested in vitro and in vivo. Results The detector presented in this work stores and analyzes on-the-fly single and coincidence detected events. A sensitivity of 22.6 cps/(kBq/mL) and 1.7 cps/(kBq/mL) was obtained for single and coincidence events respectively. An energy resolution of 35% full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) at 511 keV and a minimum detectable activity of 0.30 ± 0.08 kBq/mL in single mode were obtained. The in vivo AIFs obtained with the detector show an excellent Pearson’s correlation (r = 0.996, p < 0.0001) with the ones obtained from well counter analysis of discrete blood samples. Moreover, in vitro experiments demonstrate the capability of the detector to apply the gamma spectroscopic analysis on a mixture of 68Ga and 18F and separate the individual signal emitted from each one. Conclusions Characterization and in vivo evaluation under realistic experimental conditions showed that the detector proposed in this work offers excellent sensibility and stability. The device also showed to successfully separate individual signals emitted from a mixture of radioisotopes. Therefore, the blood sample detector presented in this study allows fully automatic AIFs measurements during single- and multi-tracer PET studies.

scholarly journals Molecular mechanisms of cell death in neurological diseases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diane Moujalled ◽  
Andreas Strasser ◽  
Jeffrey R. Liddell
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Signalling Cascades ◽  
The Brain

AbstractTightly orchestrated programmed cell death (PCD) signalling events occur during normal neuronal development in a spatially and temporally restricted manner to establish the neural architecture and shaping the CNS. Abnormalities in PCD signalling cascades, such as apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cell death associated with autophagy as well as in unprogrammed necrosis can be observed in the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases. These cell deaths can be activated in response to various forms of cellular stress (exerted by intracellular or extracellular stimuli) and inflammatory processes. Aberrant activation of PCD pathways is a common feature in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, resulting in unwanted loss of neuronal cells and function. Conversely, inactivation of PCD is thought to contribute to the development of brain cancers and to impact their response to therapy. For many neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancers current treatment strategies have only modest effect, engendering the need for investigations into the origins of these diseases. With many diseases of the brain displaying aberrations in PCD pathways, it appears that agents that can either inhibit or induce PCD may be critical components of future therapeutic strategies. The development of such therapies will have to be guided by preclinical studies in animal models that faithfully mimic the human disease. In this review, we briefly describe PCD and unprogrammed cell death processes and the roles they play in contributing to neurodegenerative diseases or tumorigenesis in the brain. We also discuss the interplay between distinct cell death signalling cascades and disease pathogenesis and describe pharmacological agents targeting key players in the cell death signalling pathways that have progressed through to clinical trials.

scholarly journals 11C- and 18F-Radiotracers for In Vivo Imaging of the Dopamine System: Past, Present and Future

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Michael R. Kilbourn
Keyword(s):  
Pet Imaging ◽  
In Vivo Imaging ◽  
Dopamine Synthesis ◽  
Dopamine System ◽  
Synaptic Release ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Pet Radiotracers ◽  
Selection Of

The applications of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to study brain biochemistry, and in particular the aspects of dopamine neurotransmission, have grown significantly over the 40 years since the first successful in vivo imaging studies in humans. In vivo PET imaging of dopaminergic functions of the central nervous system (CNS) including dopamine synthesis, vesicular storage, synaptic release and receptor binding, and reuptake processes, are now routinely used for studies in neurology, psychiatry, drug abuse and addiction, and drug development. Underlying these advances in PET imaging has been the development of the unique radiotracers labeled with positron-emitting radionuclides such as carbon-11 and fluorine-18. This review focuses on a selection of the more accepted and utilized PET radiotracers currently available, with a look at their past, present and future.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) for Flow Measurement

2011 ◽  
Vol 301-303 ◽  
pp. 1316-1321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur E. Ruggles ◽  
Bi Yao Zhang ◽  
Spero M. Peters
Keyword(s):  
Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Bulk Water ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Optical Methods ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Analysis And Design ◽  
Pet Tracer ◽  
Positron Emission

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) produces a three dimensional spatial distribution of positron-electron annihilations within an image volume. Various positron emitters are available for use in aqueous, organic and liquid metal flows. Preliminary experiments at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville (UTK) injected small flows of PET tracer into a bulk water flow in a four rod bundle. The trajectory and diffusion of the tracer in the bulk flow were then mapped using a PET scanner. A spatial resolution of 1.4 mm is achieved with current preclinical Micro-PET imaging equipment resulting in 200 MB 3D activity fields. A time resolved 3-D spatial activity profile was also measured. The PET imaging method is especially well suited to complex geometries where traditional optical methods such as LDV and PIV are difficult to apply. PET methods are uniquely useful for imaging in opaque fluids, opaque pressure boundaries, and multiphase studies. Several commercial and shareware Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) codes are currently used for science and engineering analysis and design. These codes produce detailed three dimensional flow predictions. The models produced by these codes are often difficult to validate. The development of this experimental technique offers a modality for the comparison of CFD outcomes with experimental data. Developed data sets from PET can be used in verification and validation exercises of simulation outcomes.

scholarly journals News about the Role of Fluid and Imaging Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Jacopo Meldolesi
Keyword(s):  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Imaging Biomarkers ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Specific Proteins ◽  
Great Relevance ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Positive Point

Biomarkers are molecules that are variable in their origin, nature, and mechanism of action; they are of great relevance in biology and also in medicine because of their specific connection with a single or several diseases. Biomarkers are of two types, which in some cases are operative with each other. Fluid biomarkers, started around 2000, are generated in fluid from specific proteins/peptides and miRNAs accumulated within two extracellular fluids, either the central spinal fluid or blood plasma. The switch of these proteins/peptides and miRNAs, from free to segregated within extracellular vesicles, has induced certain advantages including higher levels within fluids and lower operative expenses. Imaging biomarkers, started around 2004, are identified in vivo upon their binding by radiolabeled molecules subsequently revealed in the brain by positron emission tomography and/or other imaging techniques. A positive point for the latter approach is the quantitation of results, but expenses are much higher. At present, both types of biomarker are being extensively employed to study Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, investigated from the presymptomatic to mature stages. In conclusion, biomarkers have revolutionized scientific and medical research and practice. Diagnosis, which is often inadequate when based on medical criteria only, has been recently improved by the multiplicity and specificity of biomarkers. Analogous results have been obtained for prognosis. In contrast, improvement of therapy has been limited or fully absent, especially for Alzheimer’s in which progress has been inadequate. An urgent need at hand is therefore the progress of a new drug trial design together with patient management in clinical practice.

STING-driven interferon signaling triggers metabolic alterations in pancreas cancer cells visualized by [18F]FLT PET imaging

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (36) ◽  
pp. e2105390118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keke Liang ◽  
Evan R. Abt ◽  
Thuc M. Le ◽  
Arthur Cho ◽  
Amanda M. Dann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Nucleotide Metabolism ◽  
Type I Interferons ◽  
Ductal Adenocarcinoma ◽  
Type I ◽  
Flt Pet ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers

Type I interferons (IFNs) are critical effectors of emerging cancer immunotherapies designed to activate pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). A challenge in the clinical translation of these agents is the lack of noninvasive pharmacodynamic biomarkers that indicate increased intratumoral IFN signaling following PRR activation. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging enables the visualization of tissue metabolic activity, but whether IFN signaling–induced alterations in tumor cell metabolism can be detected using PET has not been investigated. We found that IFN signaling augments pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell nucleotide metabolism via transcriptional induction of metabolism-associated genes including thymidine phosphorylase (TYMP). TYMP catalyzes the first step in the catabolism of thymidine, which competitively inhibits intratumoral accumulation of the nucleoside analog PET probe 3′-deoxy-3′-[18F]fluorothymidine ([18F]FLT). Accordingly, IFN treatment up-regulates cancer cell [18F]FLT uptake in the presence of thymidine, and this effect is dependent upon TYMP expression. In vivo, genetic activation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING), a PRR highly expressed in PDAC, enhances the [18F]FLT avidity of xenograft tumors. Additionally, small molecule STING agonists trigger IFN signaling–dependent TYMP expression in PDAC cells and increase tumor [18F]FLT uptake in vivo following systemic treatment. These findings indicate that [18F]FLT accumulation in tumors is sensitive to IFN signaling and that [18F]FLT PET may serve as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for STING agonist–based therapies in PDAC and possibly other malignancies characterized by elevated STING expression.

scholarly journals Imaging Cardiovascular and Lung Macrophages With the Positron Emission Tomography Sensor 64 Cu-Macrin in Mice, Rabbits, and Pigs

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Nahrendorf ◽  
Friedrich Felix Hoyer ◽  
Anu E. Meerwaldt ◽  
Mandy M.T. van Leent ◽  
Max L. Senders ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positron Emission Tomography ◽  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Confocal Microscopy ◽  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Near Infrared ◽  
Emission Tomography ◽  
Imaging Biomarker ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Pulmonary Macrophages

Background: Macrophages, innate immune cells that reside in all organs, defend the host against infection and injury. In the heart and vasculature, inflammatory macrophages also enhance tissue damage and propel cardiovascular diseases. Methods: We here use in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy to evaluate quantitative noninvasive assessment of cardiac, arterial, and pulmonary macrophages using the nanotracer 64 Cu-Macrin—a 20-nm spherical dextran nanoparticle assembled from nontoxic polyglucose. Results: PET imaging using 64 Cu-Macrin faithfully reported accumulation of macrophages in the heart and lung of mice with myocardial infarction, sepsis, or pneumonia. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy detected the near-infrared fluorescent version of the nanoparticle ( VT680 Macrin) primarily in tissue macrophages. In 5-day-old mice, 64 Cu-Macrin PET imaging quantified physiologically more numerous cardiac macrophages. Upon intravenous administration of 64 Cu-Macrin in rabbits and pigs, we detected heightened macrophage numbers in the infarcted myocardium, inflamed lung regions, and atherosclerotic plaques using a clinical PET/magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Toxicity studies in rats and human dosimetry estimates suggest that 64 Cu-Macrin is safe for use in humans. Conclusions: Taken together, these results indicate 64 Cu-Macrin could serve as a facile PET nanotracer to survey spatiotemporal macrophage dynamics during various physiological and pathological conditions. 64 Cu-Macrin PET imaging could stage inflammatory cardiovascular disease activity, assist disease management, and serve as an imaging biomarker for emerging macrophage-targeted therapeutics.

scholarly journals PET Imaging of [11C]MPC-6827, a Microtubule-Based Radiotracer in Non-Human Primate Brains

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 2289
Author(s):  
Naresh Damuka ◽  
Paul Czoty ◽  
Ashley Davis ◽  
Michael Nader ◽  
Susan Nader ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Healthy Male ◽  
Time Activity ◽  
Positron Emission ◽  
Pet Ct ◽  
Scan Data ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Human Primate

Dysregulation of microtubules is commonly associated with several psychiatric and neurological disorders, including addiction and Alzheimer’s disease. Imaging of microtubules in vivo using positron emission tomography (PET) could provide valuable information on their role in the development of disease pathogenesis and aid in improving therapeutic regimens. We developed [11C]MPC-6827, the first brain-penetrating PET radiotracer to image microtubules in vivo in the mouse brain. The aim of the present study was to assess the reproducibility of [11C]MPC-6827 PET imaging in non-human primate brains. Two dynamic 0–120 min PET/CT imaging scans were performed in each of four healthy male cynomolgus monkeys approximately one week apart. Time activity curves (TACs) and standard uptake values (SUVs) were determined for whole brains and specific regions of the brains and compared between the “test” and “retest” data. [11C]MPC-6827 showed excellent brain uptake with good pharmacokinetics in non-human primate brains, with significant correlation between the test and retest scan data (r = 0.77, p = 0.023). These initial evaluations demonstrate the high translational potential of [11C]MPC-6827 to image microtubules in the brain in vivo in monkey models of neurological and psychiatric diseases.

scholarly journals Quantitative PET imaging of PD-L1 expression in xenograft and syngeneic tumour models using a site-specifically labelled PD-L1 antibody

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 1302-1313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Christensen ◽  
Lotte K. Kristensen ◽  
Maria Z. Alfsen ◽  
Carsten H. Nielsen ◽  
Andreas Kjaer
Keyword(s):  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Therapeutic Monitoring ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Tumour Bearing ◽  
Quantitative Pet

Abstract Purpose Despite remarkable clinical responses and prolonged survival across several cancers, not all patients benefit from PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade. Accordingly, assessment of tumour PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) is increasingly applied to guide patient selection, therapeutic monitoring, and improve overall response rates. However, tissue-based methods are invasive and prone to sampling error. We therefore developed a PET radiotracer to specifically detect PD-L1 expression in a non-invasive manner, which could be of diagnostic and predictive value. Methods Anti-PD-L1 (clone 6E11, Genentech) was site-specifically conjugated with DIBO-DFO and radiolabelled with 89Zr (89Zr-DFO-6E11). 89Zr-DFO-6E11 was optimized in vivo by longitudinal PET imaging and dose escalation with excess unlabelled 6E11 in HCC827 tumour-bearing mice. Specificity of 89Zr-DFO-6E11 was evaluated in NSCLC xenografts and syngeneic tumour models with different levels of PD-L1 expression. In vivo imaging data was supported by ex vivo biodistribution, flow cytometry, and IHC. To evaluate the predictive value of 89Zr-DFO-6E11 PET imaging, CT26 tumour-bearing mice were subjected to external radiation therapy (XRT) in combination with PD-L1 blockade. Results 89Zr-DFO-6E11 was successfully labelled with a high radiochemical purity. The HCC827 tumours and lymphoid tissue were identified by 89Zr-DFO-6E11 PET imaging, and co-injection with 6E11 increased the relative tumour uptake and decreased the splenic uptake. 89Zr-DFO-6E11 detected the differences in PD-L1 expression among tumour models as evaluated by ex vivo methods. 89Zr-DFO-6E11 quantified the increase in PD-L1 expression in tumours and spleens of irradiated mice. XRT and anti-PD-L1 therapy effectively inhibited tumour growth in CT26 tumour-bearing mice (p < 0.01), and the maximum 89Zr-DFO-6E11 tumour-to-muscle ratio correlated with response to therapy (p = 0.0252). Conclusion PET imaging with 89Zr-DFO-6E11 is an attractive approach for specific, non-invasive, whole-body visualization of PD-L1 expression. PD-L1 expression can be modulated by radiotherapy regimens and 89Zr-DFO-6E11 PET is able to monitor these changes and predict the response to therapy in an immunocompetent tumour model.

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