scholarly journals Brain Imaging of the GLP-1 Receptor in Obesity Using 68Ga-NODAGA-Exendin-4 PET

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1647
Author(s):  
Laura N. Deden ◽  
Jan Booij ◽  
Joanes Grandjean ◽  
Judith R. Homberg ◽  
Eric J. Hazebroek ◽  
...  

Stimulation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors increases the insulin release in the pancreas during high glucose levels, and also stimulates a feeling of satiety. Likewise, synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonists derived from exendin are used successfully in the treatment of type-2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Interestingly, preclinical and clinical studies further suggest that GLP-1 receptor agonists may decrease motor, behavioral, and cognitive symptoms in (animal models) Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease and may slow down neurodegeneration. These observations suggest stimulation of GLP-1 receptors in the brain. The GLP-1 positron emission tomography (PET) tracer 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 has been developed and successfully used for imaging in humans. In an ongoing study on the effects of bariatric surgery on GLP-1 receptor expression, we performed 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 PET in obese subjects. Here we evaluated whether GLP-1 receptor binding could be visualized in the central nervous system in 10 obese subjects (seven woman; body mass index: mean ± SD: 39 ± 4.4 kg/m2) before bariatric surgery. Although we observed clear uptake in the pituitary area (mean SUVmax 4.3 ± 2.3), we found no significant uptake in other parts of the brain. We conclude that 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 PET cannot be used to analyze GLP-1 receptors in the brain of obese subjects.

Author(s):  
Mia Ståhle ◽  
Sanna Hellberg ◽  
Jenni Virta ◽  
Heidi Liljenbäck ◽  
Olli Metsälä ◽  
...  

Activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) signaling attenuates development of atherosclerosis and vascular inflammation. However, the expression of GLP-1R in atherosclerotic arteries remains uncertain. We evaluated whether a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 enables detection and imaging of GLP-1R expression in the mouse atherosclerotic aorta. Hypercholesterolemic (LDLR-/-ApoB100/100), hypercholesterolemic and diabetic (IGF-II/LDLR-/-ApoB100/100) as well as healthy control (C57BL/6N) mice were utilized in the study. The uptake of 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 in atherosclerotic lesions was studied by autoradiography of tissue sections followed by immunofluorescence evaluation of inflammatory and vascular cell markers and GLP-1R. A subset of mice was imaged with 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 PET/computed tomography (CT). The aortas of both LDLR-/-ApoB100/100 and IGF-II/LDLR-/-ApoB100/100 mice contained prominent, macrophage-rich atherosclerotic lesions. Diabetic mice demonstrated hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance. We found that by autoradiography, 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 uptake was focally increased in macrophage-rich lesion areas compared with corresponding healthy vessel wall (lesion-to-wall ratio 1.6 ± 0.10, p<0.0001) in both non-diabetic and diabetic hypercholesterolemic mice. Pre-injection of unlabeled exendin-4 peptide significantly reduced cellular uptake of 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4. Furthermore, PET/CT imaging showed 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 accumulation in the atherosclerotic aorta. Immunofluorescence stainings demonstrated co-localization of GLP-1R with macrophage-rich areas in atherosclerotic lesions. Tracer uptake was low in the healthy vessel wall of C57BL/6N mice coupled with negative GLP-1R staining. In conclusion, 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 detects GLP-1R expression in atherosclerotic lesions in both non-diabetic and diabetic hypercholesterolemic mice. These results provide evidence that GLP-1R expression is mainly localized in macrophage-rich area in atherosclerotic lesions and may have implications for studies of pharmacological modification of GLP-1R signaling in atherosclerosis.


2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 2146-2152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Gejl ◽  
Lærke Egefjord ◽  
Susanne Lerche ◽  
Kim Vang ◽  
Bo Martin Bibby ◽  
...  

Type 2 diabetes and hyperglycemia with the resulting increase of glucose concentrations in the brain impair the outcome of ischemic stroke, and may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Reports indicate that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) may be neuroprotective in models of AD and stroke: Although the mechanism is unclear, glucose homeostasis appears to be important. We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study in nine healthy males. Positron emission tomography was used to determine the effect of GLP-1 on cerebral glucose transport and metabolism during a hyperglycemic clamp with 18fluoro-deoxy-glucose as tracer. Glucagon-like peptide-1 lowered brain glucose ( P = 0.023) in all regions. The cerebral metabolic rate for glucose was increased everywhere ( P = 0.039) but not to the same extent in all regions ( P = 0.022). The unidirectional glucose transfer across the blood-brain barrier remained unchanged ( P = 0.099) in all regions, while the unidirectional clearance and the phosphorylation rate increased ( P = 0.013 and 0.017), leading to increased net clearance of the glucose tracer ( P = 0.006). We show that GLP-1 plays a role in a regulatory mechanism involved in the actions of GLUT1 and glucose metabolism: GLP-1 ensures less fluctuation of brain glucose levels in response to alterations in plasma glucose, which may prove to be neuroprotective during hyperglycemia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Liu ◽  
Lizhen Wang ◽  
Donghui Pan ◽  
Mingzhu Li ◽  
Yaoqi Li ◽  
...  

AbstractLight therapy has been accepted as a promising therapeutic choice for depression. Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with specific radiotracers has great benefits for revealing pathogenesis and developing therapeutics. This study aimed to investigate the influences of light therapy on microglial activation and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression in the brain of depressive rats using [18F]DPA-714 and [18F]exendin-4 PET. The results showed that chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depressive rats had poorer performance in behavioral tests compared to normal rats (p < 0.05) and the depressive-like behavior could be ameliorated by light therapy. Besides, depressive rats had significantly higher [18F]DPA-714 uptake and lower [18F]FDG uptake compare to normal rats in 11 and 9 regions of interest (ROIs) of the brain, respectively (p < 0.05). After 5 weeks of light therapy, higher [18F]FDG and [18F]exendin-4 uptake was observed in most ROIs of light therapy-treated depressive rats compared to untreated depressive rats (p < 0.05) and no significant differences existed in [18F]DPA-714 uptake between the two groups. This study demonstrated that light therapy can ameliorate depressive-like behavior, improve glucose metabolism, and halt the decline of brain GLP-1R expression of depressive rats, but have no effects on microglial activation caused by CUMS. Besides, this study validated that [18F]DPA-714 and [18F]exendin-4 PET have the potential for noninvasive evaluation of microglial activation and GLP-1R expression in the brain of depression.


2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 2386-2397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia Ståhle ◽  
Ville Kytö ◽  
Max Kiugel ◽  
Heidi Liljenbäck ◽  
Olli Metsälä ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) signaling protects against cardiac dysfunction and remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of the study was to evaluate 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 positron emission tomography (PET) for assessment of GLP-1R expression after MI in rats. Methods and Results Rats were studied at 3 days, 1 and 12 weeks after permanent coronary ligation or a sham-operation. Rats were injected with 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 and scanned with PET and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) followed by digital autoradiography and histology of left ventricle tissue sections. 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 PET/CT showed focally increased tracer uptake in the infarcted regions peaking at 3 days and continuing at 1 week after MI. Pre-treatment with an unlabeled exendin-4 peptide significantly reduced 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 uptake. By autoradiography, 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 uptake was 8.6-fold higher in the infarcted region and slightly increased also in the remote, non-infarcted myocardium at 1 week and 12 weeks post-MI compared with sham. Uptake of 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 correlated with the amount of CD68-positive macrophages in the infarcted area and alpha-smooth muscle actin staining in the remote myocardium. Conclusions 68Ga-NODAGA-exendin-4 PET detects up-regulation of cardiac GLP-1R expression during healing of MI in rats and may provide information on the activated repair mechanisms after ischemic myocardial injury.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shorena Janelidze ◽  
Erik Stomrud ◽  
Ruben Smith ◽  
Sebastian Palmqvist ◽  
Niklas Mattsson ◽  
...  

AbstractCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) p-tau181 (tau phosphorylated at threonine 181) is an established biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), reflecting abnormal tau metabolism in the brain. Here we investigate the performance of CSF p-tau217 as a biomarker of AD in comparison to p-tau181. In the Swedish BioFINDER cohort (n = 194), p-tau217 shows stronger correlations with the tau positron emission tomography (PET) tracer [18F]flortaucipir, and more accurately identifies individuals with abnormally increased [18F]flortaucipir retention. Furthermore, longitudinal increases in p-tau217 are higher compared to p-tau181 and better correlate with [18F]flortaucipir uptake. P-tau217 correlates better than p-tau181 with CSF and PET measures of neocortical amyloid-β burden and more accurately distinguishes AD dementia from non-AD neurodegenerative disorders. Higher correlations between p-tau217 and [18F]flortaucipir are corroborated in an independent EXPEDITION3 trial cohort (n = 32). The main results are validated using a different p-tau217 immunoassay. These findings suggest that p-tau217 might be more useful than p-tau181 in the diagnostic work up of AD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (5) ◽  
pp. 916-930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie D Heuvelman ◽  
Daniël H Van Raalte ◽  
Mark M Smits

Abstract Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is currently one of the most prevalent diseases, with as many as 415 million patients worldwide. T2DM is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels and is often accompanied by several comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease. Treatment of T2DM is focused on reducing glucose levels by either lifestyle changes or medical treatment. One treatment option for T2DM is based on the gut-derived hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 reduces blood glucose levels by stimulating insulin secretion, however, it is rapidly degraded, and thereby losing its glycaemic effect. GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are immune to degradation, prolonging the glycaemic effect. Lately, GLP-1RAs have spiked the interest of researchers and clinicians due to their beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease. Preclinical and clinical data have demonstrated that GLP-1 receptors are abundantly present in the heart and that stimulation of these receptors by GLP-1 has several effects. In this review, we will discuss the effects of GLP-1RA on heart rate, blood pressure, microvascular function, lipids, and inflammation, as measured in human mechanistic studies, and suggest how these effects may translate into the improved cardiovascular outcomes as demonstrated in several trials.


2015 ◽  
Vol 309 (6) ◽  
pp. G431-G442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph F. Pierre ◽  
Joshua C. Neuman ◽  
Allison L. Brill ◽  
Harpreet K. Brar ◽  
Mary F. Thompson ◽  
...  

Stimulation of digestive organs by enteric peptides is lost during total parental nutrition (PN). Here we examine the role of the enteric peptide bombesin (BBS) in stimulation of the exocrine and endocrine pancreas during PN. BBS protects against exocrine pancreas atrophy and dysfunction caused by PN. BBS also augments circulating insulin levels, suggesting an endocrine pancreas phenotype. While no significant changes in gross endocrine pancreas morphology were observed, pancreatic islets isolated from BBS-treated PN mice showed a significantly enhanced insulin secretion response to the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist exendin-4, correlating with enhanced GLP-1 receptor expression. BBS itself had no effect on islet function, as reflected in low expression of BBS receptors in islet samples. Intestinal BBS receptor expression was enhanced in PN with BBS, and circulating active GLP-1 levels were significantly enhanced in BBS-treated PN mice. We hypothesized that BBS preserved islet function indirectly, through the enteroendocrine cell-pancreas axis. We confirmed the ability of BBS to directly stimulate intestinal enteroid cells to express the GLP-1 precursor preproglucagon. In conclusion, BBS preserves the exocrine and endocrine pancreas functions during PN; however, the endocrine stimulation is likely indirect, through the enteroendocrine cell-pancreas axis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (12) ◽  
pp. 1930-1936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toshimitsu Okamura ◽  
Maki Okada ◽  
Tatsuya Kikuchi ◽  
Hidekatsu Wakizaka ◽  
Ming-Rong Zhang

A disturbance in redox balance has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases. This study sought to examine the feasibility of imaging brain redox status using a 11C-labeled dihydroquinoline derivative ([11C]DHQ1) for positron emission tomography (PET). The lipophilic PET tracer [11C]DHQ1 was rapidly oxidized to its hydrophilic form in mouse brain homogenate. The redox modulators diphenyleneiodonium and apocynin significantly reduced the initial velocity of [11C]DHQ1 oxidation, and apocynin also caused concentration-dependent inhibition of the initial velocity. Moreover, [11C]DHQ1 readily entered the brain by diffusion after administration and underwent oxidation into the hydrophilic cationic form, which then slowly decreased. By contrast, apocynin treatment inhibited the in vivo oxidation of [11C]DHQ1 to the hydrophilic cationic form, leading to a rapid decrease of radioactivity in the brain. Thus, the difference in the [11C]DHQ1 kinetics reflects the alteration in redox status caused by apocynin. In conclusion, [11C]DHQ1 is a potential PET tracer for imaging of redox status in the living brain.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5722
Author(s):  
Motoyasu Kojima ◽  
Hirokazu Takahashi ◽  
Takuya Kuwashiro ◽  
Kenichi Tanaka ◽  
Hitoe Mori ◽  
...  

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are used to treat diabetes, but their effects on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, mice with streptozotocin- and high-fat diet-induced diabetes and NASH were subcutaneously treated with liraglutide or saline (control) for 14 weeks. Glycemic control, hepatocarcinogenesis, and liver histology were compared between the groups. Fasting blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the liraglutide group than in the control group (210.0 ± 17.3 mg/dL vs. 601.8 ± 123.6 mg/dL), and fasting insulin levels were significantly increased by liraglutide (0.18 ± 0.06 ng/mL vs. 0.09 ± 0.03 ng/mL). Liraglutide completely suppressed hepatocarcinogenesis, whereas HCC was observed in all control mice (average tumor count, 5.5 ± 3.87; average tumor size, 8.1 ± 5.0 mm). Liraglutide significantly ameliorated steatosis, inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning of non-tumorous lesions in the liver compared with the control findings, and insulin-positive β-cells were observed in the pancreas in liraglutide-treated mice but not in control mice. In conclusion, liraglutide ameliorated NASH and suppressed hepatocarcinogenesis in diabetic mice. GLP-1 receptor agonists can be used to improve the hepatic outcome of diabetes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olof Eriksson ◽  
Torsten Haack ◽  
Youssef Hijazi ◽  
Lenore Teichert ◽  
Veronique Tavernier ◽  
...  

Abstract Unimolecular dual agonists for the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP1R) and glucagon receptor (GCGR) are emerging as a potential new class of important therapeutics in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Reliable and quantitative assessments of in vivo occupancy on each receptor would improve the understanding of the efficacy of this class of drugs. In this study we investigated the target occupancy of the dual agonist SAR425899 at the GLP1R in pancreas and GCGR in liver by Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT). Patients with T2D were examined by [68Ga]Ga-DO3A-Tuna-2 and [68Ga]Ga-DO3A-Exendin4 by PET, to assess the GCGR in liver and GLP1R in pancreas, respectively. Follow up PET examinations were performed after 17 (GCGR) and 20 (GLP-1R) days of treatment with SAR425899, to assess the occupancy at each receptor. Six out of 13 included patients prematurely discontinued the study due to adverse events. SAR425899 at a dose of 0.2 mg daily demonstrated an average GCGR occupancy of 11.2 ± 14.4% (SD) in N = 5 patients and a GLP1R occupancy of 49.9 ± 13.3%. Fasting Plasma Glucose levels (− 3.30 ± 1.14 mmol/L) and body weight (− 3.87 ± 0.87%) were lowered under treatment with SAR425899. In conclusion, SAR425899 demonstrated strong interactions at the GLP1R, but no clear occupancy at the GCGR. The study demonstrates that quantitative target engagement of dual agonists can be assessed by PET.


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