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Molecular Imaging for Integrated Medical Therapy and Drug Development pp 222–234Cite as

Molecular and Functional Imaging for Drug Development and Elucidation of Disease Mechanisms Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

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Abstract

Tohoku University has a more than 30-year-long history of molecular and functional imaging research using radiopharmaceuticals. This article provides a brief overview of various achievements in molecular and functional imaging at Tohoku University. It is noteworthy that many of these early studies were associated with positron emission tomography (PET) studies in oncology and neuroscience. Later, new application to spoils sciences was initiated, and PET and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) has been used for exercise physiology and psychology studies. This technique, similar to the performance of autoradiography, allows subjects to be scanned just after carrying out exercise tasks. We have observed the metabolic effects of exercise on brain and skeletal muscles.

One of the important contributions we have made in neuroscience has been associated with the histaminergic neuronal system in the brain. The histaminergic system is associated with various autonomic functions such as the sleep-wake cycle and appetite control. Using PET and [11C]doxepin. a ligand for histamine H1 receptors, various studies have been concluded regarding physiological changes such as those occurring in aging, and pathological changes such as those occurring in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), depression, schizophrenia, and anorexia nervosa. In addition, PET and [11C]doxepin has also been used for the evaluation of side effects due to histamine H1 receptor antagonists (antihistamines). Antihistamines are frequently used for the treatment of allergic disorders such as seasonal rhinitis, but these drugs can induce sedative side effects that can sometimes result in serious traffic accidents. Objective measurement of the sedative property of antihistamines was established using histamine H1 receptor occupancy as a reliable index. Our additional functional imaging studies using [18F]FDG and [15O]H2O have revealed the brain mechanisms of these sedative side effects in the brains of allergic patients.

Finally, we have been involved in the development of novel tracers for amyloid deposits in the brains of patients with AD and mild cognitive disorder. We have been conducting clinical studies of an 11C-labelled tracer. [11C]2-(2-[2-dimethyl-aminothiazol-5-yl]ethenyl)-6-(2-[fluoro]ethoxy)benzoxazole (BF-227). Our early evaluation has demonstrated that [11C]BF-227 is a promising tracer for the differentiation of aged normal volunteers and AD patients. In future. PET will undoubtedly be used more frequently in drug development and for the early diagnosis of various diseases.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cyclotron Nuclear Medicine, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan

    Manabu Tashiro & Kazuhiko Yanai

  2. Division of Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry, Cyclotron and Radioisotope Center, Tohoku University, 6-3 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan

    Toshihiko Fujimoto

  3. Center for the Advancement of Higher Education, Tohoku University, 41 Kawauchi, Aobaku, Sendai, 980-8576, Japan

    Ren Iwata

  4. Department of Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan

    Nobuyuki Okamura & Kazuhiko Yanai

  5. Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, 4-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan

    Hiroshi Fukuda

Authors
  1. Manabu Tashiro
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  2. Toshihiko Fujimoto
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  3. Nobuyuki Okamura
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  4. Ren Iwata
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  5. Hiroshi Fukuda
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  6. Kazuhiko Yanai
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15 Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan

    Nagara Tamaki M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Tracer Kinetics and Bioanalysis, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15 Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan

    Yuji Kuge Ph.D.

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Tashiro, M., Fujimoto, T., Okamura, N., Iwata, R., Fukuda, H., Yanai, K. (2010). Molecular and Functional Imaging for Drug Development and Elucidation of Disease Mechanisms Using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). In: Tamaki, N., Kuge, Y. (eds) Molecular Imaging for Integrated Medical Therapy and Drug Development. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-98074-2_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-98074-2_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-98073-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-98074-2

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