DECREASED BRAINSTEM AND PUTAMEN SERT BINDING POTENTIAL IN DEPRESSED SUICIDE ATTEMPTERS USING [C-11]-ZIENT PET IMAGING

作者：Nye Jonathon A; Purselle David; Plisson Christophe; Voll Ronald J; Stehouwer Jeffrey S; Votaw John R; Kilts Clinton D; Goodman Mark M; Nemeroff Charles B^*

来源：Depression and Anxiety, 2013, 30(10): 902-907.

DOI：10.1002/da.22049

• brain imaging
• neuroimaging
• depression
• measurement
• psychometrics
• biological markers
• suicide
• self-harm

BackgroundDeficits in serotonergic neurotransmission have been implicated in the pathogenesis of depression and suicidality. The present study utilized a novel positron-emission tomography (PET) ligand to quantitate and compare brain regional serotonin transporter (SERT) binding potential in depressed patients with a past history of suicide attempts to that of healthy comparison subjects. %26lt;br%26gt;MethodWe used [C-11]-ZIENT PET to label SERT in the serotonergic cell body rich brainstem, and forebrain projection fields. Quantitative PET emission data from 21 adults (10 healthy controls and 11 drug-free patients with major depression) was used for group comparison. SERT binding potential (BPND) in eight MRI-based brain regions of interest (ROI) were compared in high-resolution PET images. %26lt;br%26gt;ResultsSERT binding potential was significantly decreased in the midbrain/pons (P = .029) and putamen (P = .04) of depressed patients with a past suicide attempt relative to comparison subjects. Forebrain SERT binding was also reduced in the patient sample, though these region effects did not survive a multiple comparison correction. %26lt;br%26gt;ConclusionThese results suggest that decreased availability of the brainstem and basal ganglia SERT represents a biomarker of depression and thus confirm and extend the role of dysregulation of brain serotonergic neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of depression and suicide.

• 出版日期2013-10