title: Decreased prefrontal 5-HT2A receptor binding in subjects at enhanced risk for schizophrenia.
abstract: The brain serotonin-2A receptor (5-HT(2A)R) has been implicated in both the pathology of schizophrenia and the therapeutic action of atypical antipsychotics. However, little is known about the 5-HT(2A)R status before the onset of schizophrenia and before the exposure to antipsychotics. We used [18F] altanserin and positron emission tomography (PET) in a pilot study of 6 individuals suspected to be at elevated risk for schizophrenia and seven age-matched controls to test the hypothesis that regional 5-HT(2A)R binding is altered in the prodromal stages of schizophrenia. Distribution volume ratios (DVRs) as a proxy for 5-HT(2A)R availability were significantly reduced in prefrontal cortex regions of at-risk subjects, implicating early abnormalities of serotonergic neurotransmission that antecede the onset of schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany. Rene.Hurlemann@ukb.uni-bonn.de
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hurlemann
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boy
authors.forename: Philipp T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scherk
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Heinz H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Coenen
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vogeley
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falkai
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zilles
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007650:Ketanserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D044402:Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A; C071983:altanserin; D007650:Ketanserin