title: Brain serotonin transporter occupancy by oral sibutramine dosed to steady state: a PET study using (11)C-DASB in healthy humans.
abstract: Sibutramine is a centrally acting monoamine reuptake inhibitor prescribed as an appetite suppressant in the management of obesity. Its effects are mostly attributable to serotonin and norepinephrine transporter (SERT and NET, respectively) inhibition by its potent metabolites mono-desmethylsibutramine (M1) and di-desmethylsibutramine (M2). However, there is a paucity of in vivo data in humans about mechanisms underlying both clinical efficacy and the dose-independent non-response observed in a minority of patients. Twelve healthy male patients (mean age 41 years) completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover investigation of brain SERT occupancy by sibutramine 15 mg daily at steady state. Correlations were measured between occupancy and (i) plasma concentrations of sibutramine, M1 and M2; (ii) appetite suppression. (11)C-DASB PET scans were performed on the HRRT camera. Binding potentials (BP(ND)) were calculated by the Logan reference tissue (cerebellum) method. SERT occupancy was modest (mean 30+/-10%), was similar across brain regions, but varied widely across subjects (15-46%). Occupancy was correlated positively (p=0.09) with M2 concentration, but not with sibutramine or M1. No significant appetite suppression was seen at <25% occupancy and greatest suppression was associated with highest occupancy (25-46%). However, several subjects with occupancy (36-39%) in the higher range had no appetite suppression. SERT occupancy by clinical doses of sibutramine is of modest magnitude and may be mediated predominantly by M2 in humans. 5-HT reuptake inhibition may be necessary but is not sufficient for sibutramine's efficacy in humans, supporting preclinical data suggesting that the hypophagic effect requires the co-inhibition of both SERT and NET.
authors.affiliation: Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. peter.talbot@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Cyril P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Kola O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Babalola
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Philipp
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Adam W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Julian C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001596:Benzylamines; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003503:Cyclobutanes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001596:Benzylamines; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D003503:Cyclobutanes; C420885:N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-amino-4-cyanophenylthio)benzylamine; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; C058254:sibutramine