title: Regional changes in type 1 cannabinoid receptor availability in Parkinson's disease in vivo.
abstract: The type 1 cannabinoid receptor (CB1) is a crucial modulator of synaptic transmission in brain and has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target in Parkinson's disease (PD), especially for treatment of levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID). Our aim was to measure CB1 levels in brains of PD patients in vivo and to investigate the relation between CB1 availability and LID. We studied 12 healthy controls and 29 PD patients (9 drug-naïve patients with early PD, 10 patients with advanced PD and LID, and 10 patients with advanced PD without LID). PD patients were examined using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and the modified Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (mAIMS). All subjects underwent positron emission tomography (PET) with the CB1-selective radioligand [(18)F] MK-9470 and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). PD patients showed an absolute decrease in CB1 availability in the substantia nigra. By contrast, CB1 availability was relatively increased in nigrostriatal, mesolimbic, and mesocortical dopaminergic projection areas. CB1 availability did not differ significantly between advanced PD patients with and without LID. Within the group of PD patients with LID, there was no significant correlation between CB1 availability and LID severity. These data demonstrate regional changes in CB1 availability in PD in vivo, but do not support a role for dysregulation of CB1 levels in the pathogenesis of LID.
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. koen.vanlaere@uzleuven.be
authors: Koen
authors: K
authors: Van Laere
authors: Cindy
authors: C
authors: Casteels
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Lunskens
authors: Karolien
authors: K
authors: Goffin
authors: Igor D
authors: ID
authors: Grachev
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Bormans
authors: Wim
authors: W
authors: Vandenberghe
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000378:metabolism; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008032:Limbic System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D007980:Levodopa