Norepinephrine transporter and depression

• Project/Area Number: 24591691
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (2014); National Institute of Radiological Sciences (2012-2013)
• Principal Investigator: TAKANO Harumasa 独立行政法人国立精神・神経医療研究センター, 病院, 医長 (30348792)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
• Budget Amount: ¥5,330,000 (Direct Cost: ¥4,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,230,000); Fiscal Year 2014: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000); Fiscal Year 2012: ¥3,250,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥750,000)
• Keywords: PET / ノルエピネフリントランスポーター / うつ病 / MRI / ノルエピネリントランスポーター

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The norepinephrine transporter (NET) is one of the key drug targets for major depression disorder (MDD). We measured NET availability (BPND) values in 13 medication-free patients with MDD and 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls using positron emission tomography (PET) with (S,S)-[18F]FMeNER-D2. Compared to healthy controls, patients showed a significantly higher NET BPND in the thalamus, in particular, in the sub-region connected to the prefrontal cortex. This study provides evidence of impaired cortical-thalamic connections innervated by norepinephrine systems in MDD.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Norepinephrine transporter occupancy by nortriptyline in patients with depression: a positron emission tomography study with (S,S)-[¹⁸F]FMeNER-D₂. (2014)
  • Author(s): Takano H, Arakawa R, Nogami T, Suzuki M, Nagashima T, Fujiwara H, Kimura Y, Kodaka F, Takahata K, Shimada H, Murakami Y, Tateno A, Yamada M, Ito H, Kawamura K, Zhang MR, Takahashi H, Kato M, Okubo Y, Suhara T.
  • Journal Title: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. Volume: 17 Issue: 04 Pages: 553-60
  • DOI: 10.1017/s1461145713001521
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Occupancy of serotonin and norepinephrine transporter by milnacipran in patients with major depressive disorder: a positron emission tomography study with [11C]DASB and (S,S)-[18F]FMeNER-D2. (2012)
  • Author(s): Nogami T, Takano H, et al
  • Journal Title: Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. Volume: 16 Issue: 5 Pages: 1-7
  • DOI: 10.1017/s1461145712001009
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Norepinephrine in the brain is associated with aversion to financial loss (2012)
  • Author(s): Takahashi H, Fujie S, Camerer C, Arakawa R, Takano H, et al
  • Journal Title: Mol Psychiat Volume: 18 Pages: 3-4
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] PETによるうつ病の病態と治療の評価 (2012)
  • Author(s): 高野 晴成
  • Organizer: 第34回日本生物学的精神医学会
  • Place of Presentation: 神戸市
  • Invited