Summary Deposition of intracellular tau fibrils has been the focus of research on the mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Here, we developed a new class of tau ligands, phenyl/pyridinyl-butadienyl-benzothiazoles/benzothiazoliums (PBBs), for visualizing diverse tau inclusions in brains of living patients with AD or non-AD tauopathies and animal models of these disorders. In vivo optical and positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging of a transgenic mouse model demonstrated sensitive detection of tau inclusions by PBBs. A pyridinated PBB, [11C]PBB3 was next applied in a clinical PET study, and its robust signal in the AD hippocampus wherein tau pathology is enriched contrasted strikingly with that of a senile plaque radioligand, [11C]Pittsburgh Compound-B ([11C]PIB). [11C]PBB3-PET data were also consistent with the spreading of tau pathology with AD progression. Furthermore, increased [11C]PBB3 signals were found in a corticobasal syndrome patient negative for [11C]PIB-PET.

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Brain cholinergic dysfunction occurs in the cerebral cortex, especially in the medial occipital cortex. It begins in early Parkinson disease, and is more widespread and profound in both Parkinson disease with dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

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A panel of radiochemicals has enabled in-vivo positron emission tomography (PET) of tau pathologies in Alzheimer′s disease (AD), while sensitive detection of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) tau inclusions has been unsuccessful. Here, we generated an imaging probe, PM-PBB3, for capturing diverse tau deposits. In-vitro assays demonstrated the reactivity of this compound with tau pathologies in AD and FTLD. We could also utilize PM-PBB3 for optical/PET imaging of a living murine tauopathy model. A subsequent clinical PET study revealed increased binding of 18F-PM-PBB3 in diseased patients, reflecting cortical-dominant AD and subcortical-dominant PSP tau topologies. Notably, the in-vivo reactivity of 18F-PM-PBB3 with FTLD tau inclusion was strongly supported by neuropathological examinations of autopsied and biopsied brains derived from Pick′s disease, PSP and corticobasal degeneration patients who underwent PET scans. Finally, visual inspection of 18F-PM-PBB3-PET images was indicated to facilitate individually based identification of diverse clinical phenotypes of FTLD on the neuropathological basis.

We gave three adult rhesus monkeys seven IV injections of manganese chloride at approximately 1-week intervals. We evaluated neurologic status by serial clinical examinations and performed a levodopa test if the animal developed features of basal ganglia dysfunction. After the animals were killed, we performed neuropathologic, neurochemical, and laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA) studies. Two of three animals developed a parkinsonian syndrome characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity, and facial grimacing suggestive of dystonia but not tremor. Neither animal responded to levodopa. Autopsy demonstrated gliosis primarily confined to the globus pallidus (GP) and the substantia nigra pars reticularis (SNr). We detected focal mineral deposits throughout the GP and SNr, particularly in a perivascular distribution. LAMMA studies noted that mineral deposits were primarily comprised of iron and aluminum. The severity of pathologic change correlated with the degree of clinical dysfunction. These studies demonstrate that, in contrast to Parkinson's disease (PD) and MPTP-induced parkinsonism, manganese primarily damages the GP and SNr and relatively spares the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. Further, the results suggest that Mn-induced parkinsonism can be differentiated from PD and MPTP-induced parkinsonism by the clinical syndrome and response to levodopa. The accumulation of iron and aluminum suggests that iron/aluminum-induced oxidant stress may contribute to the damage associated with Mn toxicity.

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Tau accumulation in the brain is a pathologic hallmark of Alzheimer disease and other tauopathies. Quantitative visualization of tau pathology in humans can be a powerful method as a diagnostic aid and for monitoring potential therapeutic interventions. We established methods of PET quantification of tau pathology with 11 C-PBB3 (2-((1E,3E)-4-(6-( 11 C-methylamino)pyridin-3-yl)buta-1,3-dienyl) benzo [d]thiazol-6-ol), considering its radiometabolite entering the brain. Methods: Seven Alzheimer disease patients and 7 healthy subjects underwent dynamic 11 C-PBB3 PET scanning. Arterial blood was sampled to obtain the parent and metabolite input functions. Quantification of 11 C-PBB3 binding was performed using dual-input models that take the brain metabolite activity into consideration, traditional single-input models without such considerations, and the reference tissue model (MRTM O ) and standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR). The cerebellar cortex was used as the reference tissue for all methods. Results: The dual-input graphical models estimated binding parameter (BP