Published in:
01-03-2008 | Original article
Cerebral A1 adenosine receptors (A1AR) in liver cirrhosis
Published in: European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging | Issue 3/2008
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Purpose
The cerebral mechanisms underlying hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are poorly understood. Adenosine, a neuromodulator that pre- and postsynaptically modulates neuronal excitability and release of classical neurotransmitters via A1 adenosine receptors (A1AR), is likely to be involved. The present study investigates changes of cerebral A1AR binding in cirrhotic patients by means of positron emission tomography (PET) and [18F]CPFPX, a novel selective A1AR antagonist.
Methods
PET was performed in cirrhotic patients (n = 10) and healthy volunteers (n = 10). Quantification of in vivo receptor density was done by Logan’s non-invasive graphical analysis (pons as reference region). The outcome parameter was the apparent binding potential (aBP, proportional to B
max/K
D).
Results
Cortical and subcortical regions showed lower A1AR binding in cirrhotic patients than in controls. The aBP changes reached statistical significance vs healthy controls (p < 0.05, U test with Bonferroni-Holm adjustment for multiple comparisons) in cingulate cortex (−50.0%), precentral gyrus (−40.9%), postcentral gyrus (−38.6%), insular cortex (−38.6%), thalamus (−32.9%), parietal cortex (−31.7%), frontal cortex (−28.6), lateral temporal cortex (−28.2%), orbitofrontal cortex (−27.9%), occipital cortex (−24.6), putamen (−22.7%) and mesial temporal lobe (−22.4%).
Conclusion
Regional cerebral adenosinergic neuromodulation is heterogeneously altered in cirrhotic patients. The decrease of cerebral A1AR binding may further aggravate neurotransmitter imbalance at the synaptic cleft in cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy. Different pathomechanisms may account for these alterations including decrease of A1AR density or affinity, as well as blockade of the A1AR by endogenous adenosine or exogenous xanthines.