A longitudinal PET study on changes in brain norepinephrine transporter availability following duloxetine treatment in major depressive disorder.

Importance: The norepinephrine transporter (NET) plays a crucial role in major depressive disorder (MDD). Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as duloxetine, are first-line treatments for MDD. Duloxetine inhibits the reuptake of both serotonin and norepinephrine. However, its precise mechanism, particularly regarding NET occupancy and changes in transporter availability, remains unclear. Norepinephrine transmission, mediated by NET, may be instrumental in treating MDD. Therefore, NET occupancy could serve as a potential biomarker to evaluate treatment efficacy.

Objective: This study evaluated duloxetine's impact on brain NET availability in patients with MDD using positron emission tomography (PET) with (S,S)-[18F]FMeNER-D2 and its correlation with clinical symptoms using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D).

Design: Longitudinal study.

Setting: Psychiatric hospitals and clinics.

Participants: Fifteen patients with MDD.

Interventions: Duloxetine (20-60 mg daily).

Main outcomes and measures: Baseline PET examinations were conducted for all patients, followed by treatment with duloxetine (20-60 mg daily). After 4-6 weeks of duloxetine administration, a second PET examination was performed, and plasma concentrations of duloxetine were measured immediately before and after the second examination using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seven patients showing symptom improvement over the course of time discontinued duloxetine and underwent a third PET examination after a 2-month washout period.

Results: Norepinephrine transporter occupancy by duloxetine was 30%-40% across the doses studied. A paired t-test comparing NET availability before and after duloxetine treatment showed no significant differences, suggesting that duloxetine did not significantly alter NET availability in the short term. Further analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the change in NET availability and HAM-D scores after treatment. Patients with greater reductions in HAM-D scores exhibited more pronounced reductions in NET availability.

Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential role of NET occupancy by duloxetine in the treatment of MDD and its relationship with clinical outcomes.

Relevance: Understanding changes in NET and their implications enhances our comprehension of the complex mechanisms behind antidepressants and may reveal new therapeutic targets for MDD and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

Clinical trial registration number: UMIN000008251.