Distinct binding of amyloid imaging ligands to unique amyloid-ß deposited in the presubiculum of Alzheimer's disease.

Non-invasive determination of amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) deposition with radioligands serves for the early diagnosis and clarification of pathogenetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The polymorphic binding site on multimeric Aß for current radioligands, however, is little understood. In this study, we investigated the binding of several radioligands including (11)C-Pittsburgh Compound B ((11)C-PiB), (3)H-AZD2184, and two recently developed compounds, (125)I-DRM106 and (125)I-DRK092, with unique presubicular Aß deposits lacking interaction with the commonly used amyloid dyes FSB. (11)C-PiB, (3)H-AZD2184, and (125)I-DRK092 showed overt binding to presubicular Aß deposits, while (125)I-DRM106 barely bound to these aggregates despite its strong binding in the hippocampal CA1 sector. Unlike neuritic plaques in the CA1, Aß lesions in the presubiculum were not accompanied by inflammatory gliosis enriched with 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO). Thus, there are at least two different components in Aß aggregates providing distinct binding sites for the current amyloid radioligands, and one of these binding components is distinctly present in the presubicular Aß deposits. Amyloid radioligands lacking affinity for this component, such as (125)I-DRM106, may selectively capture Aß deposits tightly associated with TSPO neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration as exemplified by CA1 neuritic plaques. Hence, comparative autoradiographic assessments of radioligand binding in CA1 and presubiculum could serve for the development of an amyloid PET imaging agent visualizing neurotoxicity-related Aß pathologies. Non-invasive determination of amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) serves for the early diagnosis and clarification of pathogenetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We found that there are at least two different amyloid components in hippocampal CA1 and presubiculum providing distinct binding sites for the current amyloid radioligands. Comparative analysis for radioligand binding in these two regions could serve for developing novel imaging agents selectively visualizing neurotoxicity-related Aß pathologies.

Magnetic resonance-based visualization of thermal ablative margins around hepatic tumors by means of systemic ferucarbotran administration before radiofrequency ablation: animal study to reveal the connection between excess iron deposition and T2*-weighted hypointensity in ablative margins.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to demonstrate experimentally that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of ferucarbotran-accumulated healthy liver tissues causes excess iron deposition in the ablated liver tissues on postablation days and produces sustained T2*-weighted low signals indicative of ablative margins surrounding hepatic tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted 3 experiments using 30 rats. In experiment 1, we administered either ferucarbotran (n = 6) or saline (n = 4), acquired T2*-weighted images (T2*-WIs) of the liver by using a 3-T magnetic resonance scanner, and subsequently performed RFA of healthy liver lobes. We acquired follow-up T2*-WIs up to day 7 and histologically analyzed the liver specimens. In another 4 rats, we performed sham operation, instead of RFA, in ferucarbotran-accumulated liver lobes, followed by the same image acquisition and histological analysis. In experiment 2, we administered 59Fe-labeled ferucarbotran, subsequently performed either RFA (n = 4) or sham operation (n = 4) in the liver, and acquired autoradiograms of the liver specimens on day 7. In experiment 3, we conducted RFA treatment for 8 rats bearing orthotopic hepatic tumors after ferucarbotran administration and monitored tumor growth by using serial T2*-WIs. RESULTS: On days 4 and 7 of the experiment 1, T2*-WIs of 6 rats with systemic ferucarbotran administration and subsequent hepatic RFA showed low-signal regions indicative of ablated liver tissues, whereas high-signal areas were seen in 4 saline-administered rats. Neither high nor low signal areas were detected in 4 sham-operated rats. Histologically, larger amounts of iron were observed in the RFA-induced necrotic liver tissues in the ferucarbotran-administered rats than in the saline-administered-rats. The 59Fe autoradiography of the rats in experiment 2 revealed accumulation of ferucarbotran-derived iron in necrotic liver tissues. Among 6 hepatic tumors grown in 6 rats of the experiment 3, a total of 4 tumors were stable in size, but the other 2 increased markedly on day 7. Retrospectively, T2*-WIs showed the former tumor sites surrounded completely by low-signal areas on day 4. CONCLUSIONS: The RFA of ferucarbotran-accumulated healthy liver tissues in the rats caused excess iron deposition in the ablated liver tissues and produced sustained T2*-weighted hypointense regions. Similar hypointense regions surrounding hepatic tumors were indicative of ablative margins.

In vivo SPECT imaging of amyloid-ß deposition with radioiodinated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative DRM106 in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

UNLABELLED: Noninvasive determination of amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) deposition has important significance for early diagnosis and medical intervention for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we investigated the availability of radiolabeled DRM106 ((123/125)I-DRM106 [6-iodo-2-[4-(1H-3-pyrazolyl)phenyl]imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine]), a compound with sufficient affinity for the synthesis of human Aß fibrils and satisfactory metabolic stability, as a SPECT ligand in living brains. METHOD: The sensitivity of (125)I-DRM106 for detecting Aß deposition was compared with that of (125)I-IMPY (2-(4'-dimethylaminophenyl)-6-iodo-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine), a well-known amyloid SPECT ligand, by ex vivo autoradiographic analyses in 18-mo-old amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice. To verify the sensitivity and quantitation of radiolabeled DRM106 for in vivo imaging, we compared the detectability of Aß plaques with (123)I-DRM106 and a well-known amyloid PET agent, (11)C-labeled Pittsburgh compound B ((11)C-PiB), in 29-mo-old transgenic mice and age-matched nontransgenic littermates. Additionally, we compared the binding characteristics of (125)I-DRM106 with those of (11)C-PiB and (11)C-PBB3, which selectively bind to Aß plaques and preferentially to tau aggregates, respectively, in postmortem AD brain sections. RESULTS: Ex vivo autoradiographic analysis showed that measurement with (125)I-DRM106 has a higher sensitivity for detecting Aß accumulation than with (125)I-IMPY in transgenic mice. SPECT imaging with (123)I-DRM106 also successfully detected Aß deposition in living aged transgenic mice and showed strong correlation (R = 0.95, P < 0.01) in quantitative analysis for Aß plaque detection by PET imaging with (11)C-PiB, implying that sensitivity and quantitation of SPECT imaging with (123)I-DRM106 are almost as good as (11)C-PiB PET for the detectability of Aß deposition. Further, the addition of nonradiolabeled DRM106 fully blocked the binding of (125)I-DRM106 and (11)C-PiB, but not (11)C-PBB3, to AD brain sections, and (125)I-DRM106 showed a lower binding ratio of the diffuse plaque-rich lateral temporal cortex to the dense-cored/neuritic plaque-rich hippocampal CA1 area, compared with (11)C-PiB. CONCLUSION: All of these data demonstrated the high potential of (123)I-DRM106 for amyloid imaging in preclinical and clinical application, and it might more preferentially detect dense-cored/neuritic amyloid deposition, which is expected to be closely associated with neuropathologic changes of AD.

Biological evaluation of the radioiodinated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative DRK092 for amyloid-ß imaging in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Non-invasive determination of amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) deposition has important significance for early diagnosis and medical intervention in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we investigated the availability of a radioiodinated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivative, termed (125)I-DRK092, as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) ligand for in vivo detection of Aß deposition. DRK092 showed high binding affinity for either synthetic human Aß fibrils or brain homogenates from amyloid precursor protein transgenic (Tg) mouse (PS1-ki/JU-Tg2576) and AD patient with a dissociation constant (Kd) of one-digit nM, and excellent brain permeability (peak value of uptake: approximately 0.9% of injection dose/g rat brain). Ex vivo autoradiographic analysis showed that measurement with (125)I-DRK092 has higher sensibility for detecting Aß accumulation than with (125)I-IMPY, a well-known amyloid SPECT ligand, in Tg mice. In vitro autoradiography with (125)I-DRK092 also confirmed higher accumulation of radioactivity in the cortical area, enriched with Aß plaques, of Tg mouse and AD patient brains, as compared with the corresponding areas in non-Tg mouse and healthy control brains. All the data presented above lead us to draw the conclusion that radioiodinated DRK092 is a potential SPECT ligand for amyloid imaging in AD.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel radioiodinated imidazopyridine derivatives for amyloid-ß imaging in Alzheimer's disease.

Non-invasive detection for amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) deposition has important significance for the early diagnosis and medical intervention for Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, we developed a series of imidazopyridine derivatives as potential imaging agents for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Two of them, compounds DRK092 and DRM106, showed higher affinity for synthetic human Aß 1-40 fibrils than did the well-known amyloid-imaging agent IMPY. A metabolite analysis revealed brain-permeable radioactive metabolites of (125)I-labeled DRK092 and IMPY; no radioactive metabolites from (125)I-labeled DRM106 ([(125)I]DRM106) were detected. In addition, in vitro autoradiography clearly demonstrated specific binding of [(125)I]DRM106 in the hippocampal region of AD enriched with Aß plaques. Thus, our results strongly suggested that compound DRM106 can be used as an imaging agent for SPECT to detect Aß deposition in AD brain.

Synthesis and evaluation of a novel 68Ga-chelate-conjugated bisphosphonate as a bone-seeking agent for PET imaging.

INTRODUCTION: (68)Ga is a positron-emitting nuclide that has significant imaging potential given that, unlike cyclotron-produced (18)F, the isotope can be produced on-site utilizing a (68)Ge/(68)Ga generator. We recently synthesized a novel bone-seeking agent by coupling a bisphosphonate with the (68)Ga chelator 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA). This study presents a first report on the potential of this (68)Ga bone-seeking radiopharmaceutical in the detection of bone metastases. METHODS: 4-Amino-1-hydroxybutylidene-1,1-bisphosphonate was conjugated with 2-[4,7-di(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7-triazonan-1-yl]pentanedioic acid, yielding 2-[4,7-di(carboxymethyl)-1,4,7-triazonan-1-yl]-5-[(4-hydroxy-4,4-diphosphonobutyl)amino]-5-oxopentanoic acid (NOTA-BP). (68)Ga-labeled NOTA-BP ([(68)Ga]NOTA-BP) was prepared by complexation of NOTA-BP with [(68)Ga] gallium chloride and evaluated in in vitro experiments, biodistribution experiments and micro-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging experiments. RESULTS: The labeling of NOTA-BP with (68)Ga was completed by heating for 10 min. [(68)Ga]NOTA-BP was determined to have a radiochemical purity of over 95%, a high affinity for hydroxyapatite and a high stability in plasma. In in vivo biodistribution experiments, [(68)Ga]NOTA-BP demonstrated high bone uptake potential. Compared with (99m)Tc-labeled methylene diphosphonate ([(99m)Tc]MDP) and [(18)F]fluoride, [(68)Ga]NOTA-BP exhibited faster blood clearance and a higher bone-to-blood ratio. In addition, mouse model bone metastasis was detected by micro-PET imaging at 1 h postinjection of [(68)Ga]NOTA-BP. CONCLUSION: We have developed a novel (68)Ga-radiolabeled bone-seeking agent. This [(68)Ga]NOTA-BP complex was found to have a high bone affinity and rapid blood clearance, and may thus prove to be useful as a bone-seeking agent for clinical PET.

Effects of carvedilol on cardiac function and cardiac adrenergic neuronal damage in rats with dilated cardiomyopathy.

UNLABELLED: Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is a reliable marker for the detection of cardiac adrenergic neuronal damage in heart failure. The cardioprotective properties of carvedilol, a vasodilating beta-adrenoceptor-blocking agent, were studied in a rat model of dilated cardiomyopathy after autoimmune myocarditis. METHODS: Twenty-eight days after immunization, surviving rats (41/55, or 75%) were divided into 2 groups treated with carvedilol, 2 mg/kg/d (group C, n = 19), or vehicle alone (0.5% methylcellulose, group V, n = 22). After oral administration for 2 mo, heart weight, heart rate, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP), and myocardial fibrosis were measured and compared with those in untreated rats (group N, n = 19). Myocardial uptake of (125)I-MIBG (differential absorption ratio) in the left ventricle was measured by autoradiography at 10, 30, or 240 min after tracer injection. RESULTS: Four (18%) of 22 rats in group V died between days 28 and 84 after immunization. None of the rats in group C or N died. Heart weight, heart rate, LVEDP, and area of myocardial fibrosis in group C (1.14 +/- 0.04 g, 345 +/- 16 beats per minute, 7.6 +/- 1.5 mm Hg, and 12% +/- 1%) were significantly lower than those in group V (1.34 +/- 0.04 g, 389 +/- 10 beats per minute, 12.3 +/- 1.3 mm Hg, and 31% +/- 2%). Although the differential absorption ratio was lower at all time points in group V than in group N, uptake after treatment increased in group C, compared with group V, at 10 min (12.5 +/- 1.0 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.8, not significant), 30 min (10.1 +/- 1.1 vs. 6.3 +/- 0.9, not significant), and 240 min (6.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.2, P < 0.05). The late washout ratio from myocardial radioactivity between 30 and 240 min in group C was lower than that in group V (36% vs. 60%). CONCLUSION: These observations indicated that carvedilol has beneficial effects and protects cardiac adrenergic neurons in dilated cardiomyopathy.