Radiolabeling and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of [18F]-FE-DABP688 as a PET radioligand for the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5.

INTRODUCTION: Fluoroethyl-desmethyl-ABP688 (FE-DABP688) is a novel derivative of the previously described positron emission tomography (PET) ligand 3-(6-methyl-pyridin-2-ylethynyl)-cyclohex-2-enone-O-[11C]-methyl-oxime. FE-DABP688 was radiolabeled with fluorine-18 and characterized as a PET imaging agent for the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). METHODS: FE-DABP688 was radiolabeled by reacting 2-[18F]-fluoroethyl tosylate with the sodium salt of 3-(pyridin-2-ylethynyl)-cyclohex-2-enone-oxime in dry DMF. The in vitro affinity of [18F]-FE-DABP688 for mGluR5 was determined by Scatchard analysis of saturation binding data using rat whole-brain membranes (without cerebellum). Further in vitro characterization of the tracer involved plasma stability and lipophilicity testing. In vivo evaluation of [18F]-FE-DABP688 was performed by postmortem biodistribution experiments and PET studies in rats using the dedicated small-animal PET tomograph quad-HIDAC. RESULTS: The radiotracer was obtained in good radiochemical yields in an overall synthesis time of 150 min. The radiochemical yield after semipreparative HPLC was 25+/-8% (n>7, decay corrected), and specific activity was 30+/-5 GBq/micromol (n>7). [18F]-FE-DABP688 exhibited optimal lipophilicity with a logD value of 2.1+/-0.1 and high plasma stability. Saturation assays of [(18)F]-FE-DABP688 revealed a single high-affinity binding site with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.6+/-0.4 nM and a Bmax value of 119+/-24 fmol/mg protein. PET scanning indicated radioactivity uptake in mGluR5-rich regions such as the hippocampus, striatum and cortex, while radioactivity accumulation in the cerebellum, a region with negligible mGluR5 density, was significantly lower. Biodistribution studies showed a similar distribution pattern of [18F]-FE-DABP688 binding in the brain. The hippocampus-to-cerebellum and striatum-to-cerebellum ratios were 1.81+/-0.16 and 1.93+/-0.36, respectively. Blocking studies using coinjection of [18F]-FE-DABP688 and unlabeled 2-methyl-6-((3-methoxyphenyl)ethynyl)-pyridine (1 mg/kg) revealed more than 45% specific binding in the hippocampus and striatum, thus demonstrating the in vivo specificity of tracer binding. CONCLUSIONS: [18F]-FE-DABP688 may be a useful PET tracer for imaging mGluR5 in rodents.

Radiosynthesis and preclinical evaluation of 11C-ABP688 as a probe for imaging the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5.

UNLABELLED: (11)C-ABP688 (3-(6-methyl-pyridin-2-ylethynyl)-cyclohex-2-enone-O-(11)C-methyl-oxime), a noncompetitive and highly selective antagonist for the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5), was evaluated for its potential as a PET agent. METHODS: ABP688 was radiolabeled with (11)C by reacting (11)C-methyl iodide with the sodium salt of desmethyl-ABP688 (3-(6-methyl-pyridin-2-ylethynyl)-cyclohex-2-enone oxime). The affinity of (11)C-ABP688 for mGluR5 was determined by Scatchard analysis using rat whole-brain membranes (without cerebellum). Ex vivo autoradiography, biodistribution, and PET studies with (11)C-ABP688 were performed on rats, wild-type mice, and mGluR5-knock-out mice. RESULTS: The overall synthesis time was 45-50 min from the end of radionuclide production. (11)C-ABP688 was obtained in good radiochemical yield (35% +/- 8%, n = 17, decay corrected), and the specific radioactivity was 150 +/- 50 GBq/mumol (n = 17) at the end of the synthesis. Scatchard analysis revealed a single high-affinity binding site with a dissociation constant of 1.7 +/- 0.2 nmol/L and a maximum number of binding sites of 231 +/- 18 fmol/mg of protein. Ex vivo autoradiography in wild-type mice and rats showed a heterogeneous distribution pattern consistent with the known distribution of mGluR5 in the brain, with the highest uptake in hippocampus, striatum, and cortex. Blocking studies by coinjection of (11)C-ABP688 and unlabeled 2-methyl-6-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethynyl-pyridine (1 mg/kg), an antagonist for mGluR5, revealed up to 80% specific binding in rat brain. In mGluR5-knock-out mouse brain, a homogeneous and markedly reduced accumulation of (11)C-ABP688 was observed. PET studies on rats and mice using a small-animal PET scanner also demonstrated radioactivity uptake in the brain regions known to be rich in mGluR5. In contrast, radioactivity uptake in mGluR5-knock-out mice was fairly uniform, substantiating the specificity of (11)C-ABP688 binding to mGluR5. CONCLUSION: (11)C-ABP688 is a selective tracer for imaging mGluR5 in vivo in rodents and may offer a future tool for imaging mGluR5 in humans using PET.

Quantitative evaluation of 11C-ABP688 as PET ligand for the measurement of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 using autoradiographic studies and a beta-scintillator.

In this study we assessed the new glutamatergic ligand (11)C-ABP688 with regard to the following characteristics: (A) brain distribution, (B) first pass extraction fraction, (C) suitable model to describe tracer kinetics and (D) specificity for the mGlu5 receptor. These parameters were assessed using autoradiography and a beta-scintillator positioned in the striatum. The study included 13 male rats. In 2 animals cerebral blood flow was measured using H(2)(15)O. The (11)C-ABP688 data were analyzed using compartmental modeling. A two-tissue compartment model turned out to fit the data more adequately (parameters: K(1), k(2)('), k(3)('), k(4), total distribution volume DV(tot)=K(1)/k(2)(') (1+k(3)(')/k(4)) than a one-tissue compartment model. The autoradiographic studies revealed high uptake in hippocampus, striatum and cortex and low accumulation in thalamus and cerebellum. The uptake was markedly reduced following blockade with the mGlu5 antagonist M-MPEP. The first pass extraction fraction exceeded 85%. Baseline DV(tot) was 15.16+/-2.67 ml plasma/ml tissue and decreased by 56, 67 and 72% following blockade with 1, 2 and 6 mg/kg M-MPEP, respectively. These results show that (11)C-ABP688 is a promising PET ligand for the quantification of mGlu5 receptors in humans and animals. It readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds with high specificity to the mGlu5 receptor. The study furthermore demonstrates the usefulness of a beta-scintillator, if necessary in connection with autoradiography, to evaluate new receptor tracers.

Synthesis and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of [11C]methyl-BIII277CL for imaging the PCP-binding site of the NMDA receptor by pet.

A new benzomorphane derivative, [11C]methyl-BIII277CL, was evaluated as a potential radiotracer for visualizing the PCP-binding site of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor by positron emission tomography (PET). Methyl-BIII277CL was prepared by reacting the desmethyl compound (BIII277CL) with dimethylsulfate. The pharmacological profile of methyl-BIII277CL was determined by in vitro receptor-screening assays. At a concentration of 100 nM, methyl-BIII277CL showed a significant interaction with the PCP-binding site of the NMDA receptor (79% inhibition of specific binding) and the sigma-binding site (46% inhibition). In displacement assays using mice cortical membranes, methyl-BIII277CL displayed a high affinity at the PCP-binding site of the NMDA receptor (Ki = 49 +/- 14 nmol/L) and a 130-fold lower interaction with the sigma1-binding site (Ki = 6.35 +/- 0.26 micromol/L). For saturation experiments and in vivo studies, methyl-BIII277CL was radiolabeled with 11C at the O-position of the desmethyl precursor (BIII277CL) using [11C]methyliodide with a specific activity of 35-70 GBq/micromol at the end of synthesis (EOS). In saturation assays using rat whole brain membranes [11C]methyl-BIII277CL showed a Kd of 6 +/- 1 nmol/L and a Bmax of 670 +/- 154 fmol/mg protein. Biodistribution and PET studies in rats and pigs, however, indicated a lack of specific binding and unfavorable pharmacokinetics. Kinetic modeling using the 1-tissue compartment model demonstrated for [11C]methyl-BIII277CL a low distribution volume (Dv = 0.98 mL/mL(tissue)) and very high values for the kinetic parameters K1 and k2 (K1 = 0.36 mL/mL(tissue)/min and k2 = 0.37min(-1)) in pig cortex. [11C]methyl-BIII277CL, due to the lack of specificity in vivo, may not be a candidate for imaging the PCP-binding site of the NMDA receptor.