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Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a cytosolic serine hydrolase involved in endocannabinoid and inflammatory signaling. Positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging of MAGL serves to validate target engagement of therapeutic MAGL inhibitors as well as to investigate MAGL levels under normal and disease conditions. However, PET radioligands with reversible binding kinetics for MAGL, which allow quantitative assessment of MAGL, are hitherto unavailable. In this study, we designed and synthesized fluoro-containing PET probes starting from a recently identified piperazinyl pyrrolidine-2-one derivative with reversible binding to MAGL. By tailoring the lipophilicity of the molecule to optimize nonspecific binding and blood–brain barrier permeability, we successfully identified two compounds that show high uptake to regions enriched with MAGL. PET imaging of wild-type and MAGL-deficient mice as well as a macaque monkey indicated that [18F]5 ((4R)-1-{3-[2-(18F)fluoro-4-methylpyridin-3-yl]phenyl}-4-[4-(1,3-thiazol-2-...

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a cytosolic serine hydrolase involved in endocannabinoid and inflammatory signaling. Positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging of MAGL serves to validate target engagement of therapeutic MAGL inhibitors as well as to investigate MAGL levels under normal and disease conditions. However, PET radioligands with reversible binding kinetics for MAGL, which allow quantitative assessment of MAGL, are hitherto unavailable. In this study, we designed and synthesized fluoro-containing PET probes starting from a recently identified piperazinyl pyrrolidine-2-one derivative with reversible binding to MAGL. By tailoring the lipophilicity of the molecule to optimize nonspecific binding and blood-brain barrier permeability, we successfully identified two compounds that show high uptake to regions enriched with MAGL. PET imaging of wild-type and MAGL-deficient mice as well as a macaque monkey indicated that [

We found out 3-[5-(pyridin-2-yl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl]benzonitrile analogues as the candidate for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents of metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5). Among these compounds, 3-methyl-5-(5-(pyridin-2-yl)-2H-tetrazol-2-yl)benzonitrile (10) exhibited high binding affinity (Ki = 9.4 nM) and moderate lipophilicity (cLogD, 2.4). Subsequently, [(11)C]10 was radiosynthesized at 25 ± 14% radiochemical yield (n = 11) via C-[(11)C]methylation of the arylstannyl precursor 15 with [(11)C]methyl iodide. In vitro autoradiography and PET assessments using [(11)C]10 showed high specific binding in the striatum and hippocampus, two brain regions enriched with mGluR5. Moreover, test-retest PET studies with [(11)C]10 indicated high reliability to quantify mGluR5 density, such as the intraclass correlation coefficient (0.90) and Pearson r (0.91) in the striatum of rat brain. We demonstrated that [(11)C]10 is a useful PET ligand for imaging and quantitative analysis of mGluR5. Furthermore, [(11)C]10 might be modified using its skeleton as a lead compound.

To develop a PET ligand for imaging TSPO in peripheral organs, we designed three novel oxopurine analogues [11C]3a–c (LogD: 1.81–2.17) by introducing a pyridine ring in place of a benzene ring in the lead compound [11C]2 (LogD: 3.48). The desmethyl precursors 10 for radiosynthesis were synthesized by reacting glycine 7 with picolylamines 4, followed by hydrolysis and by Curtius rearrangement with diphenylphosphoryl azide. Methylation of 10a–c with methyl iodide produced unlabeled compounds 3a–c. The radiosynthesis of [11C]3a–c was performed by reacting 10a–c with [11C]methyl iodide. Compounds 3a–c displayed high or moderate in vitro binding affinities (Ki: 5–40 nM) for TSPO. PET with [11C]3a–c in rats showed high uptake in the lung, heart, and kidney, which are organs with high TSPO expression. Metabolite analysis with [11C]3a showed that radioactivity in these organs mainly corresponded with unchanged [11C]3a. PET with [11C]3a using a rat model of lung inflammation showed a significant signal in the lipopolysaccharide-treated lung.

Metabotropic glutamate 1 (mGlu1) receptor is found not only in the brain but also in melanomas and breast cancers. mGlu1 is a promising target for molecular imaging-based diagnosis and treatment of melanoma because its overexpression induces melanocyte carcinogenesis. Here we developed three PET tracers: 4-halogeno-N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol- 2-yl]-N-[(11)C]methylbenzamide ([(11)C]4-6), which exhibited high uptake in target tumor and decreased uptake in nontarget brain tissues. In vitro binding assay indicated high to moderate binding affinities of 4-6 (Ki, 22-143 nM) for mGlu1 receptor. In vivo biodistribution studies in mice implanted with B16F10 melanoma cells confirmed high radioactive uptake in tumor and low uptake in blood, skin, and muscles. Inhibition of mGlu1 receptor using an mGlu1-selective ligand led to reduced radioactive uptake in the tumor. [(11)C]6 displayed the highest ratio of uptake between tumor and nontarget tissue and may prove useful as a PET tracer for mGlu1 imaging in melanoma.

Three novel 4-substituted benzamides have been synthesized as potential ligands for the positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of metabotropic glutamate 1 (mGlu1) receptor in the brain. Of these compounds, N-(4-(6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-N,4-dimethylbenzamide (4) exhibited the highest binding affinity (K(i) = 13.6 nM) for mGlu1 and was subsequently labeled with carbon-11. In vitro autoradiography using rat brain sections showed that [(11)C]4 binding was consistent with the distribution of mGlu1, with high specific binding in the cerebellum and thalamus. PET studies with [(11)C]4 in monkey showed a high brain uptake and a kinetic profile suitable for quantitative analysis. Pretreatment with a mGlu1-selective ligand 16 largely decreased the brain uptake, indicating high in vivo specific binding of [(11)C]4 to mGlu1. In metabolite analysis, only unchanged [(11)C]4 was found in the brain. [(11)C]4 is a useful PET ligand for the imaging and quantitative analysis of mGlu1 in monkey brain and merits further evaluation in humans.

We designed three novel positron emission tomography ligands, N-(4-(6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)-4-[(11)C]methoxy-N-methylbenzamide ([(11)C]6), 4-[(18)F]fluoroethoxy-N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-N-methylbenzamide ([(18)F]7), and 4-[(18)F]fluoropropoxy-N-[4-[6-(isopropylamino)pyrimidin-4-yl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl]-N-methylbenzamide ([(18)F]8), for imaging metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1 (mGluR1) in rodent brain. Unlabeled compound 6 was synthesized by benzoylation of 4-pyrimidinyl-2-methylaminothiazole 10, followed by reaction with isopropylamine. Removal of the methyl group in 6 gave phenol precursor 12 for radiosynthesis. Two fluoroalkoxy analogues 7 and 8 were prepared by reacting 12 with tosylates 13 and 14. Radioligands [(11)C]6, [(18)F]7, and [(18)F]8 were synthesized by O-[(11)C]methylation or [(18)F]fluoroalkylation of 12. Compound 6 showed high in vitro binding affinity for mGluR1, whereas 7 and 8 had weak affinity. Autoradiography using rat brain sections showed that [(11)C]6 binding is aligned with the reported distribution of mGluR1 with high specific binding in the cerebellum and thalamus. PET study with [(11)C]6 in rats showed high brain uptake and a similar distribution pattern to that in autoradiography, indicating the usefulness of [(11)C]6 for imaging brain mGluR1.