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We report the development of the first positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer, [(18)F]CNY-07, based on a highly specific and potent RIPK1 inhibitor, Nec-1s, for RIPK1/necroptosis brain imaging in rodents. [(18)F]CNY-07 was synthesized through copper-mediated (18)F-radiolabeling from an aryl boronic ester precursor and studied in vivo PET imaging in rodents. PET imaging results showed that [(18)F]CNY-07 can penetrate the blood–brain barrier with a maximum percent injected dose per unit volume of 3 at 10 min postinjection in the brain in vivo. Self-blocking studies of [(18)F]CNY-07 by pretreating with unlabeled molecules in rodents showed reduced radioactivity in animal brains (30% radioactivity decreased), indicating the binding specificity of our radiotracer. Our studies demonstrate that [(18)F]CNY-07 has provided a useful PET radioligand enabling brain RIPK1 imaging, which could be a valuable research tool in studying RIPK1-related neurological disorders in animals and potentially humans.

To better understand the role of bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins in epigenetic mechanisms, we developed a series of thienodiazepine-based derivatives and identified two compounds, 3a and 6a, as potent BET inhibitors. Further in vivo pharmacokinetic studies and analysis of in vitro metabolic stability of 6a revealed excellent brain penetration and reasonable metabolic stability. Compounds 3a and 6a were radiolabeled with fluorine-18 in two steps and utilized in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies in mice. Preliminary PET imaging results demonstrated that [18F]3a and [18F]6a have good brain uptake (with maximum SUV = 1.7 and 2, respectively) and binding specificity in mice brains. These results show that [18F]6a is a potential PET radiotracer that could be applied to imaging BET proteins in the brain. Further optimization and improvement of the metabolic stability of [18F]6a are still needed in order to create optimal PET imaging probes of BET family members.

Introduction Aging is an inevitable physiological process and the biggest risk factor of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Developing an imaging tracer to visualize aging-related changes in the brain may provide a useful biomarker in elucidating neuroanatomical mechanisms of AD. Methods We developed and characterized a new tracer that can be used to visualize SIRT1 in brains related to aging and AD by positron emission tomography imaging. Results The SIRT1 tracer displayed desirable brain uptake and selectivity, as well as stable metabolism and proper kinetics and distribution in rodent and nonhuman primate brains. This new tracer was further validated by visualizing SIRT1 in brains of AD transgenic mice, compared to nontransgenic animals. Discussion Our SIRT1 tracer not only enables, for the first time, the demonstration of SIRT1 in animal brains, but also allows visualization and recapitulation of AD-related SIRT1 neuropathological changes in animal brains.

[Image: see text] In this paper, we report the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of the first selective bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) BD1 bromodomains of the PET radiotracer [(18)F]PB006. The standard compound PB006 showed high affinity and good selectivity toward BRD4 BD1 (K(d) = 100 nM and 29-fold selectively for BD1 over BD2) in an in vitro binding assay. PET imaging experiments in rodents were performed to evaluate the bioactivity of [(18)F]PB006 in vivo. A biodistribution study of [(18)F]PB006 in mice revealed high radiotracer uptake in peripheral tissues, such as liver and kidney, and moderate radiotracer uptake in the brain. Further blocking studies demonstrated the significant radioactivity decreasing (20–30% reduction compared with baseline) by pretreating unlabeled PB006 and JQ1, suggesting the high binding selectivity and specificity of [(18)F]PB006. Our study indicated that [(18)F]PB006 is a potent PET probe selectively targeting BET BD1, and further structural optimization of the radiotracer is still required to improve brain uptake to support neuroepigenetic imaging.

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is responsible for the methylation of lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27) leading to transcriptional repression. Consequently, EZH2 is related with several diseases including cancers, as overexpressed EZH2 can down-regulate cancer suppressor genes. Therefore, EZH2 became a promising target for cancer treatment and diagnosis and in vivo imaging of EZH2 is critical for diagnosis and treatment monitor. In the present work, we radiolabeled a specific inhibitor of EZH2, [11C]EI1, investigated its pharmacokinetics and performed micro PET/CT imaging. Results showed that the half-life of the [11C]EI1 in blood was 3.4 min. Micro PET/CT imaging showed that the [11C]EI1 can enter the major organs including liver, stomach, and intestine and can be blocked by the unlabeled EI1 resulting in a significant distinct between apparent distribution volumes (Vd, 2.8 mL for blocking versus 17.4 ml for baseline), which validated the specific affinity of the [11C]EI1 against EZH2 and illustrated the distribution of EZH2 in major organs. The results indicated that the [11C]EI1 can be a tracer for EZH2 PET imaging used in diagnosis and therapy monitor of EZH2 related diseases especially cancers.

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is the most common cause of death in men. The effectiveness of HDAC inhibitors has been demonstrated by preclinical models, but not in clinical studies, probably due to the ineffectively accumulation of HDACI in prostate cancer cells. The purpose of this work was to evaluate effects of a novel HDACI (CN133) on CRPC xenograft model and 22Rv1 cells, and develops methods, PET/CT imaging, to detect the therapeutic effects of CN133 on this cancer. We designed and performed study to compare the effects of CN133 with SAHA on the 22Rv1 xenograft model and 22Rv1 cells. Using PET/CT imaging with [11C] Martinostat and [18F] FDG, we imaged mice bearing 22Rv1 xenografts before and after 21-day treatment with placebo and CN133 (1 mg/kg), and uptake on pre-treatment and post-treatment imaging was measured. The anti-tumor mechanisms of CN133 were investigated by qPCR, western blot, and ChIP-qPCR. Our data showed that the CN133 treatment led to a 50% reduction of tumor volume compared to the placebo that was more efficacious than SAHA treatment in this preclinical model. [11C] Martinostat PET imaging could identify early lesions of prostate cancer and can also be used to monitor the therapeutic effect of CN133 in CRPC. Using pharmacological approaches, we demonstrated that effects of CN133 showed almost 100-fold efficacy than SAHA treatment in the experiment of cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. The anti-tumor mechanisms of CN133 were due to the inhibition of AR signaling pathway activity by decreased HDAC 2 and 3 protein expressions. Taken together, these studies provide not only a novel epigenetic approach for prostate cancer therapy but also offering a potential tool, [11C] Martinostat PET/CT imaging, to detect the early phase of prostate cancer and monitor therapeutic effect of CN133. These results will likely lead to human trials in the future.

Introduction Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family proteins play a vital role in the epigenetic regulation process by interacting with acetylated lysine (Ac-K) residues in histones. BET inhibitors have become promising candidates to treat various diseases through the inhibition of the interaction between BET bromodomains and Ac-K of histone tails. With a molecular imaging probe, noninvasive imaging such as positron emission tomography (PET) can visualize the distribution and roles of BET family proteins in vivo and enlighten our understanding of BET protein function in both healthy and diseased tissue. Methods We radiolabeled the potent BET inhibitor INCB054329 by N-methylation to make [11C]PB003 as a BET PET radiotracer. The bioactivity evaluation of unlabeled PB003 in vitro was performed to confirm its binding affinity for BRDs, then the PET/CT imaging in rodents was performed to evaluate the bioactivity of [11C]PB003 in vivo. Results In our in vitro evaluation, PB003 showed a high BET binding affinity for BRDs (Kd = 2 nM, 1.2 nM, and 1.2 nM for BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4, respectively). In vivo PET/CT imaging demonstrated that [11C]PB003 has favorable uptake with appropriate kinetics and distributions in main peripheral organs. Besides, the blockade of [11C]PB003 binding was found in our blocking study which indicated the specificity of [11C]PB003. However, the BBB penetration and brain uptake of [11C]PB003 was limited, with only a maximum 0.2% injected dose/g at ~2 min post-injection. Conclusion The imaging results in rodents in vivo demonstrate that [11C]PB003 binds to BET with high selectivity and specificity and has favorable uptake in peripheral organs. However, the low brain uptake of [11C]PB003 limits the visualization of brain regions indicating the efforts are still needed to discover the new BET imaging probes for brain visualization.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been indicated in neurodegenerative and other disorders. The mitochondrial complex I (MC-I) of the electron transport chain (ETC) on the inner membrane is the electron entry point of the ETC and is essential for the production of reactive oxygen species. Based on a recently identified β-keto-amide type MC-I modulator from our laboratory, an (18)F-labeled positron emission tomography (PET) tracer, (18)F-2, was prepared. PET/CT imaging studies demonstrated that (18)F-2 exhibited rapid brain uptake without significant wash out during the 60 min scanning time. In addition, the binding of (18)F-2 was higher in the regions of the brain stem, cerebellum, and midbrain. The uptake of (18)F-2 can be significantly blocked by its parent compound. Collectively, the results strongly suggest successful development of MC-I PET tracers from this chemical scaffold that can be used in future mitochondrial dysfunction studies of the central nervous system.

Two tandem bromodomains (BD1 and BD2) of bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family proteins have shown distinct roles in mediating gene transcription and expression. Inhibitors that interact with a specific bromodomain may contribute to a specific therapeutic potential with fewer side effects. However, little is known about this disease-related target. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging could allow us to achieve in-depth knowledge of the BD2 bromodomain. Herein we describe the radiosynthesis and evaluation of [11C]1 as a BRD4 BD2 bromodomain PET imaging radioligand. Our preliminary PET imaging results in rodents demonstrated that [11C]1 had suitable biodistribution in peripheral organs and tissues. Further blocking studies indicated that [11C]1 had good binding specificity toward the BD2 bromodomain. This study may pave the way for the development of a PET radioligand specifically targeting BD1/2 bromodomains as well as for the biological mechanism investigation of BD1/2 bromodomains.

Beta-secretase (BACE1), a transmembrane aspartyl protease, can cleave membrane-bound β-amyloid precursor proteins (APPs) to initiate the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ). The inhibition of BACE-1 to limit the accumulation of neurotoxic Aβ peptides could offer a potential treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). However, little is known about the distribution and density of BACE1 in the central nervous system. As a step toward filling this gap in knowledge, we have evaluated a potential radiotracer for the imaging of BACE1 using positron emission tomography (PET). A BACE1 inhibitor, 5, is reported with blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and high binding affinity. To characterize the pharmacokinetics and distribution of 5 in the brain, we radiolabeled 5 with carbon-11. Using PET, we found that [11C]5 shows moderate uptake in the brain when administered intravenously to rodents and further work will be performed in animal models to test its application as a PET imaging probe for the central nervous system. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of PET at providing brain pharmacokinetic data for BACE1 inhibitors, crucial for the development of treatments for AD where CNS penetration is critical.

The sigma-1 receptor (σ1R) is a unique intracellular protein. σ1R plays a major role in various pathological conditions in the central nervous system (CNS), implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Imaging of σ1R in the brain using positron emission tomography (PET) could serve as a noninvasively tool for enhancing the understanding of the disease's pathophysiology. Moreover, σ1R PET tracers can be used for target validation and quantification in diagnosis. Herein, we describe the radiosynthesis, in vivo PET/CT imaging of novel σ1R 11C-labeled radioligands based on 6-hydroxypyridazinone, [11C]HCC0923 and [11C]HCC0929. Two radioligands have high affinities to σ1R, with good selectivity. In mice PET/CT imaging, both radioligands showed appropriate kinetics and distributions. Additionally, the specific interactions of two radioligands were reduced by compounds 13 and 15 (self-blocking). Of the two, [11C]HCC0929 was further investigated in positive ligands blocking studies, using classic σ1R agonist SA 4503 and σ1R antagonist PD 144418. Both σ1R ligands could extensively decreased the uptake of [11C]HCC0929 in mice brain. Besides, the biodistribution of major brain regions and organs of mice were determined in vivo. These studies demonstrated that two radioligands, especially [11C]HCC0929, possessed ideal imaging properties and might be valuable tools for non-invasive quantification of σ1R in brain., Graphical abstract Of the two novel 11C-labeled sigma-1 receptor radioligands, [11C]HCC0929 has possessed better kinetic property and specificity, which could potentially accelerate preclinical research and medical development in sigma-1 receptor-related center nervous systems disease.Image 1

Here, we report the development of novel PET radiotracer ([11C]CW22) of BET proteins. In vivo imaging results in rodents and nonhuman primates (NHP) demonstrate that [11C]CW22 has excellent brain uptake, good specificity, good selectivity, suitable metabolism, appropriate kinetics and distribution in the brain. Our studies demonstrated that [11C]CW22 exhibits ideal properties as a PET imaging probe of BET proteins for further validation.

We report herein the discovery of a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for the (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3). Our recent medicinal chemistry campaign on developing sulfonamide-based NLRP3 inhibitors led to an analog, 1, with a methoxy substituent amenable to labeling with carbon-11. PET/CT imaging studies indicated that [(11)C]1 exhibited rapid blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and moderate brain uptake, as well as blockable uptake in the brain. [(11)C]1, thus suggesting the potential to serve as a useful tool for imaging NLRP3 inflammasome in living brains.

Alzheimer’s disease–related γ-secretase is a prime drug target whose brain regional expression and distribution remain largely unknown. This study describes the development of a molecular imaging probe to reveal γ-secretase in rodents and macaques with translational potentials in humans., The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is primarily driven by brain accumulation of the amyloid-β-42 (Aβ42) peptide generated from the amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) via cleavages by β- and γ-secretase. γ-Secretase is a prime drug target for AD; however, its brain regional expression and distribution remain largely unknown. Here, we are aimed at developing molecular imaging tools for visualizing γ-secretase. We used our recently developed γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) and synthesized our GSM-based imaging agent, [11C]SGSM-15606. We subsequently performed molecular imaging in rodents, including AD transgenic animals, and macaques, which revealed that our probe displayed good brain uptake and selectivity, stable metabolism, and appropriate kinetics and distribution for imaging γ-secretase in the brain. Interestingly, rodents and macaques shared certain brain areas with high γ-secretase expression, suggesting a functional conservation of γ-secretase. Collectively, we have provided the first molecular brain imaging of γ-secretase, which may not only accelerate our drug discovery for AD but also advance our understanding of AD.

Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) family proteins have become a hot research area because of their close relationship with a variety of human diseases. The non-invasive imaging technique, such as positron emission tomography (PET), provides a powerful tool to visualize and quantify the BET family proteins that accelerating the investigation of this domain. Herein, we describe the development of a promising PET probe, [ 11 C]1, specifically targeting BET family proteins based on the potent BET inhibitor CF53. [ 11 C]1 was successfully radio-synthesized with good yield and high purity after the optimization of radiolabeling conditions. The in vivo bio-activities evaluation of [ 11 C]1 was performed using PET imaging in rodents. The results demonstrated that [ 11 C]1 has favorable uptake in peripheral organs and moderate uptake in the brain. Further blocking studies indicated the high binding specificity and selectivity for BET proteins of this probe. Our findings suggest that [ 11 C]1 is a promising BET PET probe for BET proteins as well as epigenetic imaging.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ) is a member of the nuclear receptor family of transcription factors, which involved in inflammation regulating and bone remodeling. Rare studies explored the effects of PPARγ on mineralization and differentiation in cementoblasts. To explore the potential approaches to repair the damaged periodontal tissues especially for cementum, the present study aims to investigate the effects and the regulating mechanism of PPARγ on mineralization and differentiation in cementoblasts. Murine cementoblast cell lines (OCCM-30) were cultured in basic medium for 24 hours/48 hours or in mineralization medium for 3/7/10 days, respectively at addition of dimethyl sulphoxide, rosiglitazone (PPARγ agonist), GW9662 (PPARγ antagonist), lithium chloride (LiCl), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), or respective combination. Expression of mineralization genes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt related transcription factors 2 (RUNX2), and osteocalcin (OCN) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or/and Western blot. ALP staining and alizarin red staining were used to evaluate the mineralization in OCCM-30 cells. The change of β-catenin expression and translocation in cytoplasm/nucleus was analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. The results showed that PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone improved the expression of ALP, RUNX2, and OCN, deepened ALP staining, increased mineralized nodules formation, and decreased β-catenin expression in the nucleus. LiCl, an activator of the Wnt signaling pathway, inhibited the expression of mineralization genes and reversed the upregulated expression of mineralization genes resulted from rosiglitazone. Under inflammatory microenvironment, rosiglitazone not only suppressed the expression of interleukin-1β caused by TNF-α, but improved the expression of mineralization genes in OCCM-30 cells. In conclusion, PPARγ could promote mineralization and differentiation in cementoblasts via inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which would shed new light on the treatment of periodontitis and periodontal tissue regeneration.

Epigenetic mechanisms mediated by histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been implicated in a wide-range of CNS disorders and may offer new therapeutic opportunities. In vivo evaluation of HDAC density and drug occupancy has become possible with [(11)C]Martinostat, which exhibits selectivity for a subset of class I/IIb HDAC enzymes. In this study, we characterize the kinetic properties of [(11)C]Martinostat in the nonhuman primate (NHP) brain in preparation for human neuroimaging studies. The goal of this work was to determine whether classic compartmental analysis techniques were appropriate and to further determine if arterial plasma is required for future NHP studies. Using an arterial plasma input function, several analysis approaches were evaluated for robust outcome measurements. [(11)C]Martinostat showed high baseline distribution volume (VT) ranging from 29.9 to 54.4 mL/cm(3) in the brain and large changes in occupancy (up to 99%) with a blocking dose approaching full enzyme saturation. An averaged nondisplaceable tissue uptake (VND) of 8.6 ± 3.7 mL/cm(3) suggests high specific binding of [(11)C]Martinostat. From a two-tissue compartment model, [(11)C]Martinostat exhibits a high K1 (averaged K1 of 0.65 mL/cm(3)/min) and a small k4 (average of 0.0085 min(-1)). Our study supports that [(11)C]Martinostat can be used to detect changes in HDAC density and occupancy in vivo and that simplified analysis not using arterial blood could be appropriate.

The serotonin subtype 2C (5HT2C) receptor is an emerging and promising drug target to treat several disorders of the human central nervous system. In this current report, two potent and selective 5HT2C full agonists, WAY-163909 (2) and vabicaserin (3), were radiolabeled with carbon-11 via Pictet-Spengler cyclization with [(11)C]formaldehyde and used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Reaction conditions were optimized to exclude the major source of isotope dilution caused by the previously unknown breakdown of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to formaldehyde at high temperature under mildly acid conditions. In vivo PET imaging was utilized to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and distribution of the carbon-11 labeled 5HT2C agonists. Both radiolabeled molecules exhibit high blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and nonspecific binding, which was unaltered by preadministration of the unlabeled agonist. Our work demonstrates that Pictet-Spengler cyclization can be used to label drugs with carbon-11 to study their pharmacokinetics and for evaluation as PET radiotracers.

The bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) inhibitors have been extensively studied for tumor treatment in the past few years. Recently, BET-containing proteins have been reported to play a key role in brain functions, such as learning and memory. BET proteins have also been shown to be a potential therapeutic target for substance abuse disorders. Development of a molecular probe for noninvasive imaging will elucidate the distribution and functional roles of BET in the living subject and accelerate medical research and drug discovery in this domain. Herein, we describe the synthesis and pilot imaging of a novel BET imaging agent, [11C]MS417. Our imaging results demonstrate that this probe has moderate brain uptake, good specificity, good selectivity, and appropriate kinetics and distribution. [11C]MS417 is an ideal lead compound for further optimization of clinical BET PET radiotracer tools and MS417 could be used as a blood-brain-barrier-penetrant compound for preclinical research.

Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a serine hydrolase that hydrolyzes monoacylglycerols to glycerol and fatty acid and plays an important role in neuroinflammation. MAGL inhibitors are a class of molecules with therapeutic potential for human diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), in areas such as pain and inflammation, immunological disorders, and neurological and psychiatric conditions. Development of a noninvasive imaging probe would elucidate the distribution and functional roles of MAGL in the brain and accelerate medical research and drug discovery in this domain. Herein, we describe the synthesis and pilot rodent imaging of a novel MAGL imaging agent, [(11)C]SAR127303. Our imaging results demonstrate the high specificity, good selectivity, and appropriate kinetics and distribution of [(11)C]SAR127303, validating its utility for imaging MAGL in the brain. Our findings support the translational potential for human CNS MAGL imaging.

The vertebrate nervous system is characterized by myelination, a fundamental biological process that protects the axons and facilitates electric pulse transduction. Damage to myelin is considered a major effect of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, therapeutic interventions are focused on protecting myelin integrity and promoting myelin repair. These efforts need to be accompanied by an effective imaging tool that correlates the disease progression with the extent of myelination. To date, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the primary imaging technique to detect brain lesions in MS. However, conventional MRI cannot differentiate demyelinated lesions from other inflammatory lesions, and therefore cannot predict disease progression in MS. To address this problem, we have prepared a Gd-based contrast agent, termed MIC (Myelin Imaging Compound), which binds to myelin with high specificity. In this work, we demonstrate that MIC exhibits a high kinetic stability towards transmetallation with promising relaxometric properties. MIC was used for in vivo imaging of myelination following intracerebroventricular infusion in the rat brain. MIC was found to distribute preferentially in highly myelinated regions and was able to detect regions of focally induced demyelination.

Myelination represents one of the most fundamental biological processes in the vertebrate nervous system. Abnormalities and changes in myelination in the central nervous system (CNS) are seen in many neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). A long-standing goal has been to directly detect and quantify myelin content in order to facilitate diagnosis and therapeutic treatments of myelin-related diseases. In the course of our studies, we have developed a series of small-molecule probes (SMP) as myelin-imaging agents. Among them are coumarin derivatives, which exhibit promising brain permeability and myelin-binding properties. Herein we report a full account of the design and synthesis of coumarin-based SMPs as myelin-imaging agents. Systematic evaluation of these SMPs in both the CNS and peripheral nervous system (PNS) allowed us to identify some lead agents for potential use as fluorescent dyes for intraoperative nerve mapping in surgical operations or as radiotracers for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of myelination.

Destruction or changes associated with myelin membranes in the CNS play a key role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and other related neurodegenerative disorders. A long-standing goal has been to detect and quantify myelin contentin vivo. For this reason, we have developed a myelin-imaging technique based on positron emission tomography (PET). PET is a quantitative imaging modality that has been widely used in clinical settings for direct assessment of biological processes at the molecular level. However, lack of myelin-imaging probes has hampered the use of PET for imaging of myelination in the CNS. Here, we report a myelin-imaging agent, termed Case Imaging Compound (CIC) that readily penetrates the blood–brain barrier and preferentially localizes to myelinated regions of the brain. After radiolabeling with positron-emitting carbon-11, [11C]CIC–PET was conducted in longitudinal studies using a lysolethicin-induced rat model of focal demyelination and subsequent remyelination. Quantitative analysis showed that the retention of [11C]CIC correlates with the level of demyelination/remyelination. These studies indicate that, for the first time, [11C]CIC–PET can be used as an imaging marker of myelination, which has the potential to be translated into clinical studies in multiple sclerosis and other myelin-related diseases for early diagnosis, subtyping, and efficacy evaluation of therapeutic treatments aimed at myelin repair.

Myelination is one of the most fundamental biological processes in the development of vertebrate nervous systems. Abnormal or disrupted myelination occurs in many acquired or inherited neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and various leukodystrophies. To date, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been the primary tool for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of MS and related diseases; however, any change in signal intensity of conventional MRI reflects a change only in tissue water content, which is a nonspecific measure of the overall changes in macroscopic tissue injury. Thus, the use of MRI as a primary measure of disease activity was shown to be disassociated from the clinical outcome due to the lack of specificity for myelination. In order to increase the MRI specificity for myelin pathologies, we designed and synthesized the first Gd-based T(1) MR contrast agent (MIC) that binds to myelin with high specificity. In this Communication, we demonstrate that MIC localizes in brain regions in proportion to the extent of myelination. In addition, MIC possesses promising MR contrast properties, which allow for direct detection of myelin distribution through T(1) mapping in the mouse brain.

A wide range of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, particularly those related to sleep, are associated with the abnormal function of orexin (OX) receptors. Several orexin receptor antagonists have been reported in recent years, but currently there are no imaging tools to probe the density and function of orexin receptors in vivo. To date there are no published data on the pharmacokinetics (PK) and accumulation of some lead orexin receptor antagonists. Evaluation of CNS pharmacokinetics in the pursuit of positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer development could be used to elucidate the association of orexin receptors with diseases and to facilitate the drug discovery and development. To this end, we designed and evaluated carbon-11 labeled compounds based on diazepane orexin receptor antagonists previously described. One of the synthesized compounds, [(11)C]CW4, showed high brain uptake in rats and further evaluated in non-human primate (NHP) using PET-MR imaging. PET scans performed in a baboon showed appropriate early brain uptake for consideration as a radiotracer. However, [(11)C]CW4 exhibited fast kinetics and high nonspecific binding, as determined after co-administration of [(11)C]CW4 and unlabeled CW4. These properties indicate that [(11)C]CW4 has excellent brain penetrance and could be used as a lead compound for developing new CNS-penetrant PET imaging probes of orexin receptors.

We report the radiosynthesis and evaluation of 3-[3,5-dimethyl-4-(4-[11C]methylpiperazinecarbonyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-ylmethylene]-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-5-sulfonic acid (3-chlorophenyl)methylamide, termed [11C]SU11274 ([11C]14) for in vivo imaging of mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) receptor by positron emission tomography (PET). Following the synthesis of the precursor (13) that was achieved in 10 steps with a total yield of 9.7%, [11C]14 was obtained through radiomethylation in a range of 5-10% radiochemical yield and over 95% radiochemical purity. For in vivo PET studies, two human lung cancer xenograft models were established using MET-positive NCI-H1975 and MET-negative NCI-H520 cell lines. Quantitative [11C]14-PET studies showed that the tumor uptake of [11C]14 in the NCI-H1975 xenografts was significantly higher than that in the NCI-H520 xenografts, which is consistent with their corresponding immunohistochemical tissue staining patterns of MET receptors from the same animals. These studies demonstrated that [11C]14-PET is an appropriate imaging marker for quantification of MET receptor in vivo, which can facilitate efficacy evaluation in the clinical development of MET-targeted cancer therapeutics.