Synthesis and Testing of Beta-Cell-Specific Streptozotocin-Derived Near-Infrared Imaging Probes

Synthesis of 18F-labeled streptozotocin derivatives and an in-vivo kinetics study using positron emission tomography

Glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) is involved in glucose uptake by hepatocytes, pancreatic beta cells, and absorptive cells in the intestine and proximal tubules in the kidney. Pancreatic GLUT2 also plays an important role in the mechanism of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. In this study, novel Fluorine-18-labeled streptozotocin (STZ) derivatives were synthesized to serve as glycoside analogs for in-vivo GLUT2 imaging. Fluorine was introduced to hexyl groups at the 3'-positions of the compounds, and we aimed to synthesize compounds that were more stable than STZ. The nitroso derivatives exhibited relatively good stability during purification and purity analysis after radiosynthesis. We then evaluated the compounds in PET imaging and ex-vivo biodistribution studies. We observed high levels of radioactivity in the liver and kidney, which indicated accumulation in these organs within 5 min of administration. In contrast, the denitroso derivatives accumulated only in the kidney and bladder shortly after administration. Compounds with nitroso groups are thus expected to accumulate in GLUT2-expressing organs, and the presence of a nitroso group is essential for in-vivo GLUT2 imaging.

Tools for Bioimaging Pancreatic β Cells in Diabetes

When diabetes is diagnosed, the majority of insulin-secreting pancreatic β cells are already dysfunctional or destroyed. This β cell dysfunction/destruction usually takes place over many years, making timely detection and clinical intervention difficult. For this reason, there is immense interest in developing tools to bioimage β cell mass and/or function noninvasively to facilitate early diagnosis of diabetes as well as to assist the development of novel antidiabetic therapies. Recent years have brought significant progress in β cell imaging that is now inching towards clinical applicability. We explore here the need to bioimage human β cells noninvasively in various types of diabetes, and we discuss current and emerging tools for bioimaging β cells. Further developments in this field are expected to facilitate β cell imaging in diabetes.

4-Hydroxy-3-nitro-5-ureido-benzenesulfonamides Selectively Target the Tumor-Associated Carbonic Anhydrase Isoforms IX and XII Showing Hypoxia-Enhanced Antiproliferative Profiles

Human carbonic anhydrases (CA, EC, 4.2.1.1) IX and XII are overexpressed in cancer cells as adaptive response to hypoxia and acidic conditions characteristic of many tumors. In addition, hypoxia facilitates the activity of specific oxido-reductases that may be exploited to selectively activate bioreductive prodrugs. Here, new selective CA IX/XII inhibitors, as analogues of the antitumor phase II drug SLC-0111 are described, namely ureido-substituted benzenesulfonamides appended with a nitro-aromatic moiety to yield an antiproliferative action increased by hypoxia. These compounds were screened for the inhibition of the ubiquitous hCA I/II and the target hCA IX/XII. Six X-ray crystallographies with CA II and IX/mimic allowed for the rationalization of the compounds inhibitory activity. The effects of some such compounds on the viability of HT-29, MDA-MB-231, and PC-3 human cancer cell lines in both normoxic and hypoxic conditions were examined, providing the initiation toward the development of hypoxia-activated antitumor CAIs.

Design, Synthesis and in Vivo Evaluation of Novel Glycosylated Sulfonylureas as Antihyperglycemic Agents

Sulphonylurea compounds have versatile activities such as antidiabetic, diuretic, herbicide, oncolytic, antimalarial, antifungal and anticancer. The present study describes the design, synthesis and in vivo testing of novel glycosylated aryl sulfonylurea compounds as antihyperglycaemic agents in streptozocine-induced diabetic mice. The rational for the introduction of the glucosamine moiety is to enhance selective drug uptake by pancreatic β-cells in order to decrease the cardiotoxic side effect commonly associated with sulfonylurea agents. 2-Deoxy-2-(4-chlorophenylsulfonylurea)-d-glucopyranose was found to be the most potent antihyperglycaemic agents among the synthesized compounds in diabetic mice. This investigation indicates the importance of this novel class as potential antihyperglycaemic agents.

Rational design of fluorophores for in vivo applications

Several classes of small organic molecules exhibit properties that make them suitable for fluorescence in vivo imaging. The most promising candidates are cyanines, squaraines, boron dipyrromethenes, porphyrin derivatives, hydroporphyrins, and phthalocyanines. The recent designing and synthetic efforts have been dedicated to improving their optical properties (shift the absorption and emission maxima toward longer wavelengths and increase the brightness) as well as increasing their stability and water solubility. The most notable advances include development of encapsulated cyanine dyes with increased stability and water solubility, squaraine rotaxanes with increased stability, long-wavelength-absorbing boron dipyrromethenes, long-wavelength-absorbing porphyrin and hydroporphyrin derivatives, and water-soluble phthalocyanines. Recent advances in luminescence and bioluminescence have made self-illuminating fluorophores available for in vivo applications. Development of new types of hydroporphyrin energy-transfer dyads gives the promise for further advances in in vivo multicolor imaging.

Glycoconjugated amphiphilic polymers via click-chemistry for the encapsulation of quantum dots

Herein, we present a strategy for the glycoconjugation of nanoparticles (NPs), with a special focus on fluorescent quantum dots (QDs), recently described by us as "preassembly" approach. Therein, prior to the encapsulation of diverse nanoparticles by an amphiphilic poly(isoprene)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) diblock copolymer (PI-b-PEG), the terminal PEG appendage was modified by covalently attaching a carbohydrate moiety using Huisgen-type click-chemistry. Successful functionalization was proven by NMR spectroscopy. The terminally glycoconjugated polymers were subsequently used for the encapsulation of QDs in a phase transfer process, which fully preserved fluorescence properties. Binding of these nanoconstructs to the lectin Concanavalin A (Con A) was studied via surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Depending on the carbohydrate moiety, namely, D-manno-heptulose, D-glucose, D-galactose, 2-deoxy-2-{[methylamino)carbonyl]amino}-D-glucopyranose ("des(nitroso)-streptozotocin"), or D-maltose, the glycoconjugated QDs showed enhanced affinity constants due to multivalent binding effects. None of the constructs showed toxicity from 0.001 to 1 μM (particle concentration) using standard WST and LDH assays on A549 cells.

Science to practice: are theranostic agents with encapsulated cells the key for diabetes therapy?

The transplantation of beta cells could be an effective therapy for diabetes, with much better stabilization of blood glucose levels than can be achieved with insulin injection. However, the therapeutic effect of these cell transplants usually lasts for a relatively short time owing to the strong immunologic reactions against the transplants. Protection from the immune system may be achieved by encapsulating the beta cells in such a way that their ability to release insulin is preserved. In the article of Arifi n and colleagues (1), encapsulated beta cells coembedded with DTDTPA (dithiolated diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) gadolinium– coated gold nanoparticles are suggested as a biohybrid theranostic transplant. The in vitro and in vivo data presented in the article give hope that these transplants have the potential to solve many of the problems associated with beta cell treatment of diabetes. In this context, the visibility of the transplanted cells at computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and ultrasonography (US) might give the physician additional fl exibility in monitoring the transplantation procedure and its effectiveness over time. Furthermore, other cellular therapies may benefi t from cellular encapsulation. The combination of imaging of the biohybrid transplants and noninvasive functional assessment is likely to further improve assessment of the viability and function of the transplanted cells.

Molecular imaging: a promising tool to monitor islet transplantation

Replacement of insulin production by pancreatic islet transplantation has great potential as a therapy for type 1 diabetes mellitus. At present, the lack of an effective approach to islet grafts assessment limits the success of this treatment. The development of molecular imaging techniques has the potential to fulfill the goal of real-time noninvasive monitoring of the functional status and viability of the islet grafts. We review the application of a variety of imaging modalities for detecting endogenous and transplanted beta-cell mass. The review also explores the various molecular imaging strategies for assessing islet delivery, the metabolic effects on the islet grafts as well as detection of immunorejection. Here, we highlight the use of combined imaging and therapeutic interventions in islet transplantation and the in vivo monitoring of stem cells differentiation into insulin-producing cells.

Near-infrared fluorescent probe for imaging of pancreatic beta cells

The ability to image and ultimately quantitate beta-cell mass in vivo will likely have far reaching implications in the study of diabetes biology, in the monitoring of disease progression or response to treatment, and for drug development. Here, using animal models, we report on the synthesis, characterization, and intravital microscopic imaging properties of a near-infrared fluorescent exendin-4 analogue with specificity for the GLP-1 receptor on beta cells (E4(K12)-Fl). The agent demonstrated subnanomolar EC(50) binding concentrations, with high specificity and binding that could be inhibited by GLP-1R agonists. Following intravenous administration to mice, pancreatic islets were readily distinguishable from exocrine pancreas, achieving target-to-background ratios within the pancreas of 6:1, as measured by intravital microscopy. Serial imaging revealed rapid accumulation kinetics (with initial signal within the islets detectable within 3 min and peak fluorescence within 20 min of injection), making this an ideal agent for in vivo imaging.

Noninvasive imaging of pancreatic beta cells

Noninvasive imaging and quantification of pancreatic, insulin-producing beta cells has been considered a high-priority field of investigation for the past decade. In the first review on this issue, attention was already paid to various agents for labeling beta cells, including 6-(125)I-D-glucose, (65)Zn, (3)H-glibenclamide, (3)H-mitiglinide, an (125)I-labeled mouse monoclonal antibody against beta-cell surface ganglioside(s), D-(U-(14)C)-glucose and 2-deoxy-2-(18)F-D-glucose to label glycogen accumulated in beta cells in response to sustained hyperglycemia, and, last but not least, an analog of D-mannoheptulose. This Review discusses these methods and further contributions. For instance, emphasis is placed on labeling beta cells with (11)C-dihydrotetrabenazine, which is the most advanced method at present. Attention is also drawn to the latest approaches for noninvasive imaging and functional characterization of pancreatic beta cells. None of these procedures is used in clinical practice yet.

Efforts to develop methods for in vivo evaluation of the native beta-cell mass

Visualization and quantification of the native beta-cell mass in vivo in humans appear to be important in the study of the natural course of diabetes, and in ongoing trials aimed at preserving beta-cell mass in patients with diabetes. This cannot be done by biopsy sampling, and therefore there is a great need for development of a non-invasive method. This article discusses the principle theoretical requirements for reaching this goal. In addition, it provides an overview of tracer probes, which have been examined as potential beta-cell mass imaging agents in the past. Finally, some future perspectives are discussed.

Chemical dissection of the link between streptozotocin, O-GlcNAc, and pancreatic cell death

Streptozotocin is a natural product that selectively kills insulin-secreting β cells, and is widely used to generate mouse models of diabetes or treat pancreatic tumors. Several studies suggest that streptozotocin toxicity stems from its N-nitrosourea moiety releasing nitric oxide and possessing DNA alkylating activity. However, it has also been proposed that streptozotocin induces apoptosis by inhibiting O-GlcNAcase, an enzyme that, together with O-GlcNAc transferase, is important for dynamic intracellular protein O-glycosylation. We have used galacto-streptozotocin to chemically dissect the link between O-GlcNAcase inhibition and apoptosis. Using X-ray crystallography, enzymology, and cell biological studies on an insulinoma cell line, we show that, whereas streptozotocin competitively inhibits O-GlcNAcase and induces apoptosis, its galacto-configured derivative no longer inhibits O-GlcNAcase, yet still induces apoptosis. This supports a general chemical poison mode of action for streptozotocin, suggesting the need for using more specific inhibitors to study protein O-GlcNAcylation.