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Moreira R, Nóbrega C, de Almeida LP, Mendonça L. Brain-targeted drug delivery - nanovesicles directed to specific brain cells by brain-targeting ligands. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:260. [PMID: 38760847 PMCID: PMC11100082 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02511-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by extensive loss of function or death of brain cells, hampering the life quality of patients. Brain-targeted drug delivery is challenging, with a low success rate this far. Therefore, the application of targeting ligands in drug vehicles, such as lipid-based and polymeric nanoparticles, holds the promise to overcome the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and direct therapies to the brain, in addition to protect their cargo from degradation and metabolization. In this review, we discuss the barriers to brain delivery and the different types of brain-targeting ligands currently in use in brain-targeted nanoparticles, such as peptides, proteins, aptamers, small molecules, and antibodies. Moreover, we present a detailed review of the different targeting ligands used to direct nanoparticles to specific brain cells, like neurons (C4-3 aptamer, neurotensin, Tet-1, RVG, and IKRG peptides), astrocytes (Aquaporin-4, D4, and Bradykinin B2 antibodies), oligodendrocytes (NG-2 antibody and the biotinylated DNA aptamer conjugated to a streptavidin core Myaptavin-3064), microglia (CD11b antibody), neural stem cells (QTRFLLH, VPTQSSG, and NFL-TBS.40-63 peptides), and to endothelial cells of the BBB (transferrin and insulin proteins, and choline). Reports demonstrated enhanced brain-targeted delivery with improved transport to the specific cell type targeted with the conjugation of these ligands to nanoparticles. Hence, this strategy allows the implementation of high-precision medicine, with reduced side effects or unwanted therapy clearance from the body. Nevertheless, the accumulation of some of these nanoparticles in peripheral organs has been reported indicating that there are still factors to be improved to achieve higher levels of brain targeting. This review is a collection of studies exploring targeting ligands for the delivery of nanoparticles to the brain and we highlight the advantages and limitations of this type of approach in precision therapies.
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Grants
- under BrainHealth2020 projects (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000008), through the COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization and Portuguese national funds via FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, under projects - UIDB/04539/2020 and UIDP/04539/2020, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030737 (NeuroStemForMJD, PTDC/BTM-ORG/30737/2017), CEECIND/04242/2017, and PhD Scholarship European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Centro 2020 Regional Operational Programme
- under BrainHealth2020 projects (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000008), through the COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization and Portuguese national funds via FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, under projects - UIDB/04539/2020 and UIDP/04539/2020, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030737 (NeuroStemForMJD, PTDC/BTM-ORG/30737/2017), CEECIND/04242/2017, and PhD Scholarship European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Centro 2020 Regional Operational Programme
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Moreira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, polo 1, Coimbra, FMUC, 3004-504, Portugal
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3004-504, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3000-548, Portugal
| | - Clévio Nóbrega
- Algarve Biomedical Center Research Institute (ABC-RI), University of Algarve, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, polo 1, Coimbra, FMUC, 3004-504, Portugal
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3004-504, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3000-548, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-789, Portugal
| | - Liliana Mendonça
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, polo 1, Coimbra, FMUC, 3004-504, Portugal.
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3004-504, Portugal.
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3030-789, Portugal.
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2
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Langthaler K, Jones CR, Brodin B, Bundgaard C. Assessing extent of brain penetration in vivo (K p,uu,brain) in Göttingen minipig using a diverse set of reference drugs. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 190:106554. [PMID: 37543065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
The application of Göttingen minipigs for non-rodent pharmacokinetics (PK) and drug safety testing has seen a dramatic increase in recent years. The aim of this study was to determine the total and unbound brain-to-plasma ratios (Kp,brain and Kp,uu,brain) for a diverse set of reference compounds in female Göttingen minipigs and compare these with Kp,uu,brain values from other species to assess the suitability of Göttingen minipigs as a model for CNS drug safety testing and brain PK in clinical translation. The reference set consisted of 17 compounds with varying physico-chemical properties and included known human P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates. The results of the study showed, that minipig Kp,brain and Kp,uu,brain values for the tested compounds were in the range 0.03-86 and 0.02-2.4 (n = 3-4) respectively. The Kp,uu,brain values were comparable between minipig and rat for a large proportion of the compounds (71% within 2-fold, n = 17). Comparisons of brain penetration across several species for a subset of reference compounds revealed that minipig values were quite similar to those of rat, dog, monkey and human. The study highlighted that the largest Kp,uu,brain species differences were observed for compounds classified as transporter substrates (e.g. cimetidine, risperidone, Way-100635 and altanserin). In conclusion these brain penetration data add substantially to the available literature on PK and drug disposition for minipigs and support use of Göttingen minipig as a non-rodent drug safety model for CNS drug candidates and as a brain PK model for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine Langthaler
- Translational DMPK, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Denmark; CNS Drug Delivery and Barrier Modelling, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
| | - Christopher R Jones
- Translational DMPK, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Denmark; PKPD Modelling & Simulation, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Denmark.
| | - Birger Brodin
- CNS Drug Delivery and Barrier Modelling, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100 København Ø, Denmark
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3
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Rong J, Yamasaki T, Li Y, Kumata K, Zhao C, Haider A, Chen J, Xiao Z, Fujinaga M, Hu K, Mori W, Zhang Y, Xie L, Zhou X, Collier TL, Zhang MR, Liang S. Development of Novel 11C-Labeled Selective Orexin-2 Receptor Radioligands for Positron Emission Tomography Imaging. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1419-1426. [PMID: 37849554 PMCID: PMC10577698 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Orexin 2 receptors (OX2R) represent a vital subtype of orexin receptors intricately involved in the regulation of wakefulness, arousal, and sleep-wake cycles. Despite their importance, there are currently no positron emission tomography (PET) tracers available for imaging the OX2R in vivo. Herein, we report [11C]1 ([11C]OX2-2201) and [11C]2 ([11C]OX2-2202) as novel PET ligands. Both compounds 1 (Ki = 3.6 nM) and 2 (Ki = 2.2 nM) have excellent binding affinity activities toward OX2R and target selectivity (OX2/OX1 > 600 folds). In vitro autoradiography in the rat brain suggested good to excellent in vitro binding specificity for [11C]1 and [11C]2. PET imaging in rat brains indicated that the low brain uptake of [11C]2 may be due to P-glycoprotein and/or breast cancer resistance protein efflux interaction and/or low passive permeability. Continuous effort in medicinal chemistry optimization is necessary to improve the brain permeability of this scaffold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Rong
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Tomoteru Yamasaki
- Department
of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yinlong Li
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Katsushi Kumata
- Department
of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Chunyu Zhao
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Ahmed Haider
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Jiahui Chen
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Zhiwei Xiao
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Masayuki Fujinaga
- Department
of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Kuan Hu
- Department
of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Wakana Mori
- Department
of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Yiding Zhang
- Department
of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Lin Xie
- Department
of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
| | - Thomas L. Collier
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
| | - Ming-Rong Zhang
- Department
of Advanced Nuclear Medicine Sciences, Institute for Quantum Medical
Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum
Science and Technology, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
| | - Steven Liang
- Department
of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, United States
- Division
of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital
and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States
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4
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Fu H, Rong J, Chen Z, Zhou J, Collier T, Liang SH. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging Tracers for Serotonin Receptors. J Med Chem 2022; 65:10755-10808. [PMID: 35939391 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and 5-HT receptors (5-HTRs) have crucial roles in various neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, making them attractive diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Positron emission tomography (PET) is a noninvasive nuclear molecular imaging technique and is an essential tool in clinical diagnosis and drug discovery. In this context, numerous PET ligands have been developed for "visualizing" 5-HTRs in the brain and translated into human use to study disease mechanisms and/or support drug development. Herein, we present a comprehensive repertoire of 5-HTR PET ligands by focusing on their chemotypes and performance in PET imaging studies. Furthermore, this Perspective summarizes recent 5-HTR-focused drug discovery, including biased agonists and allosteric modulators, which would stimulate the development of more potent and subtype-selective 5-HTR PET ligands and thus further our understanding of 5-HTR biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Fu
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jian Rong
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.,Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Zhen Chen
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Chemical Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China
| | - Jingyin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Radiopharmaceuticals, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Thomas Collier
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.,Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Steven H Liang
- Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, United States.,Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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5
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Korde A, Mikolajczak R, Kolenc P, Bouziotis P, Westin H, Lauritzen M, Koole M, Herth MM, Bardiès M, Martins AF, Paulo A, Lyashchenko SK, Todde S, Nag S, Lamprou E, Abrunhosa A, Giammarile F, Decristoforo C. Practical considerations for navigating the regulatory landscape of non-clinical studies for clinical translation of radiopharmaceuticals. EJNMMI Radiopharm Chem 2022; 7:18. [PMID: 35852679 PMCID: PMC9296747 DOI: 10.1186/s41181-022-00168-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development of radiopharmaceuticals requires extensive evaluation before they can be applied in a diagnostic or therapeutic setting in Nuclear Medicine. Chemical, radiochemical, and pharmaceutical parameters must be established and verified to ensure the quality of these novel products.
Main body To provide supportive evidence for the expected human in vivo behaviour, particularly related to safety and efficacy, additional tests, often referred to as “non-clinical” or “preclinical” are mandatory. This document is an outcome of a Technical Meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It summarises the considerations necessary for non-clinical studies to accommodate the regulatory requirements for clinical translation of radiopharmaceuticals. These considerations include non-clinical pharmacology, radiation exposure and effects, toxicological studies, pharmacokinetic modelling, and imaging studies. Additionally, standardisation of different specific clinical applications is discussed.
Conclusion This document is intended as a guide for radiopharmaceutical scientists, Nuclear Medicine specialists, and regulatory professionals to bring innovative diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals into the clinical evaluation process in a safe and effective way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aruna Korde
- Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400, Vienna, Austria
| | - Renata Mikolajczak
- Radioisotope Centre POLATOM, National Centre for Nuclear Research, Andrzej Soltan 7, 05-400, Otwock, Poland
| | - Petra Kolenc
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Penelope Bouziotis
- National Centre for Scientific Research "Demokritos", Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences and Technology, Energy & Safety, 15341, Athens, Greece
| | - Hadis Westin
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Ridgeview Instruments AB, Uppsala Universitet, Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 36A, 752 37, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mette Lauritzen
- Bruker BioSpin MRI GmbH, Rudolf-Plank-Str. 23, 76275, Ettlingen, Germany
| | - Michel Koole
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Matthias Manfred Herth
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 160, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Manuel Bardiès
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier (IRCM), INSERM U1194, Institut Régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM), Université de Montpellier, 34298, Montpellier, France
| | - Andre F Martins
- Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy, Werner Siemens Imaging Center, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Röntgenweg 13/1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Antonio Paulo
- Centro de Ciências E Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Bobadela Lrs, Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, Estrada Nacional 10, Km 139.7, 2695-066, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Serge K Lyashchenko
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sergio Todde
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Tecnomed Foundation, Milan, Italy
| | - Sangram Nag
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm County Council, 171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Efthimis Lamprou
- Bioemtech, Lefkippos Attica Technology Park-N.C.S.R Demokritos, Athens, Greece
| | - Antero Abrunhosa
- ICNAS/CIBIT, Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francesco Giammarile
- Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna International Centre, PO Box 100, 1400, Vienna, Austria
| | - Clemens Decristoforo
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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6
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Jackson IM, Webb EW, Scott PJ, James ML. In Silico Approaches for Addressing Challenges in CNS Radiopharmaceutical Design. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1675-1683. [PMID: 35606334 PMCID: PMC9945852 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) is a highly sensitive and versatile molecular imaging modality that leverages radiolabeled molecules, known as radiotracers, to interrogate biochemical processes such as metabolism, enzymatic activity, and receptor expression. The ability to probe specific molecular and cellular events longitudinally in a noninvasive manner makes PET imaging a particularly powerful technique for studying the central nervous system (CNS) in both health and disease. Unfortunately, developing and translating a single CNS PET tracer for clinical use is typically an extremely resource-intensive endeavor, often requiring synthesis and evaluation of numerous candidate molecules. While existing in vitro methods are beginning to address the challenge of derisking molecules prior to costly in vivo PET studies, most require a significant investment of resources and possess substantial limitations. In the context of CNS drug development, significant time and resources have been invested into the development and optimization of computational methods, particularly involving machine learning, to streamline the design of better CNS therapeutics. However, analogous efforts developed and validated for CNS radiotracer design are conspicuously limited. In this Perspective, we overview the requirements and challenges of CNS PET tracer design, survey the most promising computational methods for in silico CNS drug design, and bridge these two areas by discussing the potential applications and impact of computational design tools in CNS radiotracer design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac M. Jackson
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - E. William Webb
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Peter J.H. Scott
- Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109;,Corresponding Authors: Peter J. H. Scott − Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; , Michelle L. James − Departments of Radiology, and Neurology & Neurological Sciences, 1201 Welch Rd., P-206, Stanford, CA 94305-5484, United States;
| | - Michelle L. James
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305;,Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94304.,Corresponding Authors: Peter J. H. Scott − Department of Radiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States; , Michelle L. James − Departments of Radiology, and Neurology & Neurological Sciences, 1201 Welch Rd., P-206, Stanford, CA 94305-5484, United States;
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7
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Raval NR, Nasser A, Madsen CA, Beschorner N, Beaman EE, Juhl M, Lehel S, Palner M, Svarer C, Plavén-Sigray P, Jørgensen LM, Knudsen GM. An in vivo Pig Model for Testing Novel Positron Emission Tomography Radioligands Targeting Cerebral Protein Aggregates. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:847074. [PMID: 35368260 PMCID: PMC8966485 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.847074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) has become an essential clinical tool for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases with abnormal accumulation of proteins like amyloid-β or tau. Despite many attempts, it has not been possible to develop an appropriate radioligand for imaging aggregated α-synuclein in the brain for diagnosing, e.g., Parkinson's Disease. Access to a large animal model with α-synuclein pathology would critically enable a more translationally appropriate evaluation of novel radioligands. We here establish a pig model with cerebral injections of α-synuclein preformed fibrils or brain homogenate from postmortem human brain tissue from individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) or dementia with Lewy body (DLB) into the pig's brain, using minimally invasive surgery and validated against saline injections. In the absence of a suitable α-synuclein radioligand, we validated the model with the unselective amyloid-β tracer [11C]PIB, which has a high affinity for β-sheet structures in aggregates. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI confirmed that the blood-brain barrier was intact. A few hours post-injection, pigs were PET scanned with [11C]PIB. Quantification was done with Logan invasive graphical analysis and simplified reference tissue model 2 using the occipital cortex as a reference region. After the scan, we retrieved the brains to confirm successful injection using autoradiography and immunohistochemistry. We found four times higher [11C]PIB uptake in AD-homogenate-injected regions and two times higher uptake in regions injected with α-synuclein-preformed-fibrils compared to saline. The [11C]PIB uptake was the same in non-injected (occipital cortex, cerebellum) and injected (DLB-homogenate, saline) regions. With its large brain and ability to undergo repeated PET scans as well as neurosurgical procedures, the pig provides a robust, cost-effective, and good translational model for assessment of novel radioligands including, but not limited to, proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nakul Ravi Raval
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arafat Nasser
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Clara Aabye Madsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Natalie Beschorner
- Center for Translational Neuromedicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emily Eufaula Beaman
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Juhl
- Cardiology Stem Cell Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Szabolcs Lehel
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikael Palner
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Research, Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Claus Svarer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pontus Plavén-Sigray
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Louise Møller Jørgensen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Copenhagen Spine Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Gitte Moos Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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8
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Raval NR, Gudmundsen F, Juhl M, Andersen IV, Speth N, Videbæk A, Petersen IN, Mikkelsen JD, Fisher PM, Herth MM, Plavén-Sigray P, Knudsen GM, Palner M. Synaptic Density and Neuronal Metabolic Function Measured by Positron Emission Tomography in the Unilateral 6-OHDA Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease. Front Synaptic Neurosci 2021; 13:715811. [PMID: 34867258 PMCID: PMC8636601 DOI: 10.3389/fnsyn.2021.715811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is caused by progressive neurodegeneration and characterised by motor dysfunction. Neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons also causes aberrations within the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuit, which has been hypothesised to lead to non-motor symptoms such as depression. Individuals with PD have both lower synaptic density and changes in neuronal metabolic function in the basal ganglia, as measured using [11C]UCB-J and [18F]FDG positron emission tomography (PET), respectively. However, the two radioligands have not been directly compared in the same PD subject or in neurodegeneration animal models. Here, we investigate [11C]UCB-J binding and [18F]FDG uptake in the CSTC circuit following a unilateral dopaminergic lesion in rats and compare it to sham lesioned rats. Rats received either a unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or saline in the medial forebrain bundle and rostral substantia nigra (n = 4/group). After 3 weeks, all rats underwent two PET scans using [18F]FDG, followed by [11C]UCB-J on a separate day. [18F]FDG uptake and [11C]UCB-J binding were both lower in the ipsilateral striatal regions compared to the contralateral regions. Using [11C]UCB-J, we could detect an 8.7% decrease in the ipsilateral ventral midbrain, compared to a 2.9% decrease in ventral midbrain using [18F]FDG. Differential changes between hemispheres for [11C]UCB-J and [18F]FDG outcomes were also evident in the CSTC circuit’s cortical regions, especially in the orbitofrontal cortex and medial prefrontal cortex where higher synaptic density yet lower neuronal metabolic function was observed, following lesioning. In conclusion, [11C]UCB-J and [18F]FDG PET can detect divergent changes following a dopaminergic lesion in rats, especially in cortical regions that are not directly affected by the neurotoxin. These results suggest that combined [11C]UCB-J and [18F]FDG scans could yield a better picture of the heterogeneous cerebral changes in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nakul Ravi Raval
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Frederik Gudmundsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Morten Juhl
- Cardiology Stem Cell Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Vang Andersen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nikolaj Speth
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annesofie Videbæk
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Nymann Petersen
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens D Mikkelsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Matthias Manfred Herth
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pontus Plavén-Sigray
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gitte Moos Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikael Palner
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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9
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van der Wildt B, Janssen B, Pekošak A, Stéen EJL, Schuit RC, Kooijman EJM, Beaino W, Vugts DJ, Windhorst AD. Novel Thienopyrimidine-Based PET Tracers for P2Y 12 Receptor Imaging in the Brain. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:4465-4474. [PMID: 34757711 PMCID: PMC8640995 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
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The P2Y12 receptor (P2Y12R) is uniquely expressed
on microglia in the brain, and its expression level directly depends
on the microglial activation state. Therefore, P2Y12R provides
a promising imaging marker for distinguishing the pro- and anti-inflammatory
microglial phenotypes, both of which play crucial roles in neuroinflammatory
diseases. In this study, three P2Y12R antagonists were
selected from the literature, radiolabeled with carbon-11 or fluorine-18,
and evaluated in healthy Wistar rats. Brain imaging was performed
with and without blocking of efflux transporters P-glycoprotein and breast cancer resistance protein using tariquidar.
Low brain uptake in healthy rats was observed for all tracers at baseline
conditions, whereas blocking of efflux transporters resulted in a
strong (6–7 fold) increase in brain uptake for both of them.
Binding of the most promising tracer, [18F]3, was further evaluated by in vitro autoradiography on rat brain
sections, ex vivo metabolite studies, and in vivo P2Y12R blocking studies. In vitro binding of [18F]3 on rat brain sections indicated high P2Y12R targeting
with approximately 70% selective and specific binding. At 60 min post-injection,
over 95% of radioactivity in the brain accounted for an intact tracer.
In blood plasma, still 40% intact tracer was found, and formed metabolites
did not enter the brain. A moderate P2Y12R blocking effect
was observed in vivo by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging
with [18F]3 (p = 0.04). To
conclude, three potential P2Y12R PET tracers were obtained
and analyzed for P2Y12R targeting in the brain. Unfortunately,
the brain uptake appeared low. Future work will focus on the design
of P2Y12R inhibitors with improved physicochemical characteristics
to reduce efflux transport and increase brain penetration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berend van der Wildt
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bieneke Janssen
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aleksandra Pekošak
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E. Johanna L. Stéen
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert C. Schuit
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Esther J. M. Kooijman
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wissam Beaino
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Danielle J. Vugts
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Albert D. Windhorst
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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10
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Bidesi NSR, Vang Andersen I, Windhorst AD, Shalgunov V, Herth MM. The role of neuroimaging in Parkinson's disease. J Neurochem 2021; 159:660-689. [PMID: 34532856 PMCID: PMC9291628 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. Two hallmarks of PD are the accumulation of alpha-synuclein and the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. There is no cure for PD, and all existing treatments focus on alleviating the symptoms. PD diagnosis is also based on the symptoms, such as abnormalities of movement, mood, and cognition observed in the patients. Molecular imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET) can detect objective alterations in the neurochemical machinery of the brain and help diagnose and study neurodegenerative diseases. This review addresses the application of functional MRI, PET, and SPECT in PD patients. We provide an overview of the imaging targets, discuss the rationale behind target selection, the agents (tracers) with which the imaging can be performed, and the main findings regarding each target's state in PD. Molecular imaging has proven itself effective in supporting clinical diagnosis of PD and has helped reveal that PD is a heterogeneous disorder, which has important implications for the development of future therapies. However, the application of molecular imaging for early diagnosis of PD or for differentiation between PD and atypical parkinsonisms has remained challenging. The final section of the review is dedicated to new imaging targets with which one can detect the PD-related pathological changes upstream from dopaminergic degeneration. The foremost of those targets is alpha-synuclein. We discuss the progress of tracer development achieved so far and challenges on the path toward alpha-synuclein imaging in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha S R Bidesi
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Vang Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Albert D Windhorst
- Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vladimir Shalgunov
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Matthias M Herth
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine and PET, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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