Ding Jin, Zhang Qian, Jiang Jinquan, Zhou Nina, Yu Ziyu, Wang Zilei, Meng Xiangxi, Daggumati Lasya, Liu Teli, Wang Feng, Lu Zhihao, Yang Xing, Yang Zhi, Zhang Hanwen, Thorek Daniel L J, Du Peng, Zhu Hua
Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Radiopharmaceuticals (National Medical Products Administration), Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, No. 52 Fucheng Road, Beijing 100142, China.
Guizhou University School of Medicine, Guiyang, 550025 Guizhou, China.
ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2024 May 24;7(6):1758-1769. doi: 10.1021/acsptsci.3c00337. eCollection 2024 Jun 14.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the main molecular target for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 to enter cells. Molecularly specific tracers that bind to ACE2 with high affinity can be used to determine the tissue distribution of this important receptor, noninvasively. A novel targeting PET imaging probe, [F]AlF-DX600-BCH, was developed to detect the in vivo expression of ACE2 and monitor response to therapy. Preclinical experiments, including biodistribution, PET imaging, and tissue section analysis, were conducted after tests of in vitro and in vivo stability and pharmacokinetics. The agent was advanced to clinical evaluation in 10 volunteers who received [F]AlF-DX600-BCH PET/CT at 1 and 2 h after injection (NCT04542863). Preclinical results of both biodistribution and PET demonstrated [F]AlF-DX600-BCH accumulation in rat kidney (standardized uptake value; SUV > 50), along with specific uptake in testes (SUV > 10) tissues. Kidney, gastrointestinal, and bronchial cell labeling were correlated to ACE2 positive by immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. In clinical imaging, significant tracer accumulation was predominantly observed in the urinary and reproductive system (SUV = 32.00, SUV = 4.56), and the conjunctiva and nasal mucosa saw elevated uptake in several cases. This work is the first report of a radioisotope probe, [F]AlF-DX600-BCH, targeting ACE2 with promising preliminary preclinical and translational outlook, thereby demonstrating the potential of noninvasive mapping of ACE2.
血管紧张素转换酶2(ACE2)是冠状病毒SARS-CoV-2进入细胞的主要分子靶点。能够与ACE2高亲和力结合的分子特异性示踪剂可用于无创确定这一重要受体的组织分布。一种新型靶向正电子发射断层显像(PET)成像探针[F]AlF-DX600-BCH被研发出来,用于检测ACE2的体内表达并监测治疗反应。在进行体外和体内稳定性及药代动力学测试后,开展了包括生物分布、PET成像和组织切片分析在内的临床前实验。该制剂已推进至10名志愿者的临床评估阶段,这些志愿者在注射后1小时和2小时接受了[F]AlF-DX600-BCH PET/CT检查(NCT04542863)。生物分布和PET的临床前结果均显示[F]AlF-DX600-BCH在大鼠肾脏中蓄积(标准化摄取值;SUV>50),同时在睾丸组织中也有特异性摄取(SUV>10)。肾脏、胃肠道和支气管细胞标记与免疫组织化学(IHC)染色显示的ACE2阳性相关。在临床成像中,主要在泌尿系统和生殖系统观察到明显的示踪剂蓄积(SUV = 32.00,SUV = 4.56),在几例病例中结膜和鼻黏膜摄取也有所升高。这项工作是关于放射性同位素探针[F]AlF-DX600-BCH靶向ACE2的首次报道,具有良好的临床前和转化前景,从而证明了无创绘制ACE2图谱的潜力。