(18)F-Labeling of Mannan for Inflammation Research with Positron Emission Tomography

2-Trifluoromethyl-2H-chromene ethers: The dual triumph of anti-inflammation and analgesia with minimal ulcer threat

In this report, we disclose the design and synthesis of a series of 2-trifluoromethyl-2H- chromene ethers as novel COX-2 inhibitors with low ulcerogenicity. Among them, 6-fluoro-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(2-(thiophen-3-yl)ethoxy)-2-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromene (E25) significantly suppressed LPS-induced release of NO and PGE2, expression of COX-2 and iNOS, and activation of NF-κB pathway. The inhibitory effect of E25 on human recombinant COX-2 (IC50 = 70.7 ± 4.7 nM) and molecular docking studies suggest that E25 functions as a COX-2 inhibitor. Moreover, the results of the cellular thermal shift assay also substantiate the interaction between E25 and COX-2. E25 manifests potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy on a par with or even superior to indomethacin in rodent models including carrageenan-induced paw edema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma, acetic acid-induced writhes, and adjuvant-induced arthritis. The possible mechanism of action of E25 might be to bind to COX-2 and suppress the NF-κB pathway as well as the expression of related proteins, thereby exerting anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Encouragingly, compared with indomethacin, E25 induces smaller areas and fewer ulcers, a lower level of inflammatory infiltration, a lower expression of MMP-9 and apoptosis of mucosal epithelial cells in rat gastric tissues. Overall, E25 and other analogues are promising candidates worthy of further investigation for the treatment of inflammation and pain, as well as other symptoms in which COX-2 and PGE2 play a role in their etiology.

3-(2-Trifluoromethyl-3-aryl-4H-chromen-4-yl)-1H-indoles: Mastering anti-inflammation and analgesia while mitigating gastrointestinal side effects

A series of 3-(2-trifluoromethyl-3-aryl-4H-chromen-4-yl)-1H-indoles (5-1 to 5-29) were developed and characterized. Most of compounds were found to be potent for inhibiting the production of NO in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, of which 3-(3-(4-chlorophenyl)-6-methoxy-2-(trifluoromethyl)-4H-chromen-4-yl)-1H-indole (5-25) was the most optimal (IC50 = 4.82 ± 0.34 μΜ) and was capable of significantly suppressing the release of PGE2. The inhibitory effect of 5-25 on human recombinant COX-2 (IC50 = 51.7 ± 1.3 nM) was measured and molecular docking was performed, determining 5-25 as a COX-2 inhibitor. Additionally, the interaction between 5-25 and COX-2 was determined by the CETSA technique. Then, 5-25 inhibited the degradation of IκB, the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, and the expression of COX-2 and iNOS. Moreover, it was verified that 5-25 exhibited efficacy in rodent models of inflammation and pain, encompassing the paw edema, cotton pellet-induced granuloma, acid-induced writhing, and adjuvant-induced arthritis models. Therefore, the mechanism of 5-25 may be to bind to COX-2 and exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in vitro and in vivo by suppressing the NF-κB pathway. Encouragingly, in comparison with indomethacin, 5-25 exhibited a lower ulcerative potential in rats, as manifested by generating smaller areas and fewer ulcers, less inflammatory infiltration, a lower expression of MMP-9, and less apoptosis. In conclusion, 5-25 is a candidate drug with high activity and low ulcerogenic potential, and it deserves further research for the treatment of inflammation, pain, and other symptoms in which COX-2 plays a role in their pathogenesis.

Molecular imaging nanoprobes and their applications in atherosclerosis diagnosis

Molecular imaging has undergone significant development in recent years for its excellent ability to image and quantify biologic processes at cellular and molecular levels. Its application is of significance in cardiovascular diseases, particularly in diagnosing them at early stages. Atherosclerosis is a complex, chronic, and progressive disease that can lead to serious consequences such as heart strokes or infarctions. Attempts have been made to detect atherosclerosis with molecular imaging modalities. Not only do imaging modalities develop rapidly, but research of relevant nanomaterials as imaging probes has also been increasingly studied in recent years. This review focuses on the latest developments in the design and synthesis of probes that can be utilized in computed tomography, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, photoacoustic imaging and combined modalities. The challenges and future developments of nanomaterials for molecular imaging modalities are also discussed.

Aluminum Fluoride-18 Labeled Mannosylated Dextran: Radiosynthesis and Initial Preclinical Positron Emission Tomography Studies

PURPOSE

In addition to being expressed on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, mannose receptors are also found on antigen-presenting cells, including macrophages, which are mainly involved in the inflammation process. Dextran derivatives of various sizes containing cysteine and mannose moieties have previously been labeled with 99mTc and used for single-photon emission computed tomography imaging of sentinel lymph nodes. In this study, we radiolabeled 21.3-kDa D10CM with positron-emitting 18F for initial positron emission tomography (PET) studies in rats.

PROCEDURES

D10CM was conjugated with 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA) chelator and radiolabeled with the aluminum fluoride-18 method. The whole-body distribution kinetics and stability of the intravenously administered tracer were studied in healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats by in vivo PET/CT imaging, ex vivo gamma counting, and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis.

RESULTS

Al[18F]F-NOTA-D10CM was obtained with a radiochemical purity of >99% and molar activity of 9.9 GBq/μmol. At 60 minutes after injection, an average of 84% of the intact tracer was found in the blood, indicating excellent in vivo stability. The highest radioactivity concentration was seen in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, in which mannose receptors are highly expressed under physiological conditions. The uptake specificity was confirmed with in vivo blocking experiments.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results imply that Al[18F]F-NOTA-D10CM is a suitable tracer for PET imaging. Further studies in disease models with mannose receptor CD206-positive macrophages are warranted to clarify the tracer's potential for imaging of inflammation.

Rearrangement Collisions in the Schwinger Variational Principle: A Long-Standing Problem in Positron Scattering Physics

In this letter, we propose a functional on the basis of the Schwinger variational principle that accounts for the particle rearrangement by solving a projected Lippmann-Schwinger equation system. The method is tested in the static-coupled approximation for positron-H, where excellent agreements with benchmark results are found for the elastic, positronium (Ps) formation and annihilation cross sections. The effect of virtual Ps formation is evidenced through the analysis of the annihilation map. A significant increase in the electron-positron density in the vicinity of the atom is obtained.

Variants of beta-glucan polysaccharides downregulate autoimmune inflammation

Common infections and polysaccharides, from bacteria and yeasts, could trigger psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and possibly rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of β-glucan polysaccharides in the effector phase of arthritis and as regulators of psoriasis and PsA-like symptoms in mice. Collagen antibody induced arthritis was studied as a model of RA and mannan-induced psoriasis (MIP) was used as model for psoriasis and PsA, using mice with a mutation of Ncf1 on the B10.Q genetic background, making them highly disease susceptible. The mice were exposed to three common variants: 1,6-β-glucan, 1,3-β-glucan and 1,3-1,6-β-glucan. These β-glucans down-regulated disease in mice if administered simultaneously, before or after mannan. Interestingly, the protection was macrophage mannose receptor (MMR/CD206) dependent with a more pronounced protection long-term than short-term. The number of resident peritoneal macrophages decreased after in vivo challenge with β-glucan and mannan compared to mannan alone, whereas the numbers of infiltrating cells correspondingly increased, further indicating macrophages as key for β-glucan mediated regulation. At the doses tested, β-glucans could not induce arthritis, psoriasis or PsA in wild-type mice. However, β-glucans could ameliorate the PsA-like symptoms representing a new unforeseen possibility to explore for future clinical treatment.

β-glucan exerted anti-inflammatory activities in a murine model of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is, at least in part, mediated via the activation of CD206 on macrophages

A coumarin-based TICT fluorescent probe for real-time fluorescence lifetime imaging of mitochondrial viscosity and systemic inflammation in vivo

Systemic inflammation, linked with abnormal mitochondrial viscosity, is reported to be associated with cerebro-cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, it is of great significance to detect the mitochondrial viscosity to indicate the inflammatory signal in vivo. Considering the strategies of fluorescent molecular rotors (FMRs) and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), we have rationally designed a novel mitochondrial viscosity-specific fluorescent probe Mito-VCI, based on coumarin fluorophores with benzo[e]indolium as the rotor group. In a high viscosity solution system, the fluorescence lifetime of the probe Mito-VCI was prolonged due to the planarization and rigidity enhancement of the molecular rotor. Satisfactorily, the probe was only sensitive to viscosity, instead of non-viscosity factors such as pH and polarity. Furthermore, the probe sensitively targeted mitochondria in HeLa cells with a Pearson's correlation of 0.93, and specifically detected dynamics variation of mitochondrial viscosity with FLIM imaging in HeLa cells induced by LPS. Notably, significant fluorescence lifetime changes of Mito-VCI between normal and inflammatory tissues also occurred (for example, the fluorescence lifetime in the spleen changed from 1.128 to 1.432 ns). It can be inferred from the above observations that Mito-VCI could work as an effective and sensitive fluorescent molecular rotor for mitochondrial viscosity monitoring through FLIM imaging with a systemic inflammatory response, and provide potential applications for the diagnosis of systemic inflammation in pharmacology and toxicology studies.

Rapid spread of mannan to the immune system, skin and joints within 6 hours after local exposure

Psoriasis (Ps), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are common diseases dependent on environmental factors that activate the immune system in unknown ways. Mannan is a group of polysaccharides common in the environment; they are potentially pathogenic, because at least some of them induce Ps-, PsA- and RA-like inflammation in mice. Here, we used positron emission tomography/computed tomography to examine in-vivo transport and spread of mannan labelled with fluorine-18 [¹⁸ F]. The results showed that mannan was transported to joints (knee) and bone marrow (tibia) of mice within 6 h after intraperitoneal injection. The time it took to transport mannan, and its presence in blood, indicated cellular transport of mannan within the circulatory system. In addition, mannan was filtered mainly through the spleen and liver. [¹⁸ F]fluoromannan was excreted via kidneys, small intestine and, to some extent, the mouth. In conclusion, mannan reaches joints rapidly after injection, which may explain why mannan-induced inflammatory disease is targeted to these tissues.

Phenanthridine-based nitrones as substrates for strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloadditions

Over the past decade, bioorthogonal chemistry that facilitates the efficient conjugation of biomolecules has expanded from the copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloadditions to a multitude of diverse reactions, varying additives and reactional partners, and most often offering better alternatives with faster rates and lower toxicity of employed reactants. Among these, the copper-free strain-promoted cycloaddition reactions have been demonstrated to be more promising, offering a reaction without toxic metal catalysts and with faster inherent kinetic rate constants. The strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone cycloadditions are easily tunable from both the (strained) alkyne and nitrone perspective, both compounds giving the opportunity to modulate the rate of reaction by substituting various positions. Previously, acyclic nitrones have been evaluated in the strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone reactions; however, they were notably prone to hydrolysis. Some five-membered ring endocyclic nitrones developed concomitantly offered the advantage of relatively fast kinetics and better resistance to degradation in aqueous conditions and have been successfully used for labelling of biomolecules in living systems. Herein, we have prepared and studied nitrones inspired by the phenanthridine scaffold that efficiently undergo strain-promoted alkyne-nitrone reactions. Phenanthridine nitrones react fast with strained cyclooctynes with large bimolecular rate constants while maintaining bioorthogonality and resistance to hydrolysis.

The efficiency of 18F labelling of a prostate specific membrane antigen ligand via strain-promoted azide-alkyne reaction: reaction speed versus hydrophilicity

Here we report the 18F labeling of a prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) ligand via a strain promoted oxa-dibenzocyclooctyne (ODIBO)- or bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne (BCN)-azide reaction. Although ODIBO reacts with azide 20 fold faster than BCN, in vivo PET imaging suggests that 18F-BCN-azide-PSMA demonstrated much higher tumor uptake and a much higher tumor to background contrast.

Adventures in radiosynthesis of clinical grade [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9

[⁶⁸Ga]Ga-DOTA-Siglec-9 is the first vascular adhesion protein-1 targeting radiopharmaceutical for positron emission tomography imaging of inflammation, and here we present its long-awaited clinical grade radiosynthesis.

Hypolipidemic effect of mannans from C. albicans serotypes a and B in acute hyperlipidemia in mice

Mannans, which are biological macromolecules of polysaccharide origin and function as immunomodulators, have been shown to stimulate macrophages in vivo by interaction with the mannose receptor. Thus, they can be used to stimulate macrophages in order to effectively remove circulating atherogenic lipoproteins. Our primary aim was to evaluate the hypolipidemic potential of mannans from C. albicans serotype A (mannan A) and serotype B (mannan B) in a murine model of hyperlipidemia. Mannan A and mannan B were shown to significantly (p<0.05) stimulate both the proliferation (p <0.05) and nitric oxide production of murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro. Pre-treatment of CBA/Lac mice with mannan A prior to induction of hyperlipidemia significantly (p<0.001) reduced serum atherogenic LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Mannan B exhibited a similar, but more potent, hypolipidemic effect. Electron microscopic analysis of liver revealed a significant (p<0.001) decrease in the volume of lipid droplets when hyperlipidemic mice were pretreated by both mannans. In conclusion, our findings would suggest that both polysaccharide-based biological macromolecules evaluated in the present study, specifically, the natural immunomodulators (mannans A and B), appeared to function as effective lipid-lowering macromolecules, which could potentially serve as adjunct therapy to more conventional hypolipidemic medications such as a statin drug.