Development of [18F]Thiazolylacylaminopyridine-Based Glycogen synthase Kinase-3β ligands for positron emission tomography imaging

Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2023 May 15:88:129263. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129263. Epub 2023 Mar 31.

Abstract

Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) regulates numerous of CNS-specific signaling pathways, and is particularly implicated in various pathogenetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A noninvasive method for detecting GSK-3β in AD brains via positron emission tomography (PET) imaging could enhance the understanding of AD pathogenesis and aid in the development of AD therapeutic drugs. In this study, an array of fluorinated thiazolyl acylaminopyridines (FTAAP) targeting GSK-3β were designed and synthesized. These compounds showed moderate to high affinities (IC50 = 6.0 - 426 nM) for GSK-3β in vitro. A potential GSK-3β tracer, [18F]8, was successfully radiolabeled. [18F]8 had unsatisfactory initial brain uptake despite its suitable lipophilicity, molecular size and good stability. Further structural refinement of the lead compound is needed to develop promising [18F]-labeled radiotracers for the detection of GSK-3β in AD brains.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Glycogen synthase kinase-3β; PET imaging agents; [(18)F]Thiazolylacylaminopyridines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / diagnostic imaging
  • Alzheimer Disease* / metabolism
  • Brain* / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain* / metabolism
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Phosphorylation
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods

Substances

  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Ligands