Caspase-3 Substrates for Noninvasive Pharmacodynamic Imaging of Apoptosis by PET/CT

Bioconjug Chem. 2018 Sep 19;29(9):3180-3195. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00514. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Abstract

Quantitative imaging of apoptosis in vivo could enable real-time monitoring of acute cell death pathologies such as traumatic brain injury, as well as the efficacy and safety of cancer therapy. Here, we describe the development and validation of F-18-labeled caspase-3 substrates for PET/CT imaging of apoptosis. Preliminary studies identified the O-benzylthreonine-containing substrate 2MP-TbD-AFC as a highly caspase 3-selective and cell-permeable fluorescent reporter. This lead compound was converted into the radiotracer [18F]-TBD, which was obtained at 10% decay-corrected yields with molar activities up to 149 GBq/μmol on an automated radiosynthesis platform. [18F]-TBD accumulated in ovarian cancer cells in a caspase- and cisplatin-dependent fashion. PET imaging of a Jo2-induced hepatotoxicity model showed a significant increase in [18F]-TBD signal in the livers of Jo2-treated mice compared to controls, driven through a reduction in hepatobiliary clearance. A chemical control tracer that could not be cleaved by caspase 3 showed no change in liver accumulation after induction of hepatocyte apoptosis. Our data demonstrate that [18F]-TBD provides an immediate pharmacodynamic readout of liver apoptosis in mice by dynamic PET/CT and suggest that [18F]-TBD could be used to interrogate apoptosis in other disease states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis*
  • Caspase 3 / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Casp3 protein, mouse
  • Caspase 3