[(18)F]CB251 PET/MR imaging probe targeting translocator protein (TSPO) independent of its Polymorphism in a Neuroinflammation Model

The 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) has been proposed as a biomarker for the detection of neuroinflammation. Although various PET probes targeting TSPO have been developed, a highly selective probe for detecting TSPO is still needed because single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human TSPO gene greatly affect the binding affinity of TSPO ligands. Here, we describe the visualization of neuroinflammation with a multimodality imaging system using our recently developed TSPO-targeting radionuclide PET probe [(18)F]CB251, which is less affected by TSPO polymorphisms. Methods: To test the selectivity of [(18)F]CB251 for TSPO polymorphisms, 293FT cells expressing polymorphic TSPO were generated by introducing the coding sequences of wild-type (WT) and mutant (Alanine → Threonine at 147(th) Amino Acid; A147T) forms. Competitive inhibition assay was conducted with [(3)H]PK11195 and various TSPO ligands using membrane proteins isolated from 293FT cells expressing TSPO WT or mutant-A147T, representing high-affinity binder (HAB) or low-affinity binder (LAB), respectively. IC(50) values of each ligand to [(3)H]PK11195 in HAB or LAB were measured and the ratio of IC(50) values of each ligand to [(3)H]PK11195 in HAB to LAB was calculated, indicating the sensitivity of TSPO polymorphism. Cellular uptake of [(18)F]CB251 was measured with different TSPO polymorphisms, and phantom studies of [(18)F]CB251-PET using 293FT cells were performed. To test TSPO-specific cellular uptake of [(18)F]CB251, TSPO expression was regulated with pCMV-TSPO (or shTSPO)/eGFP vector. Intracranial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment was used to induce regional inflammation in the mouse brain. Gadolinium (Gd)-DOTA MRI was used to monitor the disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and infiltration by immune cells. Infiltration of peripheral immune cells across the BBB, which exacerbates neuroinflammation to produce higher levels of neurotoxicity, was also monitored with bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Peripheral immune cells isolated from luciferase-expressing transgenic mice were transferred to syngeneic inflamed mice. Neuroinflammation was monitored with [(18)F]CB251-PET/MR and BLI. To evaluate the effects of anti-inflammatory agents on intracranial inflammation, an inflammatory cytokine inhibitor, 2-cyano-3, 12-dioxooleana-1, 9-dien-28-oic acid methyl ester (CDDO-Me) was administered in intracranial LPS challenged mice. Results: The ratio of IC(50) values of [(18)F]CB251 in HAB to LAB indicated similar binding affinity to WT and mutant TSPO and was less affected by TSPO polymorphisms. [(18)F]CB251 was specific for TSPO, and its cellular uptake reflected the amount of TSPO. Higher [(18)F]CB251 uptake was also observed in activated immune cells. Simultaneous [(18)F]CB251-PET/MRI showed that [(18)F]CB251 radioactivity was co-registered with the MR signals in the same region of the brain of LPS-injected mice. Luciferase-expressing peripheral immune cells were located at the site of LPS-injected right striatum. Quantitative evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect of CDDO-Me on neuroinflammation was successfully monitored with TSPO-targeting [(18)F]CB251-PET/MR and BLI. Conclusion: Our results indicate that [(18)F]CB251-PET has great potential for detecting neuroinflammation with higher TSPO selectivity regardless of polymorphisms. Our multimodal imaging system, [(18)F]CB251-PET/MRI, tested for evaluating the efficacy of anti-inflammatory agents in preclinical studies, might be an effective method to assess the severity and therapeutic response of neuroinflammation.