Radiosynthesis and Early Evaluation of a Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Probe [<sup>18</sup>F]AGAL Targeting Alpha-Galactosidase A Enzyme for Fabry Disease

oleh: Talakad G. Lohith, Charalambos Kaittanis, Anthony P. Belanger, Shin Hye Ahn, Phil Sandoval, Lawrence Cohen, Girija Rajarshi, Wanida Ruangsiriluk, Rizwana Islam, Christopher T. Winkelmann, Paul McQuade

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-10-01

Deskripsi

Success of gene therapy relies on the durable expression and activity of transgene in target tissues. In vivo molecular imaging approaches using positron emission tomography (PET) can non-invasively measure magnitude, location, and durability of transgene expression via direct transgene or indirect reporter gene imaging in target tissues, providing the most proximal PK/PD biomarker for gene therapy trials. Herein, we report the radiosynthesis of a novel PET tracer [<sup>18</sup>F]AGAL, targeting alpha galactosidase A (α-GAL), a lysosomal enzyme deficient in Fabry disease, and evaluation of its selectivity, specificity, and pharmacokinetic properties in vitro. [<sup>18</sup>F]AGAL was synthesized via a Cu-catalyzed click reaction between fluorinated pentyne and an aziridine-based galactopyranose precursor with a high yield of 110 mCi, high radiochemical purity of >97% and molar activity of 6 Ci/µmol. The fluorinated AGAL probe showed high α-GAL affinity with <i>IC</i><sub>50</sub> of 30 nM, high pharmacological selectivity (≥50% inhibition on >160 proteins), and suitable pharmacokinetic properties (moderate to low clearance and stability in plasma across species). In vivo [<sup>18</sup>F]AGAL PET imaging in mice showed high uptake in peripheral organs with rapid renal clearance. These promising results encourage further development of this PET tracer for in vivo imaging of α-GAL expression in target tissues affected by Fabry disease.