Radiosynthesis and evaluation of [18F]FMTP, a COX-2 PET ligand

Background The upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in neuroinflammation associated with many neurological diseases as well as cancers of the brain. Outside the brain, inflammation and COX-2 induction contribute to the pathogenesis of pain, arthritis, acute allograft rejection, and in response to infections, tumors, autoimmune disorders, and injuries. Herein, we report the radiochemical synthesis and evaluation of [F-18]6-fluoro-2-(4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl)-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)pyrimidin-4-amine ([F-18]FMTP), a high-affinity COX-2 inhibitor, by cell uptake and PET imaging studies. Methods The radiochemical synthesis of [F-18]FMTP was optimized using chlorine to fluorine displacement method, by reacting [F-18]fluoride/K222/K(2)CO(3)with the precursor molecule. Cellular uptake studies of [F-18]FMTP was performed in COX-2 positive BxPC3 and COX-2 negative PANC-1 cell lines with unlabeled FMTP as well as celecoxib to define specific binding agents. Dynamic microPET image acquisitionwas performed in anesthetized nude mice (n = 3), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced neuroinflammation mice (n = 4), and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) administered control mice (n = 4) using a Trifoil microPET/CT for a scan period of 60 min. Results A twofold higher binding of [F-18]FMTP was found in COX-2 positive BxPC3 cells compared with COX-2 negative PANC-1 cells. The radioligand did not show specific binding to COX-2 negative PANC-1 cells. MicroPET imaging in wild-type mice indicated blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and fast washout of [F-18]FMTP in the brain, likely due to the low constitutive COX-2 expression in the normal brain. In contrast, a similar to twofold higher uptake of the radioligand was found in LPS-induced mice brain than PBS treated control mice. Conclusions Specific binding to COX-2 in BxPC3 cell lines, BBB permeability, and increased brain uptake in neuroinflammation mice qualifies [F-18]FMTP as a potential PET tracer for studying inflammation.