Ligands for in vivo imaging of nicotinic receptor subtypes in Alzheimer brain†
W. Sihver, B. Långström,
A. Nordberg,
B. Långström
PET-Center/
Institute of Chemistry, Uppsala University, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden,
Search for more papers by this authorA. Nordberg
Karolinska Institutet, Department of NEUROTEC, Division of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Geriatric Clinic, Huddinge University Hospital, S-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorW. Sihver, B. Långström,
A. Nordberg,
B. Långström
PET-Center/
Institute of Chemistry, Uppsala University, S-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden,
Search for more papers by this authorA. Nordberg
Karolinska Institutet, Department of NEUROTEC, Division of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Geriatric Clinic, Huddinge University Hospital, S-141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
Search for more papers by this authorAgneta Nordberg MD PhD, Karolinska Institutet, Department of NEUROTEC, Division of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Huddinge University Hospital B84, S-141 86 Huddinge, SwedenFax 46 8 68,99210Email: [email protected]
†
Abbreviations: A-85380: 3-((2(S)-azetidinyl)methoxy)pyridine; ABT-418: 3-methyl-5-(1-methyl-2(S)-pyrrolidinyl)isoxazole; AD: Alzheimer's disease; BrPH: (±)-exo-2-(2-bromo-5-pyridyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane; FPH: (±)-exo-2-(2-fluoro-5-pyridyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane; IPH: (±)-exo-2-(2-iodo-5-pyridyl)-7-azabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane; MPA: (R,S)-1-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)azetidine; nAChR: nicotinic acetylcholine receptor; PET: positron emission tomography; SPECT: single photon emission computed tomography.
Abstract
The neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) are involved in functional processes in brain including cognitive function and memory. A severe loss of the nAChRs has been detected in brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). There is a great interest to image nAChRs noninvasive for detection of receptor impairments even at a presymptomatic stage of AD as well for monitoring outcome of drug treatment. (S) [11C]Nicotine, has so far been the only nAChR ligand used in positron emission tomography (PET) studies for visualizing nAChRs in human brain. In order to develop PET/SPECT nAChRs ligands for detection of subtypes of nAChRs nicotine analogues, epibatidine and A-85380 compounds have been characterized in vitro and investigated in vivo. Epibatidine and A-85380 have been found to have higher specific signals and more favorable kinetic parameters than nicotine and its analogues. The epibatidine and A-85380 compounds can also be radiolabeled with high specific radioactivity, show affinities for the nAChRs in the pM range and readily cross the blood–brain barrier. In addition they reversibly bind to the nAChRs and show low non-specific binding and moderately fast metabolism. Due to a probably high α4β2 nAChR selectivity combined with low toxicity, the A-85380 analogs presently seem to be the most promising nAChR ligand imaging of subtypes of nAChRs in human brain.
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