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Evaluation of a radiolabelled peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand in the central nervous system inflammation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: a possible probe for imaging multiple sclerosis

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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) are upregulated on macrophages and activated microglia, and radioligands for the PBRs can be used to detect in vivo neuroinflammatory changes in a variety of neurological insults, including multiple sclerosis. Substituted 2-phenyl imidazopyridine-3-acetamides with high affinity and selectivity for PBRs have been prepared that are suitable for radiolabelling with a number of positron emission tomography and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) isotopes. In this investigation, the newly developed high-affinity PBR ligand 6-chloro-2-(4′-iodophenyl)-3-(N,N-diethyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-3-acetamide, or CLINDE, was radiolabelled with 123I and its biodistribution in the central nervous system (CNS) of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) evaluated.

Methods

EAE was induced in male Lewis rats by injection of an emulsion of myelin basic protein and incomplete Freund’s adjuvant containing Mycobacterium butyricum. Biodistribution studies with 123I-CLINDE were undertaken on EAE rats exhibiting different clinical disease severity and compared with results in controls. Disease severity was confirmed by histopathology in the spinal cord of rats. The relationship between inflammatory lesions and PBR ligand binding was investigated using ex vivo autoradiography and immunohistochemistry on rats with various clinical scores.

Results

123I-CLINDE uptake was enhanced in the CNS of all rats exhibiting EAE when compared to controls. Binding reflected the ascending nature of EAE inflammation, with lumbar/sacral cord > thoracic cord > cervical cord > medulla. The amount of ligand binding also reflected the clinical severity of disease. Ex vivo autoradiography and immunohistochemistry revealed a good spatial correspondence between radioligand signal and foci of inflammation and in particular ED-1+ cells representing macrophages and microglia.

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the ability of 123I-CLINDE to measure in vivo inflammatory events represented by increased density of PBRs and suggest that 123I-CLINDE warrants further investigation as a potential SPECT marker for imaging of CNS inflammation.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Christian Loc’h for the helpful discussions during the preparation of this manuscript. This work was supported in part by the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (AINSE), the National Health and Medical Research Council (NH&MRC), Multiple Sclerosis Australia and The Canberra Hospital Private Practice Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiopharmaceuticals Division, ANSTO, New Illawarra Road, Lucas Heights, 2234, Australia

    F. Mattner, A. Katsifis & P. Ballantyne

  2. Neurosciences Research Unit, Australian National University Medical School, The Canberra Hospital, Yamba Drive, Woden, 2606, Canberra, Australia

    M. Staykova & D. O. Willenborg

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  1. F. Mattner
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  2. A. Katsifis
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  3. M. Staykova
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  4. P. Ballantyne
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Correspondence to F. Mattner.

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Mattner, F., Katsifis, A., Staykova, M. et al. Evaluation of a radiolabelled peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand in the central nervous system inflammation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: a possible probe for imaging multiple sclerosis. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 32, 557–563 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1690-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-004-1690-y

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