Abstract
The homo-pentameric alpha 7 receptor is one of the major types of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7-nAChRs) related to cognition, memory formation, and attention processing. The mapping of α7-nAChRs by PET pulls a lot of attention to realize the mechanism and development of CNS diseases such as AD, PD, and schizophrenia. Several PET radioligands have been explored for the detection of the α7-nAChR. 18F-ASEM is the most functional for in vivo quantification of α7-nAChRs in the human brain. The first aim of this study was to initially use results from in silico and machine learning techniques to prescreen and predict the binding energy and other properties of ASEM analogues and to interpret these properties in terms of atomic structures using 18F-ASEM as a lead structure, and second, to label some selected candidates with carbon-11/hydrogen-3 (11C/3H) and to evaluate the binding properties in vitro and in vivo using the labeled candidates. In silico predictions are obtained from perturbation free-energy calculations preceded by molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and metadynamics simulations. Machine learning techniques have been applied for the BBB and P-gp-binding properties. Six analogues of ASEM were labeled with 11C, and three of them were additionally labeled with 3H. Binding properties were further evaluated using autoradiography (ARG) and PET measurements in non-human primates (NHPs). Radiometabolites were measured in NHP plasma. All six compounds were successfully synthesized. Evaluation with ARG showed that 11C-Kln83 was preferably binding to the α7-nAChR. Competition studies showed that 80% of the total binding was displaced. Further ARG studies using 3H-KIn-83 replicated the preliminary results. In the NHP PET study, the distribution pattern of 11C-KIn-83 was similar to other α7 nAChR PET tracers. The brain uptake was relatively low and increased by the administration of tariquidar, indicating a substrate of P-gp. The ASEM blocking study showed that 11C-KIn-83 specifically binds to α7 nAChRs. Preliminary in vitro evaluation of KIn-83 by ARG with both 11C and 3H and in vivo evaluation in NHP showed favorable properties for selectively imaging α7-nAChRs, despite a relatively low brain uptake.
Highlights
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are receptor polypeptides that respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine
Based on the structure information obtained, the binding free energy and residence time in the pocket are given for the ASEM analogue series
Specific binding in the ARG studies was further studied by 3H-KIn-83, which showed the most promising features by the initial ARG screening with six 11C-compounds
Summary
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are receptor polypeptides that respond to the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Based on the compositions of the subunits, nAChRs can be divided into two different types, such as muscle and neuronal nAChRs. The neuronal nAChR subtypes again varied in homomeric or heteromeric combinations of 12 different nicotinic receptor subunits, α2−α10 and β2−β4.1,2. Received: November 4, 2021 Accepted: January 4, 2022.
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