Histone deacetylases (HDAC’s) became increasingly important targets for therapy of various diseases, resulting in a pressing need to develop HDAC class- and isoform-selective inhibitors. Class IIa deacetylases possess only minimal deacetylase activity against acetylated histones, but have several other client proteins as substrates through which they participate in epigenetic regulation. Herein, we report the radiosyntheses of the second generation of HDAC class IIa–specific radiotracers: 6-(di-fluoroacetamido)-1-hexanoicanilide (DFAHA) and 6-(tri-fluoroacetamido)-1-hexanoicanilide ([18F]-TFAHA). The selectivity of these radiotracer substrates to HDAC class IIa enzymes was assessed in vitro, in a panel of recombinant HDACs, and in vivo using PET/CT imaging in rats. [18F]TFAHA showed significantly higher selectivity for HDAC class IIa enzymes, as compared to [18F]DFAHA and previously reported [18F]FAHA. PET imaging with [18F]TFAHA can be used to visualize and quantify spatial distribution and magnitude of HDAC class IIa expression-activity in different organs and tissues in vivo. Furthermore, PET imaging with [18F]TFAHA may advance the understanding of HDACs class IIa mediated epigenetic regulation of normal and pathophysiological processes, and facilitate the development of novel HDAC class IIa-specific inhibitors for therapy of different diseases.

Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) plays an important role in human physiology and the pathophysiology of different diseases, including neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Several classes of CB2 receptor ligands, including 2-oxoquinoline derivatives, have been previously reported. We report the synthesis and results of in vitro receptor binding of a focused library of new fluorinated 2-oxoquinoline CB2 ligands. Twelve compounds, 13-16 18, 19, 21-24, 27, and 28 were synthesized in good yields in multiple steps. Human U87 glioma cells expressing either hCB1 (control) or hCB2 were generated via lentiviral transduction. In vitro competitive binding assay was performed using [3H]CP-55,940 in U87hCB1 and U87hCB2 cells. Inhibition constant (Ki) values of compounds 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, and 28 for CB2 were >10000, 2.8, 5.0, 2.4, 22, 0.8, 1.4, >10000, 486, 58, 620, and 2400 nM, respectively, and those for CB1 were >10000 nM. Preliminary in vitro results suggest that six of these compounds may be useful for therapy of neuropathic pain, neuroinflammatory diseases and immune disorders. In addition, compound 19, with its subnanomolar Ki value, could be radiolabeled with 18F and explored for PET imaging of CB2 expression.

Introduction:The hepatocellular carcinoma-intestine-pancreas and pancreatitis-associated proteins, also known as lactosebinding protein, is upregulated in peritumoral pancreatic tissue. Previously, we reported ethyl, a radiofluorinated lactose analog for positron emission tomography (PET) of small pancreatic carcinomas in mice. However, synthesis of the precursor for Et-[18 F]-FDL involves 11 steps, which is quite lengthy, and produces overall low yields. Here, we report on synthesis and radiolabeling of another analog of lactose, the 1 0 -[

Introduction The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) is an important target for development of drugs and imaging agents for diseases, such as neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Recently we reported synthesis and results of in vitro receptor binding of a focused library of fluorinated 2-oxoquinoline derivatives as CB2 receptor ligands. Some of the compounds demonstrated as good CB2-specific ligands with Ki values in the nanomolar to sub-nanomolar concentrations; therefore, we pursued the development of their 18F-labeled analogues that should be useful for PET imaging of CB2 receptor expression. Here, we report the radiosynthesis of two 18F-labeled 2-oxoquinoline derivatives, and preliminary in vitro and ex-vivo evaluation of one compound as a CB2-specific radioligand. Methods 4-[18F]Fluorobenzyl amine [18F]-3 was prepared by radiofluorination of 4-cyano-N,N,N-trimethylanilinium triflate salt followed by reduction with LiAlH4 and then coupled with acid chlorides 11 and 12 to afford [18F]-13 and [18F]-14. In vitro CB2 receptor binding assay was performed using U87 cells transduced with CB2- and CB1-receptor. Ex-vivo autoradiography was performed with [18F]-14 on spleen, CB2- and CB1-expressing and wild type U87 subcutaneous tumors grown in mice. Results The radiochemical yields of [18F]-13 and [18F]-14 were 10%-15.0% with an average of 12% (n=10); radiochemical purity was > 99% with specific activity 1200 mCi/μmole. The dissociation constant Kd for [18F]-14 was 3.4 nM. Ex-vivo autoradiography showed accumulation of [18F]-14 in the CB2-expressing tumor. Conclusion Two new [18F]-labeled CB2 ligands have been synthesized. Compound [18F]-14 appears to be a potential PET imaging agent for the assessment of CB2 receptor expression in vivo.