Apoptosis imaging studies in various animal models using radio-iodinated peptide

Wonjung Kwak, Yeong Su Ha, Nisarg Soni, Woonghee Lee, Se Il Park, Heesu Ahn, Gwang Il An, In San Kim, Byung Heon Lee, Jeongsoo Yoo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Apoptosis has a role in many medical disorders and treatments; hence, its non-invasive evaluation is one of the most riveting research topics. Currently annexin V is used as gold standard for imaging apoptosis. However, several drawbacks, including high background, slow body clearance, make it a suboptimum marker for apoptosis imaging. In this study, we radiolabeled the recently identified histone H1 targeting peptide (ApoPep-1) and evaluated its potential as a new apoptosis imaging agent in various animal models. ApoPep-1 (CQRPPR) was synthesized, and an extra tyrosine residue was added to its N-terminal end for radiolabeling. This peptide was radiolabeled with 124I and 131I and was tested for its serum stability. Surgery- and drug-induced apoptotic rat models were prepared for apoptosis evaluation, and PET imaging was performed. Doxorubicin was used for xenograft tumor treatment in mice, and the induced apoptosis was studied. Tumor metabolism and proliferation were assessed by [18F]FDG and [18F]FLT PET imaging and compared with ApoPep-1 after doxorubicin treatment. The peptide was radiolabeled at high purity, and it showed reasonably good stability in serum. Cell death was easily imaged by radiolabeled ApoPep-1 in an ischemia surgery model. And, liver apoptosis was more clearly identified by ApoPep-1 rather than [124I]annexin V in cycloheximide-treated models. Three doxorubicin doses inhibited tumor growth, which was evaluated by 30-40 % decreases of [18F]FDG and [18F]FLT PET uptake in the tumor area. However, ApoPep-1 demonstrated more than 200 % increase in tumor uptake after chemotherapy, while annexin V did not show any meaningful uptake in the tumor compared with the background. Biodistribution data were also in good agreement with the microPET imaging results. All of the experimental data clearly demonstrated high potential of the radiolabeled ApoPep-1 for in vivo apoptosis imaging.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)110-121
Number of pages12
JournalApoptosis
Volume20
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Jan
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by R&D program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (Nos. 2013R1A2A2A01012250, 2013M2A2A6042317, 2012-0006386, 20090078235) and the Basic Research Laboratory (BRL) Program (2013R1A4A1069507). The Korea Basic Science Institute (Daegu) is acknowledged for the NMR and MS measurements.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Keywords

  • ApoPep-1 peptide
  • Apoptosis
  • Imaging agent
  • PET imaging
  • Radiopharmaceuticals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmaceutical Science
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry, medical
  • Cancer Research

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