Abstract
Introduction. An in vivo determination of bile acid hepatobiliary transport efficiency can be of use in liver disease and preclinical drug development. Given the increased interest in bile acid Positron Emission Tomography- (PET-) imaging, a further understanding of the impact of 18-fluorine substitution on bile acid handling in vitro and in vivo can be of significance. Methods. A number of bile acid analogues were conceived for nucleophilic substitution with [18F]fluoride: cholic acid analogues of which the 3-, 7-, or 12-OH function is substituted with a fluorine atom (3α-[18F]FCA; 7β-[18F]FCA; 12β-[18F]FCA); a glycocholic and chenodeoxycholic acid analogue, substituted on the 3-position (3β-[18F]FGCA and 3β-[18F]FCDCA, resp.). Uptake by the bile acid transporters NTCP and OATP1B1 was evaluated with competition assays in transfected CHO and HEK cell lines and efflux by BSEP in membrane vesicles. PET-scans with the tracers were performed in wild-type mice ( per group): hepatobiliary transport was monitored and compared to a reference tracer, namely, 3β-[18F]FCA. Results. Compounds 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA were synthesized in moderate radiochemical yields (4–10% n.d.c.) and high radiochemical purity (>99%); 7β-[18F]FCA and 12β-[18F]FCA could not be synthesized and included further in this study. In vitro evaluation showed that 3α-FCA, 3β-FGCA, and 3β-FCDCA all had a low micromolar Ki-value for NTCP, OATP1B1, and BSEP. In vivo, 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA displayed hepatobiliary transport with varying efficiency. A slight yet significant difference in uptake and efflux rate was noticed between the 3α-[18F]FCA and 3β-[18F]FCA epimers. Conjugation of 3β-[18F]FCA with glycine had no significant effect in vivo. Compound 3β-[18F]FCDCA showed a significantly slower hepatic uptake and efflux towards gallbladder and intestines. Conclusion. A set of 18F labeled bile acids was synthesized that are substrates of the bile acid transporters in vitro and in vivo and can serve as PET-biomarkers for hepatobiliary transport of bile acids.
1. Introduction
Bile acids are steroid derivatives that are produced by the hepatocytes of the liver and excreted in bile. These molecules play an important role in micelle formation for lipid digestion and uptake of fat-soluble vitamins in the intestines [1]. The majority of bile acids (95%) is then reabsorbed and transported back to the liver by the portal circulation. Bile acid homeostasis in the liver is maintained by specific bile acid transporters on the hepatocytes. Uptake at the basolateral side relies predominantly on the Na+-dependent Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide (NTCP) and also the Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATPs). Once in the hepatocyte, excretion in the bile canaliculi is mainly mediated by the Bile Salt Export Pump (BSEP) [2].
However, this highly efficient hepatobiliary transport of bile acids can be disturbed by xenobiotics that inhibit the aforementioned bile acid transporters or in certain liver diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis or progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) [3–5]. A toxic build-up of bile acids in the hepatocytes, termed cholestasis, can then present itself. Clinical features may consist of nausea, abdominal pain, jaundice and pruritus [6]. An accurate in vivo determination of bile acid transport efficiency can therefore be valuable for detection or evaluation of liver disease in both drug development and clinic.
To visualize physiological processes on a molecular level in vivo, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is the imaging modality of choice. The possibility for close resemblance of the PET-radiotracer and the endogenous substrate under investigation gives this imaging technique an important asset [7]. Recently, a number of studies with 11C or 18F labeled bile acid PET-tracers have been published. Frisch et al. evaluated 11C labeled bile acids, conjugated with sarcosine or N-methyl taurine in pigs [8, 9]. These tracers were able to visualize hepatobiliary transport and can provide valuable information in hepatobiliary diseases, although the short half-life of the 11C isotope limits their use. Several 18F labeled bile acids were developed to overcome this issue. Jia et al. developed a 18F labeled bile acid for studying Farnesoid X Receptor- (FXR-) related diseases, using a click reaction of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of terminal alkynes and organic azides [10]. However, this modification removes the terminal carboxylic acid moiety that is critical for recognition by the bile acid transporters [11]. Testa et al. improved this click chemistry approach by retaining the carboxylic acid functional group [12]. Nevertheless, for both 18F labeled compounds the introduction of a long 1,2,3-triazole linked fluoroalkyl sidechain on the carboxylic acid terminus encompasses a substantial addition to the steroid structure. This might result in altered hepatobiliary transport, compared to endogenous bile acids.
Because of the need for a 18F labeled bile acid with only a minimal modification in molecular structure compared to an endogenous bile acid, 3β-[18F]fluorocholic acid (3β-[18F]FCA) was developed by our research group [13]. The bile acid structure for 3β-[18F]FCA is cholic acid, of which the 3 alpha OH group was substituted for a 3-beta fluorine. This tracer showed transport by NTCP, OATP, and BSEP in vitro and could visualize hepatobiliary transport in vivo and drug-induced alterations thereof.
Given the increased interest in bile acid PET-imaging, a further understanding of the impact of fluorine-OH substitution on bile acid handling in vitro and in vivo can be beneficial. Therefore, in this study a number of fluorinated analogues of cholic, chenodeoxycholic, and glycocholic acid were synthesized, evaluated, and compared in vitro and in vivo in mice.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Radiosynthesis of the 18F-Labeled Bile Acids
The 18F-isotope was introduced on the bile acid skeleton by a nucleophilic substitution on a suitable mesylate, protected precursor molecule of which the synthesis can be found in Supplementary Data (available ). The conceived 18F labeled bile acids are shown in Figure 1. The radiosynthesis was performed as described earlier [13]. In short, [18F]fluoride (1.3 GBq) was trapped on a Sep-Pak QMA-column (Waters, Zellik, Belgium) that was preconditioned with 5 mL 0.01 M K2CO3 and 5 mL ultrapure water. The activity was eluted in a radiosynthesis vial with 1 mL 9 : 1 AcN : H2O Cryptand-2.2.2 (Acros Organics, Geel, Belgium) and K2CO3 (20 mg and 2 mg, resp.) solution. The solvents were removed by evaporation under a gentle nitrogen flow at 100°C. The residue was dried further by adding and evaporating 2 × 500 μL AcN.
The precursor for radiosynthesis was dissolved in 200 μL anhydrous DMSO and added to the radiosynthesis vial. A fixed amount (6.84 μmol; 3.4–4.4 mg) of precursor for 3α-[18F]fluorocholic acid (3α-[18F]FCA), 3β-[18F]fluorocholic acid (3β-[18F]FCA), 7β-[18F]fluorocholic acid (7β-[18F]FCA), 12β-[18F]fluorocholic acid (12β-[18F]FCA), 3β-[18F]fluoroglycocholic acid (3β-[18F]FGCA), and 3β-[18F]fluorochenodeoxycholic acid (3β-[18F]FCDCA) was used. The vial was sealed, shaken, and heated for 20 minutes at 120°C. Afterwards, the vial was cooled and 100 μL 5 M NaOH was added. The mixture was shaken and heated again at 120°C for 10 minutes. After cooling and neutralization of the basic reaction mixture, purification was performed by a semipreparative HPLC-system (Grace Econosphere C18 10.0 × 250 mm, 10 μm; 6 mL/min 10% AcN in H2O -> 100% AcN in 20 minutes; radiodetection (Ludlum Measurements Inc.)). The desired HPLC-fraction was collected, diluted with ultrapure water to 50 mL, and loaded on a Sep-Pak C18 Plus short cartridge (preconditioned with 10 mL EtOH and 10 mL ultrapure water). After washing with 10 mL ultrapure water, the 18F-labeled bile acid was eluted off the column with 1 mL EtOH in a separate vial. This fraction was evaporated under a gentle N2-flow and heating. Finally, 500 μL phosphate buffered saline was added to reformulate the tracer for in vivo use.
The logD-value, stability (in formulation for use and mouse serum), and identity of the tracer were assessed as described earlier [13]. Radiochemical purity and percentage 18F-labeling of precursor were determined by radio-TLC (silica gel TLC; with 10% MeOH in CH2Cl2 and 4 : 1 AcN : H2O, resp.).
2.2. In Vitro Uptake Assays
Transport of the fluorinated bile acids by NTCP and OATP1B1 was evaluated by their inhibition of [3H]taurocholate ([3H]TC; Perkin Elmer) and [3H]estradiol-17β-glucuronide ([3H]EbG; Perkin Elmer) uptake, respectively. Cholic acid (CA) was added to the test compound panel as a reference. Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) and Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) cells expressing NTCP and OATP1B1, respectively (Solvo Biotechnologies), were used. Maintenance of these cell cultures was described earlier [13]. Ki-values of the different bile acids were calculated using the experimentally determined IC50-and Km-parameters in the Cheng-Prusoff equation (GraphPad Prism v3.00 Software) (see (1)) where refers to inhibition constant; IC50 refers to concentration of fluorinated bile acid that causes a 50% decrease in 3H labeled substrate uptake; refers to concentration of 3H labeled substrate; Km refers to Michaelis-Menten constant of 3H labeled substrate
Cells were seeded in 24-well plates at 400,000 cells/well. The culture medium was aspirated after 24 hours and the cells were washed twice with 1 mL 10 mM HEPES-Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS; with Ca and Mg; 37°C, pH 7). For Km-determination, cells were incubated with 250 μL of 0–150 μM [3H]TC (NTCP) or [3H]EbG (OATP1B1) for 10 minutes at 37°C. IC50-values were acquired by incubating the cells with 250 μL 0–1000 μM fluorinated bile acid and 1 μM [3H]TC (NTCP) or [3H]EbG (OATP1B1) for 15 minutes at 37°C. All dosing solutions were formulated in the washing buffer and dosing was executed in triplicate. The incubation was stopped by placing the plates on ice and adding 1 mL ice-cold 1% BSA HBSS-solution. The supernatant was aspirated and the cells were washed twice with 2 mL ice-cold HBSS-solution. NaOH (250 μl, 0.1 M) was added to lyse the cells and the plates were shaken (15 minutes, 37°C). Aliquots of this lysate were subjected to liquid scintillation counting (TriCarb 2900 TR; Perkin Elmer) and protein determination with a BCA-assay (ThermoFisher Scientific).
2.3. In Vitro Efflux Assays
Transport of the bile acids by BSEP was evaluated by their inhibition of [3H]TC uptake in BSEP membrane vesicles (Pharmtox). Cholic acid (CA) was added to the test compound panel as a reference. Ki-values of the different bile acids were calculated using the experimentally determined IC50-and Km-parameters in the Cheng-Prusoff equation (GraphPad Prism v3.00 Software) (see (1)). The assay was performed in V-tip 96-well plates; each well contained 3.75 μg membrane vesicle, 10 mM MgCl2, 10 mM Tris, 4 mM adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and 250 mM sucrose. A concentration range of 0–50 μM [3H]TC was included for the Km-determination. To determine the IC50s, 0–2500 μM of bile acid was used with 0.65 μM [3H]TC. All dosing was performed in triplicate. The plates were suspended in a 37°C water bath 1 minute before the incubation. Incubation was started by adding 10 μL of the ATP solution or buffer solution (negative control). Each well contained a final volume of 30 μL and the plates were incubated for 10 minutes at 37°C.
Transport was stopped by placing the plates on ice and adding 150 μL ice-cold buffer solution. The contents of each well were pipetted in a glass fiber filter plate (Multiscreen HTS plates; Merck Millipore) and washed 3 times with 200 μL ice-cold buffer solution. Finally, 100 μL 0.1 M NaOH was added: lysis of the vesicles took place for 10 minutes at room temperature. An aliquot was used for liquid scintillation counting.
2.4. PET-Imaging Protocol
The in vivo transport characteristics of the 18F labeled bile acids were evaluated in wild-type FVB-mice (female, 5 w). The tracer described earlier [13], 3β-[18F]FCA, was also included as a reference standard. Imaging was performed with a PET/CT (FLEX Triumph II small animal PET/CT-scanner; axial field of view: 7.5 cm; 1.3 mm spatial resolution; TriFoil Imaging). For each tracer, three animals were used. The animals were housed and handled in accordance with the European Ethics Committee guidelines and the experiments were approved by the Animal Experimental Ethical Committee of Ghent University (ECD 15/69).
Food and water were provided ad libitum, but the animals were fasted overnight before a PET/CT-scan. They were anesthetized with 1.5 v : v% isoflurane in O2 and placed on a heated bed. To allow injection of the tracer, a polyethylene intravenous line was inserted in the lateral tail vein and fixed. After the animals were transferred to the scanner animal bed, a 1 hour PET-scan was started and 9 MBq tracer was injected directly after starting the scan. Following this PET-scan, 9 MBq [18F]FDG was injected and twenty minutes later, a second PET-scan with a 20-minute acquisition time was started.
All PET-scans were obtained in list-mode and were iteratively reconstructed (50 iterations). The 1-hour scan was reconstructed in the following frames: 8 × 15 s; 16 × 30 s; 10 × 60 s; 20 × 120 s. For presentation purposes, Maximum Intensity Projection PET/CT images were generated in Amide software. The data were analyzed using Pmod software v3.405 (PMOD Technologies): Regions Of Interest (ROIs) were drawn manually over the liver, gallbladder, and intestines. On the static [18F]FDG scan, the left ventricle was delineated and this ROI was pasted on the dynamic scan to obtain an image-derived arterial blood concentration. The uptake of radioactivity in liver, gallbladder, and intestines was expressed as a percentage of the injected dose (% ID) and normalized for the weight of a 20 g mouse. The % ID in these organs was monitored in function of time to obtain time-activity curves (TACs). Biliary clearance of the tracers was determined with equation 2 from Ghibellini et al. [14]
The Area Under the Curve (AUC), % ID, and time-to-peak values of the TACs were determined in GraphPad Prism v3.00 Software. The obtained parameters of the different 18F labeled bile acids were compared to 3β-[18F]FCA-values in SPSS Statistics 23 Software. Differences between two groups were analyzed with the nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test. A value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
3. Results
3.1. Radiosynthesis of the 18F-Labeled Bile Acids
Differences in radiolabeling yield of the precursors for radiosynthesis with [18F]fluoride were observed (Table 1). The precursors for 3α-[18F]FCA and 3β-[18F]FCDCA had approximately the same labeling yield (30%) and nondecay corrected yield (10%). The precursor for 3β-[18F]FGCA was only labeled for %, which also resulted in a lower total yield of %. The tracers 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FCDCA, and 3β-[18F]FGCA were found to be stable in its formulation and in mouse serum. Both the precursors for 12β-[18F]FCA and 7β-[18F]FCA provided minimal radiolabeling: generating a significant amount of completed product proved troublesome for these two products. Furthermore, the 7βFCA reference compound could not be synthesized. The LogD values of the 18F labeled bile acids are displayed in Table 1.
3.2. In Vitro Uptake Assays
A Michaelis-Menten curve was made for [3H]TC and [3H]EbG for the CHO-NTCP and HEK-OATP1B1 cells, respectively (Figure 2). For the CHO-NTCP cells, the Km of [3H]TC was μM and the Vmax pmol/min·mg protein. For the HEK-OATP1B1 cells, the Km of [3H]EbG was μM and the Vmax pmol/min·mg protein.
Cholic acid and the fluorinated bile acid analogues caused a dose-dependent decrease in the uptake of [3H]TC and [3H]EbG for NTCP and OATP1B1. A sigmoidal dose-response curve was fitted on the acquired data points to determine the IC50 and calculate the Ki-value (Figure 3 and Table 2).
3.3. In Vitro Efflux Assays
A Michaelis-Menten curve of [3H]TC was made for BSEP (Figure 2). The Km of [3H]TC was 3.89 μM ± 1.44 μM and the Vmax pmol/min·mg protein. Cholic acid and the fluorinated bile acid analogues caused a dose-dependent decrease in the uptake of [3H]TC in the BSEP membrane vesicles. A sigmoidal dose-response curve was fitted on the acquired data points to determine the IC50 and calculate the Ki-value (Figure 3 and Table 2).
3.4. In Vivo Evaluation of the 18F-Labeled Bile Acids
The 18F labeled bile acids 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA were evaluated in wild-type mice. Because of their negligible radiochemical yield, 7β-[18F]FCA and 12β-[18F]FCA could not be included. Compounds 3β-[18F]FCA, 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA showed exclusive hepatic uptake after intravenous injection. The hepatic uptake of reference tracer 3β-[18F]FCA was significantly slower than 3α-[18F]FCA ( versus minutes), but significantly faster than 3β-[18F]FCDCA ( versus minutes). There was no difference in the time-to-peak of the liver TAC of 3β-[18F]FCA and 3β-[18F]FGCA. Once in the liver, the tracers were excreted in gallbladder and intestines. Almost all of the injected activity (approx. 80%) of 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FCA, and 3β-[18F]FGCA was found in gallbladder and intestines after 1 hour. Due to slower excretion of 3β-[18F]FCDCA from the liver, only 60% of the injected dose was found in gallbladder and intestines after 1 hour. Of the four tracers, only the biliary clearance of 3β-[18F]FCDCA ( mL/min) was significantly different compared to 3β-[18F]FCA ( mL/min). No radioactivity was observed in other organs for all tracers under investigation. Time-activity curves of the 18F labeled bile acids were generated and the relevant parameters were extracted from these graphs (Figure 4 and Table 3). Representative PET/CT images of 3β-[18F]FGCA and 3β-[18F]FCDCA are displayed in Figure 5.
4. Discussion
Cholestasis, a toxic accumulation of bile acids in the liver or blood, may occur in certain liver diseases or can be triggered as a result of a xenobiotic interfering with the hepatobiliary transport of bile acids [15]. It is therefore important to have an adequate tool to evaluate the efficiency of bile acid transport in vivo for clinical use or in drug development.
To that end, PET-imaging of hepatobiliary transport with radiolabeled bile acids is gaining importance. A number of studies have been published in which bile acids were labeled with either 11C or 18F on different bile acid structures [8–10, 12]. Our research group developed 3β-[18F]fluorocholic acid (3β-[18F]FCA), a cholic acid derivative of which the 3α-OH function is substituted for a 3β-fluorine atom. This minimal modification of the endogenous molecule allowed visualization and quantification of bile acid hepatobiliary transport and drug-induced alterations thereof. Seeing the promising results with 3β-[18F]FCA and the increased interest in hepatobiliary imaging with PET, a further exploration of fluorinated bile acid transport characteristics was performed in this study. A number of fluorinated analogues were conceived: cholic acid derivatives of which the 3, 7, and 12 OH functions were replaced with a fluorine atom, a 3β-fluorine labeled chenodeoxycholic acid, and 3β-fluorine labeled glycocholic acid. These compounds were evaluated on their radiosynthesis characteristics, in vitro and in vivo hepatobiliary transport in wild-type mice.
Of the conceived 18F labeled bile acids, only 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA could be obtained in a suitable radiochemical yield. The 18F labeling yield of the precursor molecules for 3α-[18F]FCA and 3β-[18F]FCDCA was comparable to that of 3β-[18F]FCA described earlier (approx. 30%) [13]. Labeling of the 3β-[18F]FGCA precursor was only %. This reduced yield could be attributed to the presence of a more polar amide group on the precursor, which can reduce the [18F]fluoride nucleophilic substitution efficiency. LogD values of the three tracers mentioned above were determined and were in line with literature LogD values of cholic acid, chenodeoxycholic acid, and glycocholic acid [16].
The mesylate precursors for 12β-[18F]FCA and 7β-[18F]FCA could not be substituted efficiently with [18F]fluoride and could therefore not be included in the in vivo evaluation. The 7α- and 12α- mesyl groups on cholic acid are positioned axially on steroid rings B and C, respectively. Coupled to the presence of neighboring hydrogen atoms that can be removed by a base, these positions are more prone to elimination than substitution with [18F]fluoride. This observation was also made in the attempted synthesis of the 12β-[18F]FCA and 7β-[18F]FCA reference compounds. The 7βFCA synthesis with DAST resulted exclusively in the formation of elimination product. However, it was possible to synthetize the 12β-FCA reference compound in low yield, as there are less protons available for elimination by a base due to the 19-methyl group present near the 12α-mesyl-group. In vitro data for 12β-FCA could be acquired, but no in vivo PET-imaging was possible.
Ki-values of CA, 3αFCA, 3βFGCA, 3βFCDCA, and 12βFCA for the bile acid transporters NTCP, OATP1B1, and BSEP were determined as an affinity measure. It was demonstrated that these compounds caused a concentration dependent decrease in uptake of the tritium labeled model substrates of NTCP, OATP1B1, and BSEP. The substitution of the 3-OH function by a more lipophilic fluorine atom on the 3α- and 3β-position of CA causes an increase in affinity for NTCP and OATP1B1, yet gives rise to a decrease in affinity for the BSEP-transporter compared to CA. Although both 3-FCA epimers are a substrate for the bile acid transporters, 3α-FCA displays a slightly higher affinity than 3β-FCA for NTCP and OATP1B1 ( μM and μM, resp., versus and μM, resp.). The affinity for BSEP does not change. This difference in affinity for 3 α/β cholic acid epimers of bile acid transporters was already uncovered in cell lines that express the Apical Sodium-dependent Bile acid Transporter (ASBT; responsible for basolateral uptake of bile acids in the enterocytes). It was found that 3β-OH-bile acids have a lower affinity than 3αOH-bile acids for ASBT [17]. In the present study, the hepatic basolateral uptake transporters NTCP and OATP1B1 also reveal a slight preference in affinity for the 3α-fluorocholic acid epimer. Compound 3β-FGCA, 3β-cholic acid conjugated with the amino acid glycine, showed an increase in affinity for all bile acid transporters under investigation. This is in line with literature data: conjugated bile acids have a higher affinity for NTCP, OATP, and BSEP than nonconjugated bile acids [2, 18].
The PET-scans with 3β-[18F]FCA, 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA showed hepatobiliary transport after intravenous injection in healthy wild-type FVB-mice. The former three tracers displayed fairly similar TAC-curves, whereas 3β-[18F]FCDCA had the most aberrant curves. Compared to 3β-[18F]FCA, there is a significantly slower liver uptake from the blood compartment: both the time-to-peak of the liver TAC and the AUC of tracer in arterial blood increased approximately twofold. Furthermore, a significant drop in excretion towards gallbladder and intestines was observed. This slower hepatobiliary clearance of 3β-[18F]FCDCA in vivo, although coupled with the in vitro observation that this fluorinated bile acid has a very high affinity for the bile acid transporters, implies that 3βFCDCA acts as slow substrate for the bile acid transporters in vivo. Because 3β-[18F]FCDCA already shows slower hepatobiliary transport in healthy wild-type mice, this tracer is less suited to detect possible alterations of bile acids transport by pharmacological interference or in liver disease.
Considering the 3α/β-[18F]FCA epimers, it was found that 3α-[18F]FCA shows a slight, yet significant decrease in time-to-peak of the liver TAC and excretion to gallbladder and intestines proceeded faster. This is reflected in a decrease of the liver TAC AUC-value and modest increase in AUC of the gallbladder and intestines TAC compared to 3β-[18F]FCA. These results illustrate that there is not only an observable difference in affinity of the 3α/β FCA epimers for bile acid transporters in vitro, but also in hepatobiliary transport in vivo. There is a slight preference for 3α-[18F]FCA compared to 3β-[18F]FCA, probably because the fluorine atom is in the same 3α-configuration as the 3α-OH on the endogenous cholic acid molecule.
Conjugation of 3β-[18F]FCA with glycine did not have a significant impact on its in vivo hepatobiliary transport, although the affinity of 3βFGCA for NTCP, OATP1B1, and BSEP rises compared to 3βFCA in vitro. This means that glycine conjugation of a bile acid is not a prerequisite for faster or more efficient hepatobiliary transport in mice. The majority of the murine bile acid spectrum is however composed of taurine conjugated bile acids [19]. The observed identical transport efficiency of 3β-[18F]FCA and its glycine conjugate 3β-[18F]FGCA could be different if taurine conjugation were explored.
Two out of three newly developed tracers (3α-[18F]FCA and 3β-[18F]FGCA) display fast and efficient hepatobiliary transport and can therefore be employed as biomarker for bile acid transport in vivo. Given the observed discrepancy between in vitro affinity and the in vivo hepatobiliary transport of some bile acid transporter substrates (such as 3βFGCA and 3βFCDCA), it is still important to determine the in vivo kinetics of a bile acid transporter substrate and not to rely on in vitro results alone to assess potentially disturbed hepatobiliary transport of bile acids.
5. Conclusion
A set of 18F labeled bile acids were synthesized in a moderate radiochemical yield: 3α-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA. All tracers were in vitro substrates of the bile acid transporters NTCP, OATP1B1, and BSEP and showed hepatobiliary transport in vivo. It was found that 3α-[18F]FCA shows slightly faster hepatobiliary transport than its epimer, 3β-[18F]FCA. Conjugation of 3β-[18F]FCA with glycine is not a prerequisite for faster transport. The 18F labeled bile acids 3α-[18F]FCA and 3β-[18F]FGCA can be applied as biomarker for in vivo PET monitoring of hepatobiliary transport of bile acids. The 18F-chenodeoxycholic acid derivative, however, 3β-[18F]FCDCA, suffers from slower hepatobiliary transport than its cholic acid counterpart and is hence less suited for monitoring possible disturbances of bile acid transport in vivo.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
Supplementary Materials
The file “Supplementary Data” contains the organic synthesis pathways to obtain the precursors for radiosynthesis of 3α-[18F]FCA, 7β-[18F]FCA; 12β-[18F]FCA, 3β-[18F]FGCA, and 3β-[18F]FCDCA. (Supplementary Materials)