Development of a Gd(III)-based receptor-induced magnetization enhancement (RIME) contrast agent for β-glucuronidase activity profiling

Inorg Chem. 2012 Nov 19;51(22):12426-35. doi: 10.1021/ic301827p. Epub 2012 Nov 1.

Abstract

β-Glucuronidase is a key lysosomal enzyme and is often overexpressed in necrotic tumor masses. We report here the synthesis of a pro receptor-induced magnetization enhancement (pro-RIME) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent ([Gd(DOTA-FPβGu)]) for molecular imaging of β-glucuronidase activity in tumor tissues. The contrast agent consists of two parts, a gadolinium complex and a β-glucuronidase substrate (β-d-glucopyranuronic acid). The binding association constant (KA) of [Gd(DOTA-FPβGu)] is 7.42 × 10(2), which is significantly lower than that of a commercially available MS-325 (KA = 3.0 × 10(4)) RIME contrast agent. The low KA value of [Gd(DOTA-FPβGu)] is due to the pendant β-d-glucopyranuronic acid moiety. Therefore, [Gd(DOTA-FPβGu)] can be used for detection of β-glucuronidase through RIME modulation. The detail mechanism of enzymatic activation of [Gd(DOTA-FPβGu)] was elucidated by LC-MS. The kinetics of β-glucuronidase catalyzed hydrolysis of [Eu(DOTA-FPβGu)] at pH 7.4 best fit the Miechalis-Menten kinetic mode with Km = 1.38 mM, kcat = 3.76 × 10(3), and kcat/Km = 2.72 × 10(3) M(-1) s(-1). The low Km value indicates high affinity of β-glucuronidase for [Gd(DOTA-FPβGu)] at physiological pH. Relaxometric studies revealed that T1 relaxivity of [Gd(DOTA-FPβGu)] changes in response to the concentration of β-glucuronidase. Consistent with the relaxometric studies, [Gd(DOTA-FPβGu)] showed significant change in MR image signal in the presence of β-glucuronidase and HSA. In vitro and in vivo MR images demonstrated appreciable differences in signal enhancement in the cell lines and tumor xenografts in accordance to their expression levels of β-glucuronidase.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Contrast Media / chemical synthesis
  • Contrast Media / chemistry
  • Contrast Media / pharmacology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Gadolinium* / chemistry
  • Glucuronidase / metabolism*
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / enzymology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Contrast Media
  • Ligands
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Gadolinium
  • Glucuronidase