(S)-(2-Methylpyrid-5-yl)-6-[(3-[18F]fluoro-2-hydroxy)propoxy]quinoline ([18F]SMBT-1) was recently developed as a novel class of selective and reversible monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) tracers for in vivo imaging of reactive astrogliosis via positron emission tomography. To investigate the effect of the chirality of [18F]SMBT-1 on tracer performance, we synthesized (S)-[18F]6 ([18F]SMBT-1) and (R)-[18F]6 and compared their binding properties, pharmacokinetics, and metabolism. (S)-6 showed higher binding affinity to MAO-B and lower binding affinity to MAO-A than (R)-6, demonstrating a higher selectivity ratio (MAO-B/MAO-A). A pharmacokinetic study in mice demonstrated that both (S)-[18F]6 and (R)-[18F]6 showed sufficient initial brain uptake. However, (S)-[18F]6 was cleared significantly faster from the body. An abundant sulfoconjugate metabolite M2 was observed in plasma for (S)-[18F]6 but not for (R)-[18F]6. In vitro sulfation assays confirmed that (S)-6 was more reactive than (R)-6, consistent with the in vivo findings. Mefenamic acid, a selective sulfotransferase 1A1 (SULT1A1) inhibitor, strongly inhibited the in vitro sulfation of (S)-6 by mouse liver fractions, human liver cytosol fractions, and human recombinant SULT1A1 enzyme. Genetic polymorphisms of SULT1A1 did not affect the sulfation of (S)-6 in vitro. In conclusion, (S)-[18F]6 had a more favorable binding affinity and binding selectivity for MAO-B than (R)-[18F]6. Additionally, (S)-[18F]6 also possessed better pharmacological and metabolic properties than (R)-[18F]6. These results suggest that (S)-[18F]6 ([18F]SMBT-1) is a promising candidate for application in the imaging of MAO-B in vivo.
Keywords: MAO-B; SMBT-1; biomarker; enantiomer; reactive astrocytes; sulfotransferase.