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A non-invasive imaging technique capable of relating a signal from the beta-cells to their mass will be of immense value in understanding the progression of diabetes. Several molecular markers have indeed been identified and investigations are ongoing aimed at accomplishing the said goal. These include pancreatic islet antigen (IC-2), somatostatin receptors (SSTRs), and sulfonylurea receptors (SURs) on the pancreatic beta-cells. Therefore investigations exploiting the potential application of the radiolabeled ligands for these receptors for beta-cell imaging are receiving intensive research attention. Radioiodinated peptidomimetic based on beta-naphthylalanine and n-hexanediamine has been synthesized. The molecule was subjected to in vitro and in vivo evaluation. Radioligand binding studies on CHO cell line expressing the SSTR2 showed very low affinity. Nonetheless, biodistribution in normal mice showed significant uptake in the pancreas. There was partial blockage of the pancreatic uptake when excess of the peptidomimetic was coinjected. The result implies that the pancreatic uptake was receptor mediated but may not involve the SSTR2 and therefore warrants further investigation.

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Prosthetic radioiodination methods were developed to facilitate the labeling of proteins devoid of tyrosine(s) or when these moieties are crucial for biological activity. This method involves the use of the so-called Bolton-Hunter-type reagents. However, the in vivo instability of the label prompted the search for more stable groups. Although these second generation reagents have worked well with proteins and peptides, the current reaction scheme takes a long time to perform. A simplified method may be more appropriate especially from radiation safety point of view. More importantly, for short-lived halogens, advantage may be gained utilizing a shorter reaction time. Recently we reported on the radioiodination of interleukin-8 (IL-8) using the pyridine carboxylate-derived activated ester. We have successfully conjugated this prosthetic group to tri- and tetrapeptides harboring the somatostatin (SST) receptor recognition units and characterized by HPLC and MS. The radioiodination was accomplished using the Iodogen method in a reasonable yield (mean=60%). The total synthesis time was approximately 60 min, which was 3-4 times shorter than the classical two-step method. Preliminary biodistribution of the radiolabeled peptide showed uptake in some of the organs known to express SST receptors. Injection of a low specific activity tracer significantly decreased the retention of radioactivity in these organs.

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Numerous molecular entities with diverse structures have been radiolabeled and investigated as potential infection and inflammation detection agents. However, none of these molecules have gained the acceptance of gallium citrate or radiolabeled autologous white blood cells. We have radioiodinated interleukin-8 using two different methods and tested the biological behavior of the products in mice. As expected, the direct radioiodinated material displayed extensive in vivo deiodination. The use of pyridine-based prosthetic label yielded a product with better kinetics than the direct radioiodination method and showed a better target to non-target ratio. Nonetheless, this method is not suited for labeling of bioactive peptides such as the title peptide because of the very high specific activity required to prevent cytotoxic effects in a human application.

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We have synthesized 2-[(18)F]-fluoroisonicotinic acid hydrazide by nucleophilic displacement reaction on ethyl-2- (trimethylammonium)-isonicotinate precursor in acetonitrile. Kryptofix 222 was used as the phase transfer catalyst. The intermediate fluorinated ethyl ester reacted with hydrazine hydrate to produce the hydrazide. Excellent radiochemical yield was attained with total synthesis time of approximately 60 min. Biological evaluation was performed in bacterial cells and biodistribution in normal as well as E. coli infected CBA/J mice. It was found that the S. pneumoniae cells retained the radiotracer in an in vitro assay. The tracer showed positive localization at the infection/inflammation site in E. coli infected mice.

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2-[18F]-Fluoroisonicotinic acid hydrazide was synthesized by nucleophilic displacement reaction on ethyl-2- (trimethylammonium)-isonicotinate precursor in acetonitrile. Kryptofix 222 was used as the phase transfer catalyst. The intermediate fluorinated ethyl ester reacted with hydrazine hydrate to produce the hydrazide in excellent radiochemical yield. The overall radiochemical yield was greater than 70% with total synthesis time of approximately 60 minutes. Biological evaluation was performed in bacterial cells and biodistribution in normal CBA/J mice. It was found that the S. pneumoniae cells retained the radiotracer in an in vitro assay.

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Motoneuronal degenerative diseases are characterized by their progressivity; once affected, the motoneurons remain in altered states during an intermediate phase of degeneration prior to their final disappearance. Whether this survival period coincides with active metabolic rearrangements in the affected neuron remains unknown. As a first step toward the elucidation of this question, we developed cDNA pooled samples obtained from degenerating and control motoneuron mRNA populations through cellular patch sampling and RT-PCR, using the murine wobbler mutant as a model of spinal atrophy. Hybridization of the cDNA pools to various markers of intact or degenerating motoneurons allowed us to verify the cellular specificity of the patch sampling and indicated conservation of the original mRNA population complexity. Exploration of transcriptional alterations of genes encoding growth factors thought to be involved in motoneuronal development revealed that gene expression of the neurotrophin BDNF was induced in affected motoneurons, while expression of neurotrophin-3 was present in both neuronal types. Likewise, expression of a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, the neuregulin transcript sensory motor neuron-derived factor, was detected in both control and degenerating motoneurons, while transforming growth factor alpha, the functional homolog of EGF, was present only in the affected motoneurons. Immunohistochemical detection of corresponding proteins corroborated these observations. These results demonstrate that, during the course of their degeneration, motoneurons can initiate expression of novel genes which lead to the production of molecules endowed with trophic and/or differentiative properties for the neurons themselves and their glial environment. They also validate the use of the developed cDNA pooled samples for further exploration of transcriptional alterations taking place in degenerating motoneurons.

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