Development of radiofluorinated MLN-4760 derivatives for PET imaging of the SARS-CoV-2 entry receptor ACE2

The angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays a regulatory role in the cardiovascular system and serves SARS-CoV-2 as an entry receptor. The aim of this study was to synthesize and evaluate radiofluorinated derivatives of the ACE2 inhibitor MLN-4760. [¹⁸F]F-MLN-4760 and [¹⁸F]F-Aza-MLN-4760 were demonstrated to be suitable for non-invasive imaging of ACE2, potentially enabling a better understanding of its expression dynamics.

Computational molecular modeling, based on the structures of human ACE2 (hACE2) and mouse ACE2 (mACE2), revealed that the ACE2-binding modes of F-MLN-4760 and F-Aza-MLN-4760 were similar to that of MLN-4760. Co-crystallization of the hACE2/F-MLN-4760 protein complex was performed for confirmation. Displacement experiments using [³H]MLN-4760 enabled the determination of the binding affinities of the synthesized F-MLN-4760 and F-Aza-MLN-4760 to hACE2 expressed in HEK-ACE2 cells. Aryl trimethylstannane-based and pyridine-based radiofluorination precursors were synthesized and used for the preparation of the respective radiotracers. [¹⁸F]F-MLN-4760 and [¹⁸F]F-Aza-MLN-4760 were evaluated with regard to the uptake in HEK-ACE2 and HEK-ACE cells and in vitro binding to tissue sections of HEK-ACE2 xenografts and normal organs of mice. Biodistribution and PET/CT imaging studies of [¹⁸F]F-MLN-4760 and [¹⁸F]F-Aza-MLN-4760 were performed using HEK-ACE2 and HEK-ACE xenografted nude mice.

Crystallography data revealed an equal hACE2-binding mode for F-MLN-4760 as previously found for MLN-4760. Moreover, computer-based modeling indicated that similar binding to hACE2 and mACE2 holds true for both, F-MLN-4760 and F-Aza-MLN-4760, as is the case for MLN-4760. The IC₅₀ values were three-fold and seven-fold higher for F-MLN-4760 and F-Aza-MLN-4760, respectively, than for MLN-4760. [¹⁸F]F-MLN-4760 and [¹⁸F]F-Aza-MLN-4760 were obtained in 1.4 ± 0.3 GBq and 0.5 ± 0.1 GBq activity with > 99% radiochemical purity in a 5.3% and 1.2% radiochemical yield, respectively. Uptake in HEK-ACE2 cells was higher for [¹⁸F]F-MLN-4760 (67 ± 9%) than for [¹⁸F]F-Aza-MLN-4760 (37 ± 8%) after 3-h incubation while negligible uptake was seen in HEK-ACE cells (< 0.3%). [¹⁸F]F-MLN-4760 and [¹⁸F]F-Aza-MLN-4760 accumulated specifically in HEK-ACE2 xenografts of mice (13 ± 2% IA/g and 15 ± 2% IA/g at 1 h p.i.) with almost no uptake observed in HEK-ACE xenografts (< 0.3% IA/g). This was confirmed by PET/CT imaging, which also visualized unspecific accumulation in the gall bladder and intestinal tract.

Both radiotracers showed specific and selective binding to ACE2 in vitro and in vivo. [¹⁸F]F-MLN-4760 was, however, obtained in higher yields and the ACE2-binding affinity was superior over that of [¹⁸F]F-Aza-MLN-4760. [¹⁸F]F-MLN-4760 would, thus, be the candidate of choice for further development in view of its use for PET imaging of ACE2.