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Harnessing the PD-L1 interface peptide for positron emission tomography imaging of the PD-1 immune checkpoint.

ABSTRACT: Interface peptides that mediate protein-protein interactions (PPI) are a class of important lead compounds for designing PPI inhibitors. However, their potential as precursors for radiotracers has never been exploited. Here we report that the interface peptides from programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) can be used in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) with high accuracy and sensitivity. Moreover, the performance differentiation between murine PD-L1 derived interface peptide (mPep-1) and human PD-L1 derived interface peptide (hPep-1) as PET tracers for PD-1 unveiled an unprecedented role of a non-critical residue in target binding, highlighting the significance of PET imaging as a companion diagnostic in drug development. Collectively, this study not only provided a first-of-its-kind peptide-based PET tracer for PD-1 but also conveyed a unique paradigm for developing imaging agents for highly challenging protein targets, which could be used to identify other protein biomarkers involved in the PPI networks.

SUBMITTER: Hu K

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8341843 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), a G protein-coupled receptor, is overexpressed in solid malignancies and particularly in prostate cancer. We synthesized a novel bombesin derivative, [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1, evaluated its pharmacokinetics and potential to image GRPR expression with positron emission tomography (PET), and compared it with [68Ga]Ga-NeoBOMB1. ProBOMB1 (DOTA-pABzA-DIG-d-Phe-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-ψ(CH2N)-Pro-NH2) was synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. The polyaminocarboxylate chelator 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) was coupled to the N-terminal and separated from the GRPR-targeting sequence by a p-aminomethylaniline-diglycolic acid (pABzA-DIG) linker. The binding affinity to GRPR was determined using a cell-based competition assay, whereas the agonist/antagonist property was determined with a calcium efflux assay. ProBOMB1 was radiolabeled with 68GaCl3. PET imaging and biodistribution studies were performed in male immunocompromised mice bearing PC-3 prostate cancer xenografts. Blocking experiments were performed with coinjection of [d-Phe6,Leu-NHEt13,des-Met14]bombesin(6-14). Dosimetry calculations were performed with OLINDA software. ProBOMB1 and the nonradioactive Ga-ProBOMB were obtained in 1.1 and 67% yield, respectively. The K i value of Ga-ProBOMB1 for GRPR was 3.97 ± 0.76 nM. Ga-ProBOMB1 behaved as an antagonist for GRPR. [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1 was obtained in 48.2 ± 10.9% decay-corrected radiochemical yield with 121 ± 46.9 GBq/μmol molar activity and >95% radiochemical purity. Imaging/biodistribution studies showed that the excretion of [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1 was primarily through the renal pathway. At 1 h postinjection (p.i.), PC-3 tumor xenografts were clearly delineated in PET images with excellent contrast. The tumor uptake for [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1 was 8.17 ± 2.57 percent injected dose per gram (% ID/g) and 9.83 ± 1.48% ID/g for [68Ga]Ga-NeoBOMB1, based on biodistribution studies at 1 h p.i. This corresponded to tumor-to-blood and tumor-to-muscle uptake ratios of 20.6 ± 6.79 and 106 ± 57.7 for [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1 and 8.38 ± 0.78 and 39.0 ± 12.6 for [68Ga]Ga-NeoBOMB1, respectively. Blockade with [d-Phe6,Leu-NHEt13,des-Met14]bombesin(6-14) significantly reduced the average uptake of [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1 in tumors by 62%. The total absorbed dose was lower for [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1 in all organs except for bladder compared with [68Ga]Ga-NeoBOMB1. Our data suggest that [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1 is an excellent radiotracer for imaging GRPR expression with PET. [68Ga]Ga-ProBOMB1 achieved a similar uptake as [68Ga]Ga-NeoBOMB1 in tumors, with enhanced contrast and lower whole-body absorbed dose.

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Harnessing the PD-L1 interface peptide for positron emission tomography imaging of the PD-1 immune checkpoint.

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