The positron emitter zirconium-89 ((89)Zr) has very attractive properties for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of intact monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using immuno-PET. This protocol describes the step-by-step procedure for the facile radiolabeling of mAbs or other proteins with (89)Zr using p-isothiocyanatobenzyl-desferrioxamine (Df-Bz-NCS). First, Df-Bz-NCS is coupled to the lysine-NH(2) groups of a mAb at pH 9.0 (pre-modification), followed by purification using gel filtration. Next, the pre-modified mAb is labeled at room temperature by the addition of [(89)Zr]Zr-oxalic acid solution followed by purification using gel filtration. The entire process of pre-modification, radiolabeling and purification steps will take about 2.5 h.

PurposeImmuno-PET is an emerging imaging tool for the selection of high potential antibodies (mAbs) for imaging and therapy. The positron emitter zirconium-89 (89Zr) has attractive characteristics for immuno-PET with intact mAbs. Previously, we have described a multi-step procedure for stable coupling of 89Zr to mAbs via the bifunctional chelate (BFC) tetrafluorophenol-N-succinyldesferal (TFP-N-sucDf). To enable widespread use of 89Zr-immuno-PET, we now introduce the novel BFC p-isothiocyanatobenzyl-desferrioxamine B (Df-Bz-NCS) and compare its performance in 89Zr-immuno-PET with the reference BFC TFP-N-sucDf.MethodsThree mAbs were premodified with Df-Bz-NCS and labeled with 89Zr at different pHs to assess the reaction kinetics and robustness of the radiolabeling. Stability of both 89Zr-Df-Bz-NCS- and 89Zr-N-sucDf-conjugates was evaluated in different buffers and human serum. Comparative biodistribution and PET studies in tumor-bearing mice were undertaken.ResultsThe selected conjugation conditions resulted in a chelate:mAb substitution ratio of about 1.5:1. Under optimal radiolabeling conditions (pH between 6.8–7.2), the radiochemical yield was >85% after 60 min incubation at room temperature, resulting in radioimmunoconjugates with preserved integrity and immunoreactivity. The new radioimmunoconjugate was very stable in serum for up to 7 days at 37°C, with <5% 89Zr release, and was equally stable compared to the reference conjugate when stored in the appropriate buffer at 4°C. In biodistribution and imaging experiments, the novel and the reference radioimmunoconjugates showed high and similar accumulation in tumors in nude mice.ConclusionsThe novel Df-Bz-NCS BFC allows efficient and easy preparation of optimally performing 89Zr-labeled mAbs, facilitating further exploration of 89Zr-immuno-PET as an imaging tool.

The f15-kDa variable domains of camelid heavy-chainonly antibodies (called Nanobodies) can easily be formatted as multivalent or multispecific single-chain proteins.

The synthetic alkyl-lysophospholipid (ALP), 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-methyl-rac-glycero-3-phosphocholine, is an antitumor agent that acts on cell membranes and can induce apoptosis. We investigated how ALP is taken up by cells, how it affects de novo biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC), and how critical this is to initiate apoptosis. We compared an ALP-sensitive mouse lymphoma Furthermore, ALP was found accumulated in isolated rafts and disruption of rafts also prevented the inhibition of PC synthesis and apoptosis induction in S49 cells. In summary, ALP is internalized by raft-dependent endocytosis to inhibit PC synthesis, which triggers apoptosis.

Objective. Chondrocyte death in articular cartilage wound edges and the subsequent lack of matrixproducing cells in the interface area are considered to be a major cause of impaired cartilage wound healing and poor integrative cartilage repair. This study was undertaken to investigate whether enzymatic matrix digestion can be used to stimulate integrative cartilage repair via a mechanism of local increase in the amount of vital chondrocytes in cartilage wound edges.Methods. Full-thickness bovine articular cartilage samples were cultured in vitro for 14 days in standard medium. Samples were either left untreated or treated for 48 hours with 0.3% hyaluronidase or 30 units/ml highly purified collagenase VII. Nuclear and cytoplasmic changes were analyzed to determine cell viability, and the number of vital chondrocytes in wound edges was determined. Subsequently, we investigated whether increased chondrocyte density in the lesion edges resulted in better wound healing. Finally, fullthickness human tibial plateau cartilage explants were tested with similar enzyme treatment protocols to determine the clinical value of our results.Results. In bovine explants a rapid onset of chondrocyte death was observed in wound edges in all treatment groups. This led to low chondrocyte density in a band of 0-150 m from the lesion edges in untreated and hyaluronidase-treated explants. Treatment with 30 units/ml collagenase resulted in a significant increase in chondrocyte density in this area. The integration experiments demonstrated improved integration of the lesion edges after treatment with collagenase. In human articular cartilage an increase in chondrocyte density at the lesion edges could also be achieved, but only when proteoglycans were depleted from the wound edges prior to collagenase treatment.Conclusion. Treatment with highly purified collagenase improves integrative cartilage repair, possibly by increasing the cell density at cartilage wound edges.