S100A12 is a member of the S100 family of EF-hand calcium-binding proteins. Human S100A12 is predominantly expressed and secreted by neutrophil granulocytes and, therefore, has been assigned to the S100 protein subfamily of calgranulins or myeloid-related proteins. Intracellular S100A12 exists as an anti-parallel homodimer and upon calcium-dependent activation interacts with target proteins to regulate cellular functions. Extracellular S100A12 exists majorily as homodimer and hexamer, respectively, and shows cytokine-like characteristics. It is part of the innate immune response and linked to certain autoimmune reactions. Human S100A12 is markedly overexpressed in inflammatory compartments, and elevated serum levels of S100A12 are found in patients suffering from various inflammatory, neurodegenerative, metabolic, and neoplastic disorders. In this regard, interaction of calcium-activated S100A12 with the multiligand receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) and its soluble form (sRAGE) plays a central pathogenetic role. Recent clinical evidence suggests a high potential of S100A12 as a sensitive and specific diagnostic marker of localized inflammatory processes.

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Affibody molecules have received significant attention in the fields of molecular imaging and drug development. However, Affibody scaffolds display an extremely high renal uptake, especially when modified with chelators and then labeled with radiometals. This unfavorable property may impact their use as radiotherapeutic agents in general and as imaging probes for the detection of tumors adjacent to kidneys in particular. Herein, we present a simple and generalizable strategy for reducing the renal uptake of Affibody molecules while maintaining their tumor uptake. Human serum albumin (HSA) was consecutively modified by 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid mono-N-hydroxysuccinimide ester (DOTA-NHS ester) and the bifunctional crosslinker sulfosuccinimidyl 4-[N-maleimidomethyl]cyclohexane-1-carboxylate (Sulfo-SMCC). The HER2 Affibody analog, Ac-Cys-ZHER2:342, was covalently conjugated with HSA, and the resulting bioconjugate DOTA-HSA-ZHER2:342 was further radiolabeled with 64Cu and 111In and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Radiolabeled DOTA-HSA-ZHER2:342 conjugates displayed a significant and specific cell uptake into SKOV3 cell cultures. Positron emission tomography (PET) investigations using 64Cu-DOTA-HSA-ZHER2:342 were performed in SKOV3 tumor-bearing nude mice. High tumor uptake values (> 14% ID/g at 24 h and 48 h) and high liver accumulations but low kidney accumulations were observed. Biodistribution studies and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) investigations using 111In-DOTA-HSA-ZHER2:342 validated these results. At 24 h post injection, the bio distribution data revealed high tumor (16.26% ID/g) and liver uptake (14.11% ID/g) but relatively low kidney uptake (6.06% ID/g). Blocking studies with co-injected, non-labeled Ac-Cys-ZHER2:342 confirmed the in vivo specificity of HER2. Radiolabeled DOTA-HSA-ZHER2:342 Affibody conjugates are promising SPECT and PET-type probes for the imaging of HER2 positive cancer. More importantly, DOTA-HSA-ZHER2:342 is suitable for labeling with therapeutic radionuclides (e.g. 90Y or 177Lu) for treatment studies. The approach of using HSA to optimize the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution profile of Affibodies, may be extended to the design of many other targeting molecules.

Data concerning the pathophysiological role of extracellular S100A4, a member of the multigenic family of Ca(2+)-modulated S100 proteins, and its interaction with the receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) or other putative receptors in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and inflammatory processes in vivo are scarce. One reason is the shortage of suitable radiotracer methods. We report a novel methodology using recombinant human S100A4 as potential probe for molecular imaging and functional characterization of this interaction. Therefore, human S100A4 was cloned as GST fusion protein in the bacterial expression vector pGEX-6P-1 and expressed in E. coli strain BL21. Purified recombinant human S100A4 was radiolabeled with the positron emitter fluorine-18 ((18)F) by conjugation with N-succinimidyl-4-[(18)F]fluorobenzoate ([(18)F]SFB). The radioligand [(18)F]fluorobenzoyl-S100A4 ((18)F-S100A4) was used in cell binding experiments in RAGE-bearing human melanoma cells and endothelial cells in vitro, and in both biodistribution experiments and small animal positron emission tomography (PET) studies in normal rats in vivo. The cellular association and tissue-specific distribution of (18)F-S100A4 in vitro and in vivo correlated well with the protein expression and anatomical localization of RAGE, e.g., in the vascular system and in lung. Compared to other S100 RAGE radioligands, the overall findings of this study indicate that extracellular S100A4 in vivo shows only a moderate interaction with RAGE and, furthermore, exhibits a substantially faster metabolic degradation. On the other hand, the approach allows the use of quantitative small animal PET and provides a novel probe to both delineate functional expression and differentiate multiligand interaction of RAGE under normal and pathophysiological conditions in rodent models of disease.