The development of isoform-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) radiotracers will fill critical knowledge gaps that exist in our understanding of HDAC function in the human brain. HDAC6 is primary among the isoforms of HDAC that, to date, have exhibited strong therapeutic potential. Compelling preclinical evidence supports HDAC6 inhibition for the treatment of depression and neurodegenerative diseases and translational tools such as a positron emission tomography radiotracer targeting HDAC6 will allow us to assess the relevance of preclinical findings in the human brain. HDAC6 acts not by removing acetyl groups from histones as its name might suggest, but instead by regulating the acetylation state of several non-histone proteins including ?- tubulin, cortactin, tau, HSP90 and ??catenin. Inhibitors that selectively engage HDAC6 over the other ten isoforms of HDAC have been developed by our team and by others in the field and provide the foundation for PET radiotracer development. Using known HDAC6 inhibitor scaffolds, we will design and synthesize a library of HDAC6 inhibitors that can be readily labeled with a positron-emitting isotope (carbon-11 or fluorine-18). The library will undergo rigorous physiochemical and biochemical profiling including assays that evaluate HDAC- isoform selectivity and efficacy in cultured human neurons and that predict blood-brain barrier penetration. Compounds prioritized through these assays will be radiolabeled and evaluated in rodents for brain uptake, pharmacokinetics and specific (saturable) binding. Promising in vivo imaging results will be validated using HDAC6 knock-out mouse imaging. Finally to set the stage for translation to human HDAC6 imaging (which our team has accomplished for class-I HDAC imaging), we will evaluate priority compounds in non-human primates to determine regional brain binding using full metabolite-corrected arterial blood input function correction and kinetic modeling. By the end of the grant project period, our team will be poised to measure the density-distribution of HDAC6 in the human brain over the course of natural heterogeneity (e.g. age and sex differences) and in patients with HDAC6-implicated brain disorders.

Public Health Relevance

Although homologous to other histone deacetylases (HDACs), the isoform named HDAC6 regulates the acetylation state of distinct non-histone proteins and when chemically inhibited has shown efficacy in animal models of mood disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and certain cancers. Currently, there are no tools for determining HDAC6 density and dysregulation in the living human brain. The development of an HDAC6 radiotracer for use in positron emission tomography will provide quantitative maps of HDAC6 in the human brain and will accelerate the development of therapies based on HDAC6 inhibition.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01NS099250-01A1
Application #
9379945
Study Section
Neuroscience and Ophthalmic Imaging Technologies Study Section (NOIT)
Program Officer
Babcock, Debra J
Project Start
2017-07-01
Project End
2022-04-30
Budget Start
2017-07-01
Budget End
2018-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02114
Strebl, Martin G; Campbell, Arthur J; Zhao, Wen-Ning et al. (2017) HDAC6 Brain Mapping with [18F]Bavarostat Enabled by a Ru-Mediated Deoxyfluorination. ACS Cent Sci 3:1006-1014