WO1994007535A2

WO1994007535A2 - Labelled interleukin-8 and medical uses thereof

Info

Publication number: WO1994007535A2
Application number: PCT/US1993/009554
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leon R. Lyle; Steven L. Kunkel
Original assignee: Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc.; The Regents Of The University Of Michigan
Priority date: 1992-10-05
Filing date: 1993-10-04
Publication date: 1994-04-14
Also published as: ES2168098T3; CA2146239C; DE69330794T2; PT670736E; AU5353194A; DE69330794D1; AU686119B2; EP0670736A1; JPH08511765A; WO1994007535A3; US5346686A; CA2146239A1; ATE205728T1; DK0670736T3; EP0670736B1

Abstract

A method of imaging a target site in an animal's body in which a labelled CXC chemokine is introduced into the animal's body and allowed to accumulate at a target site which includes Interleukin-8 receptor molecules. The accumulated, labelled CXC chemokine is then detected so as to image the target site of the body.

Description

LABELLED INTERLEUKIN-8 AND MEDICAL USES THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of labelled peptides, peptides carrying radioactive agents, and medical uses thereof.

Description of the Background Art

Labelled peptides and peptides carrying

radioactive agents have various therapeutic and

diagnostic medical uses. Peptides carrying radioactive agents are known to be therapeutically useful in the treatment of tumors.

An important diagnostic use of labelled peptides is as imaging agents. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,926,869 to Rubin et al. discloses detection of an inflammation site in an individual by administering to the individual a labelled immunoglobulin or fragment thereof. The labelled immunoglobulin accumulates at the site of inflammation, thereby permitting

radiographic imaging of the site utilizing known imaging techniques.

Other publications which describe the imaging of sites of infection or inflammation, utilizing labelled peptides and peptides carrying radioactive agents, include International Patent Publication Nos. WO

90/10463 and WO 90/13317.

There remains a need in the art for labelled peptides and peptides carrying radioactive agents which can be utilized for medical purposes. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a labelled CXC chemokine is utilized to image a target site in an animal's body. The labelled CXC chemokine is introduced into the animal's body, and allowed to accumulate at a target site which has receptor

molecules complementary to Interleukin-8. The

accumulated, labelled CXC chemokine then is detected so as to image the target site.

Brief Description of the Drawing's

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an

Interleukin-8 molecule capable of being utilized in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an image of accumulation of indium-111 radiolabelled Interleukin-8 in an inflammatory lesion induced in a thigh of a rat.

Fig. 3 is an image of accumulation of iodine-123 radiolabelled Interleukin-8 in an inflammatory lesion induced in a thigh of a rat.

Fig. 4 is a graph depicting in vitro binding of I-125-IL-8 to human neutrophils.

Fig. 5 is a depiction of gamma camera images of rats injected with inflammation-imaging agents.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The present invention utilizes Interleukin-8 (IL-8) material, a member of the "CXC" family of

chemotactic cytokines (or "chemokines"), an analog, homolog, derivative or fragment thereof, or a peptide having specificity for a receptor of Interleukin-8 (hereinafter sometimes referred to collectively as CXC chemokines, Interleukin-8 material or IL-8 material).

The CXC family of chemotactic cytokines includes, but is not limited to, Interleukin-8, Macrophage

Inflammatory Protein-2 (MIP-2), Growth Regulated Gene Products (GRO) including GRO_α, GRO_β and GRO , Melanoma Growth Simulating Activity (MGSA), Platelet Factor-4 (PF-4), Gamma-interferon Inducible Protein (gamma-IP), Platelet Basic Protein, Connective Tissue Activating Protein (CTAP-III), Beta-thromoboglobulin (β-TG),

Neutrophil-activating Peptide-2 (NAP-2), Chicken v- src-inducible Protein (93), and Epithelial Cell-Derived Neutrophil-Activating Factor-78 (ENA-78).

In preferred embodiments, the CXC chemokine utilized is human Interleukin-8, or an analog, homolog, fragment or derivative thereof.

Human IL-8 is approximately 72 amino acid residues in length with a molecular weight of approximately 8 kD, although there are a 77 residue and a few other variant forms.

The cytokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) (also known as neutrophil-activating protein-1 [NAP-1], neutrophil-activating actor [NAF], or neutrophil chemotactic factor [NCF] ) is produced by many cell types in

response to a variety of inflammatory stimuli,

including lipopolysaccharide, interleukin-1, and tumor necrosis factor. It directly mediates neutrophil recruitment, accumulation, and activation. Its effects in vitro resemble those of other neutrophil

chemoattractants (C5a, bacterial chemotaxins,

leukotrienes, and platelet activating factor). Yet in contrast to these, IL-8 exhibits high specificity for neutrophils; it is stable, and its effects are long-acting but not species-specific in biological systems. IL-8 may represent a common pathway by which other chemotaxins exert their effects in vivo. As noted above, the major form of IL-8 is a polypeptide of 72 amino acid residues, with M_r ~ 8 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. IL-8 binds with picomolar to nanomolar affinities to abundant receptors (20,- 80,000 per cell) on the plasma membrane of neutrophils, and activates these cells via a GTP- binding protein in a process requiring calcium and protein kinase C. Following binding and activation, IL-8 is internalized and rapidly degraded by the neutrophils.

Members of the "CXC" family of cytokines (CXC chemokines) generally are basic heparin binding

polypeptides having proinflammatory and reparative activities. Typical members of the group are 8-10 kD cytokines, and those members other than Interleukin-8 generally having at least about 20-45% homology with Interleukin-8.

The amino acid sequence of Interleukin-8 is shown in Fig. 1, wherein the circled letters represent amino acids as follows: A represents Alanine, R represents Arginine, N represents Asparagine, D represents

Aspartic acid, C represents Cysteine, Q represents Glutamine, E represents Glutamic acid, G represents

Glycine, H represents Histidine, I represents

Isoleucine, L represents Leucine, K represents Lysine, F represents Phenylalanine, P represents Proline, S represents Serine, T represents Threonine, W represents Tryptophan, Y represents Tyrosine and V represents Valine, or a suitable derivative thereof.

The members of the CXC chemokine family are generally characterized by having an ELR amino acid sequence immediately preceding a conserved C-X-C sequence with four cysteine residues, the first two being separated by a variable amino acid (X)

therebetween.

The present invention is further applicable to derivatives of CXC chemokines in which retroinverse or other non-hydrolyzable linkages have been inserted, or D-amino acids substitutions have been made, in order to modify the native L-amino acid-containing sequence.

As noted above, the CXC chemokine carries a label or radioactive agent such as indium, iodine,

technetium, rhenium, gallium, samarium, holmium, yttrium, copper, cobalt and the like. In particularly preferred embodiments, the CXC chemokine material carries a radioactive label selected from the group consisting of indium-111, iodine-123 and technetium- 99m.

The CXC chemokine can employ any suitable means for carrying the label or radioactive agent. Known methods for labelling peptides include the conventional "post-formed chelate approach" and the more recent

"pre-formed chelate approach" developed by Fritzburg et al., U.S. Patent Nos. 4,965,392 and 5,037,630,

incorporated herein by reference. In the "pre-formed approach," the chelating agent is complexed with a radionuclide and then conjugated to the peptide. In the "post-formed approach," the chelating agent is first conjugated to the peptide and the resulting conjugate is incubated with radionuclide along with a reducing agent.

Suitable chelating agents for use in the present invention include triamide thiolate (N₃S) chelating agents such as represented by formula (I) and (la) below, diamide dithiolate (N₂S₂) chelating agents such as represented by formula (II) below and diamide diphenolic chelating agents such as represented by formula (III) below:

Wherein m in formulas (I), (la), (II) and (III) is a whole number of from 1 to about 10 (in formulas (I), (Ia) and (II), m preferably is about 3); P in formula (I) is either 0 or 1; Y of formula (la) is o- or p-nitrophenyl, 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl, cyanomethyl, 2-mercaptopyridyl, hydroxybenztriazole, N-hydroxysuccinimide, trichlorophenyl, tetrafluorophenyl, thiophenyl, tetrafluorothiophenyl, tetrafluorophenyl, thiophenyl, tetrafluorothiophenyl, o-nitro-p- sulfophenyl or N-hydroxyphthalimide, most preferrably tetrafluorophenyl; PG in formulas (I) and (II) is a suitable sulfur protecting group (each of which may be the same or different in formula II) selected from the group consisting of S-acyl groups of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms such as alkanoyl, benzoyl and substituted benzoyl (wherein alkanoyl is preferred), S-alkyl groups of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms such as benzyl, t- butyl, trityl, 4-methoxybenzyl and 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl (wherein 2,4-dimethoxybenzyl is preferred), alkoxyalkyl groups of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms such as methoxymethyl, ethoxyethyl and tetrahydropyranyl

(wherein tetrahydropyranyl is preferred), carbamoyl, and alkoxy carbonyl groups of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms such as t-butoxycarbonyl, methoxycarbonyl and ethoxycarbonyl (wherein t-butoxycarbonyl is preferred); X is a coupling moiety selected from the group

consisting of carboxyl, amino, isocyanate,

isothiocyanate, imidate, maleimide, chlorocarbonyl, chlorosulfonyl, succinimidyloxycarbonyl, haloacetyl, and N-alkoxycarbamoyl groups of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms such as N-methyoxycarbamoyl and t-butoxycarbamoyl (wherein in formulas (I) and (II), N-methoxycarbamoyl is preferred); and R of formula (III) is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl groups of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms such as methyl and t-butyl (wherein t-butyl is preferred).

Suitable sulfur-protecting groups, when taken together with the sulfur atom to be protected, include hemithioacetal groups such as ethoxyethyl,

tetrahydrofuranyl, methoxymethyl, and

tetrahydropyranyl. Other suitable sulfur protecting groups are acyl groups of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, preferably alkanoyl or benzoyl. Other possible chelating compounds are described in the European

Patent Application assigned publication number 0 284 071 incorporated herein by reference.

Synthesis of a radiolabelled chelating agent, such as a Tc-99m bifunctional chelate, and subsequent conjugation to the IL-8 material, can be performed as described in European Patent Application publication number 0 284 071 (supra), U.S. Patent Number 4,965,392 (supra), and related technologies as covered by U.S. patent numbers 4,837,003, 4,732,974 and 4,659,839, each incorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention comprises an IL-8 material conjugated with an unlabelled chelating agent, which later can be chelated with a suitable label or radioactive agent.

A lysine of the CXC chemokine can be utilized to carry indium-111. A tyrosine, iodophenyl derivative or lysine (using Bolton-Hunter reagent) of the CXC

chemokine can be utilized to carry iodine-123. A lysine or added free cysteine of the CXC chemokine can be utilized to carry technetium-99m.

In another embodiment, the CXC chemokine is labelled with a radioactive agent such as iodine-123 utilizing chloramine-T hydrate.

In still another embodiment, the CXC chemokine is labelled with a radioactive agent such as indium-111 utilizing a chelating agent such as

diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid.

The CXC chemokine carries the label or radioactive agent to a target site of an animal, such as a human or other mammal.

In particularly preferred embodiments,

radiolabelled CXC chemokine is injected into an

animal's body and allowed to accumulate at a target site of inflammation and/or infection. Interleukin-8 has been found to be a very potent attractant for neutrophils produced by T-lymphocytes, monocytes, vascular endothelium and other tissues. Accordingly, radiolabelled Interleukin-8 is particularly suitable for imaging sites of inflammation and infectious disease in the body. Such sites include Interleukin-8 receptor molecules having areas which are complementary to corresponding Interleukin-8 material.

The radiolabelled CXC chemokine is injected into the subject in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, such as an aqueous medium. Generally, a diagnostically effective dosage of radiolabelled CXC chemokine will vary depending on considerations such as age,

condition, sex, and extent of disease in the subject individual, counter indications, if any, and variables, to be adjusted by the individual physician. For example, dosage can vary from about 0.01 mg/kg to about 2000 mg/kg, and in more preferred embodiments from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 1000 mg/kg. Initial

toxicologic experiments have demonstrated no

significant pathology associated with the in vivo administration of IL-8.

The radiolabelled CXC chemokine begins to

accumulate within approximately 15 minutes after injection into the subject, and in vivo imaging can be performed utilizing conventional imaging equipment up to 24 hours or more after injection. Known imaging methods include conventional gamma camera techniques, single photon emission computerized tomoprophy (SPECT), and other radionuclide scans.

After accumulating at the target site, the

labelled CXC chemokine is gradually cleared from the target site and the animal's system by normal bodily function.

The invention is further illustrated by the following examples, which are not intended to be limiting.

Example 1

Radiolabeling of Interleukin-8 with Technetium-99m.

A solution of CXC chemokine such as IL-8 (0.01 mmol), in 2 mL of carbonate/bicarbonate buffer at pH 8.5 ± 0.5 is treated with a solution of 0.1 mmol of the ligand of formula I above (wherein m=2, p=1, PG is benzoyl, and X is succinimidyloxycarbonyl) in

dimethylformamide (0.5 mL) and the entire mixture is kept at room temperature for 2 hours. The mixture is then diluted with water (2.5 mL) and dialyzed

extensively against water or 0.1 M ammonium

bicarbonate, pH 7.5. After dialysis, the solution is lyophilized to give the desired IL-8 conjugate.

Example 2

A solution of CXC chemokine such as IL-8 (0.01 mmol), in 2 mL of carbonate/bicarbonate buffer at pH 8.5 ± 0.5 is treated with a solution of 0.1 mmol of the ligand of formula (II) above (wherein m=2, both PG are benzoyl, and X is succinimidyloxycarbonyl) in

extensively against water or 0.1 M ammonium

Example 3

A solution of CXC chemokine such as IL-8 (0.01 mmol) in 2 mL of carbonate/bicarbonate buffer at pH 8.5 ± 0.5 is treated with a solution of 0.1 mmol of the ligand of formula (III) above (wherein m=4, X is succinimidyloxycarbonyl and R is hydrogen) in

extensively against water or 0.1 M ammonium

Example 4

To 100 uL of a solution containing 5 mg of sodium gluconate and 0.1 mg of stannous chloride in water, 500 ul of 99m-Tc04 (pertechnetate) is added. After

incubation for about 10 minutes at room temperature, a solution of 500 uL of the IL-8 conjugate (1 mg/mL in

0.1 M carbonate/bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.5) of Example 1 or 2 is then added and the entire mixture is

incubated at 37°C for about 1 hour. The desired labelled peptide is separated from unreacted 99mTc-gluconate and other small molecular weight impurities by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-50) using phosphate buffered physiological saline, (hereinafter PBS), 0.15M NaCl, pH 7.4 as eluent.

Example 5

A mixture of gentisic acid (25 mg), inositol (10 mg), and the IL-8 conjugate of Example 3 (500 uL, 1 mg/mL in water) is treated with In-111 indium chloride in 0.05 M HCl. The solution is allowed to incubate at room temperature for about 30 minutes. The desired labelled peptide is separated from unreacted In-111 indium salts and other small molecular weight

impurities by gel filtration chromatography (Sephadex G-50) using phosphine buffered physiological saline, (PBS), 0.15M NaCl as eluent. Example 6

Radioiodination of Interleukin-8, chloramine-T hydrate method.

The following reagents and materials are prepared for radioiodination of Interleukin-8:

A) Chloramine-T Hydrate (freshly prepared) (FW = 227.7) (Store stock desiccated, in vacuo, in dark, ambient temperature)

1. Weigh out 10.0 mg and dilute with 5.0 ml of 0.05 M Phosphate Buffer, pH 6.8.

2. Take 1.0 ml of dilution and add 9.0 ml 0.05 M Phosphate Buffer, pH 6.8 in volumetric flask.

3. Concentration = 0.2 mg/ml; use 45

μ/exp.=39.5 nmoles.

B) 0.05 M Sodium Phosphate Buffer, Dibasic, pH 6.8. (FW = 268.07) (For Chloramine-T,

Metabisulfite, dilution and Reaction).

1. Weigh out 1.3404 gm and dilute to 80 ml (H₂O).

2. Adjust pH to 6.8, bring to total volume of 100 ml in volumetric flask.

C) 0.25 M Sodium Phosphate Buffer, Dibasic, pH 6.8. (FW = 268.07) (Reagent for buffering NaI-123 during reaction).

1. Weigh out 6.7018 gm and dilute to 80 ml

(H₂O).

2. Adjust pH to 6.8, bring to total volume of 100 ml in volmeric flask.

D) Sodium Metabisulfite (Freshly Prepared) (FW =

190.1).

1. Weigh out 20.0 mg and dilute with 5.0 m of 0.05 M Sodium Phosphate Buffer. 2. Take 1.0 ml of this solution and add 9.0 ml 0.05 M Sodium Phosphate Buffer.

3. Concentration = 0.4 mg/ml; use 45

μl=18.0μg/exp.=94.5 nmoles.

E) Phosphate Buffered Saline

1. Dissolve Sigma (PBS) prepared powder in 1.0 liter of millipore H₂O. Sigma cat. # 1000-3.

2. Check pH, should be 7.4.

F) BioRad AG1-X8 Anion Resin 100-200 mesh,

Acetate form.

1. Prepare slurry by suspending 6.4 gms of resin in 10 ml PBS.

G) Potassium Iodide Solution

(For testing Chloramine-T solution before use in reaction)

1. Weight out 0.25 gm KI and dilute with 5.0 ml (H₂O).

2. Add several drops of the Chloramine-T solution to the KI solution.

3. A color change from a clear to light

yellow solution should be observed, if the Chloramine-T solution is reactive.

H) Microfuge Tubes

1. Sigma siliconized, 1.7 ml, polyproylene,

Cat. # T-3406.

I) Sodium Iodine-123

1. Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc.

J) Interleukin-8 (assuming FW = 8,000)

1. Use 10 μg per radioiodination = 1.25

nmoles. Pepro Tech Inc. The following preparations are undertaken prior to running the reaction:

A slurry is prepared of 90% v/v BioRad AG1-X8, 100-200 mesh, acetate form, 24 hours prior to use, with Phosphate Buffered Saline. 2.0 ml of the slurry is poured into a small AG1-X8 column, which then is washed with 10.0 ml Phosphate Buffered Saline. 45.0 μl

Chloramine-T (freshly prepared), is pre-drawn into a Hamilton syringe after testing it with 5.0% KI. 45.0 μl Metabisulfite (freshly prepared) is pre-drawn into a Hamilton syringe. 50.0 μl Phosphate Buffered Saline is pre-drawn into a tuberculin syringe, and the syringe is labelled "R". 10.0 ml of Phosphate Buffered Saline is poured into a beaker, and set beside the column, for elution of the column.

Interleukin-8 is labelled with iodine-123 as follows:

To a siliconized microfuge tube reaction vial (1.7 ml), add (12.5 μg) IL-8 in 0.125 ml 0.05 M Phosphate Buffer, pH 6.8. Add (50.0 μl) 0.25 M Phosphate Buffer, pH 6.8 to the reaction vial and gently swirl. Add (20 μl) 20 nanograms "cold" iodide and gently swirl. Add (10-20 μl), 2.0 mCi, NaI-123 to the reaction vial and gently swirl. Add (45.0 μl) of Chloramine-T to the reaction vial, with a pre-drawn Hamilton syringe, and gently swirl. Incubate for 1.5 minutes at room

temperature.

Add (45.0 μl) of Metabisulfite to the reaction vial, with a pre-drawn Hamilton syringe, and gently swirl. Assay reaction vial on a Capintec dose

calibrator.

After reaction mixture has been assayed, place entire volume on prepared AG1-X8 column. Add (50 μl) PBS to reaction vial and swirl, then add to reaction mixture on column. Unplug column and collect 8 drops in the first tube. Then collect 2 drops in the next 24 tubes. The Vo will be in approximately tube #6. Use 1.7 ml siliconized microfuge tubes. Assay collected fractions on the Capintec dose calibrator. Combine the major fractions starting at the void volume. (NOTE: An aliquot should be taken for a dose assay for accurate results, if tissue distribution studies are being done.) Run TLC of sample in order to observe any free 1-123. Spot a very small aliquot on a Gelman ITLC-SG strip, and develop with N-saline for 8 to 10 minutes. Cut into 1.0 cm sections and count on auto-gamma counter. Unreacted 1-123 migrates at or near solvent front, protein remains at origin, small peptides have varying Rf values, at or near the origin.

Example 7

Indium-111 Radiolabelling of Interleukin-8

The following reagents and materials are prepared prior to running the reaction:

A) Cyclic-Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid

dianhydride (C-DTPA), FW - 357.22 is synthesized and kept in a desiccator, in vacuo, at room temperature.

B) Commercially available Dimethylsulfoxide

anhydrous (DMSO) is further purified by fractional freezing at or below 18.4°C. 20 to 25 ml of DMSO is placed in an oven dried 100 ml bottle and tightly capped. The bottle is placed in a slurry ice water bath and swirled until liquid solidifies on the walls of the bottle. An oven dried Pasteur pipet is used to remove remaining liquid. The bottle is capped and stored at room temperature under nitrogen, in a desiccator. Aldrich, 27, 685-5.

C) Nitrogen Gass is grade # 5. Airco

D) Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)

1. Dissolve Sigma (PBS) prepared powder in

1.0 liter of millipore water.

2. Check pH, should be 7.4

Sigma, 1000-3

E) Phosphate Buffered Saline + 5.0% BSA

(For equilibration of G-25 column)

1. To 10.0 ml PBS dissolve 0.5 g BSA.

2. Final concentration 50.0 mg/ml BSA.

F) Phosphate Buffered Saline + 0.5% BSA

(For elution of G-25 column)

1. To 50.0 ml PBS dissolve 0125 g BSA.

2. Final concentration 5.0 mg/ml BSA.

G) G-25, medium grade

1. Weigh out desired amount and swell in PBS for 24 hours.

2. Before use degas for 24 or more hours.

3. 24 hours prior to radiolabelling pour columns and equilibrate and wash with BSA/PBS solutions.

4. Size of columns to be determined

experimentally.

H) 0.10 M diethylenetriaminepentaccetic acid

(DTPA), FW = 393.20

1. Weigh out 0.393 gm DTPA and place in 8.0 ml PBS.

2. Adjust pH to 5.4, bring to total volume of 10.0 ml in a volumetric flask.

(Needs to become acidic for solubility) Sigma, D-6518

I) Millipore water J) 111-Indium chloride (111-InC13) in 0.05 N HCl Nordion International, Kanata, Canada, T209A (NOTE: In order to avoid hydrolysis and trace metal contamination, all reagents should be of the highest purity, DMSO should be purified by fractional freezing, all glassware and instruments should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed approximately three times with millipore filtered water, and glassware and instruments to be used in the chelation reaction should be oven dried for approximately 24 hours at about 140°C and cooled in a desiccator.)

The reaction is run as follows:

In step 1, C-DTPA (11.075 mg) is dissolved in 5.0 ml anhydrous DMSO. The tube is covered with parafilm, and gently inverted until the solution becomes clear. To 10 μg lyophilized IL-8 is added 0.5 ml PBS, pH 7.4. Add 0.01 ml (22.32 μg) C-DTPA/DMSO from step #1.

Incubate solution, at room temperature, for 50 minutes. Gently swirl solution every 15 minutes. After

incubation, place entire volume on the prepared G-25 column. Collect 0.20 ml fractions. Combine fractions at Vo and several fractions after the void volume. For Vo determination, use blue dextran. lll-InC13 is assayed on a Capintec dose calibrator and 1.0 to 2.0 mCi of 111-In is pipetted into the IL-8 tube. The tube is gently swirled and assayed for the amount of

radioactivity. The 111-In/IL-8 solution is incubated for 30 minutes, at room temperature. Excess 111-In is chelated to prevent the formation of indium hydroxide, an insoluble precipitate. The reaction mixture on a G-25 column and eluted with either PBS or 0.50% BSA, PBS. 0.20 ml fractions are collected. Fractions are assayed either on the dose calibrator or dilute aliquots of the fractions for counting on the gamma counter. Combine the fractions at the Vo (protein peak) and fractions after the void volume until the radioactivity levels decline. The excess chelated 111-In is eluted at or near the Vt. The combined Vo fractions are assayed on the dose calibrator and the radiolabelling efficiency are calculated. The empty reaction tube is also assayed to assure transfer of the majority of

radioactivity.

Example 8

Imaging with radiolabelled Interleukin-8

White, male, Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing between 250 and 350 gm were used for imaging of inflammatory lesion. The lesion was induced by injecting 300 μl of 2.0% carrageenan (iota form), suspended in n-saline, into the hind limb. The other hind limb was used as a control and was injected with 300 μl saline. The hind limbs were selected, instead of IP or Sub-Q injections of carrageenan on the body of the rats, because less background activity is present for these studies.

The lesion was induced at various times prior to the injection of the radiolabelled IL-8. A difference in uptake of radioactivity was observed in the

carrageenan limb, as compared to the control limb, when the radiolabelled IL-8 was injected 3 hours to 24 hours post lesion induction.

Routinely, images were acquired serially every 15 minutes for 3.0 hours post radiolabel injection. 15 minute images were also acquired every 24 hours post injection, until the labelled was cleared from the animal.

Different cameras and collimators were used, depending on the radionuclide. With 123-1 and 111-In, a Siemens, ZLC Orbiter camera and a 140 Kev, high resolution or medium energy collimators were respectively used. Image acquisition and storage, on all cameras, was accomplished by a Siemens MicroDelta computer, connected to a larger MicroVAX unit. Figs. 2 and 3 show accumulation of radiolabelled IL-8 when labeled with In-111 and 1-123 respectively.

Example 9

Comparison of I-125-labeled human recombinant

interleukin-8 (I-125-IL-8) with agents Ga-67 citrate and In-111-labeled human leukocytes for the ability to image a sterile acute inflammatory lesion in the rat hindlimb.

Recombinant human interleukin-8 was obtained from Pepro Tech Inc. 1-125 was purchased as Nal from

Amersham Corp. Ga-67 citrate and In-111-oxine were obtained from MediPhysics. Tc-99m (obtained from a Mo- 99/Tc-99m generator) and TechneScan^® pyp^® were supplied by Mallinckrodt Medical, Inc. Carrageenan (iota from, Type V) was purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St.

louis, MO). All other reagents and supplies were of the highest grade commercially available.

IL-8 was radioiodinated following recommendations of the radionuclide supplier. Typically, 25-50 μg of IL-8 in 0.1 ml of 0.25 M sodium phosphate, pH 6.8, was added one mass equivalent of non-radioactive Nal in a volume of 0.01 ml, followed by 2 mCi (0.02 ml) of I-125 as sodium iodide and 20 nmol (0.01 ml) of

chloramine-T. Reactants were mixed and agitated gently for 90 sec at room temperature. The reaction was quenched by addition of 42 nmol (0.02 ml) of sodium metabisulfite. I-125-IL-8 was separated from

nonreacted I-125 by ion exchange on a small column of Bio-Rad AG 1-X8, 50-100 mesh. The recovered product was stored at 4° C until used, and injected within 6 hours after labeling. Human leukocytes were prepared from a healthy donor and labeled with In-111-oxine, and rate

erythrocytes were labeled in vivo (injecting

TechneScan^® PYP^® and sodium Tc-99m pertechnetate into the tail vein of each rat) following recommendations of the radionuclide suppliers.

Radiolabeling efficiency was determined in a

Beckman Gamma 8000 counter, and the proportion of protein-bound 1-125 in the final product was routinely assessed by chromatography on ITLC-SG strips (Gelman) developed in 80% aqueous methanol. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography were performed. Chemotaxis of human neutrophils toward nonlabeled IL-8 and I-125-IL-8 was evaluated in a Boyden chamber assay. Specific and nonspecific binding of I-125-IL-8 to isolated human neutrophils were determined.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River), 200-250 grams, were housed in small groups under conditions approved by the institutional animal care committee, in compliance with guidelines of the American Association of Laboratory Animal Science. Animals were given ad libitum access to standard rat chow (Purina) and drinking water. Prior to lesion induction, injection of radiopharmaceutical, and imaging, each rat was given up to 13 mg/kg xylazine and 87 mg/kg ketamine

subcutaneously in the interscapular region. Additional small doses of ketamine were given as necessary to maintain an adequate level of sedation during the image acquisition.

Acute inflammatory lesions were induced by

subcutaneous injection of 4 ml of carrageenan

suspension (2% w/v in sterile saline) into the left thigh of each rat. The right (control) thigh was injected with 4 ml of sterile saline. Twenty-four hours later each rat received a single radiopharmaceutical agent, 50-100 μCi in ≤0.5 ml, by aseptic injection under direct visualization into the right external jugular vein. For the results shown here each

inflammation-imaging radiopharmaceutical was injected into four rats, and three rats' erythrocytes were radiolabeled in vivo.

Posterior total body gamma camera images were acquired beginning 15 min following radiopharmaceutical injection and at selected intervals up to 96 hours postinjection. Sedated rats were placed in pairs in their backs atop an inverted camera head with a

protective layer over the collimator, and taped to the layer to maintain optimum limb position. Calibration standards corresponding to known fractions of the injected activity for each agent were diluted in scintillation vials to approximate the thickness of the rat thigh, and place upon the covered collimator for concurrent imaging. Images of 1-125 and Tc-99m

activity were acquired on a Siemens LEM Plus mobile camera with a low energy, high sensitivity collimator, and images of In-11 and Ga-67 activity on a Siemens Orbiter camera using a medium energy collimator. Most acquisitions were obtained over a period of fifteen minutes.

Relative activity was determined by computer-assisted region-of-interest analysis for each hindlimb, for each calibration standard, and for appropriate background regions at each imaging session. Regional counts were converted to percent injected activity corrected for background and for physical decay, and expressed as a function of time postinjecton.

Graphical and statistical analysis of the converted data utilized the programs Excel (Microsoft), Minitab (Minitab, Inc.), and Sigmaplot (Jandel Scientific).

The physical and biological integrity of IL-8 were well preserved during the radiolabeling procedure.

Assuming complete physical recovery of IL-8 from the labeling mixture, specific activities of 88-138 CI/mmol were achieved, representing radiolableing efficiencies of 14-45%. Protein-bound radioactivity accounted for 95-98% of the total activity in the final product. The electrophoretic mobility of I-125-IL-8 on SDS-polyacrylamide gels was indistinguishable from that of nonlabled IL-8, and I-125-IL-8 was ≥ 95% as effective as nonlabeled IL-8 with respect to neutrophil

chemotaxis when assayed in a Boyden chamber. To asses its receptor-binding properties, we incubated 1-125- IL-8 with purified human neutrophils over a 30-fold range of concentrations, both alone (in triplicate) and in the presence of a 1000-fold molar excess of

nonlabeled IL-8 (in duplicate) at each concentration (Fig. 4). Specific binding of I-125-IL-8, expressed as the difference between activity bound in the absence and in the presence of competitor, accounted for ≥ 90% of the total binding observed. In agreement with the findings of other investigators, analysis of the binding curves indicated an abundance of high-affinity receptors (estimated maximum of ~60,000 binding sites per cell; k_d = 8.3E-10 M).

In Figure 5 are displayed posterior images of individual rats obtained 1 to 24 hours following intravenous injection of I-125-IL-8, Ga-67 citrate, and In-111-labeled human leukocytes. These three agents yielded qualitatively similar images, exhibiting asymmetrically increased activity in the left hindlimb compared to the right at all times postinjection. Persistent asymmetry until at least 96 hours postinjection for all three agents was confirmed.

However, the time course of hindlimb activity differed according to the agent given. Left hindlimb I-125-IL- 8 activity peaked between one and three hours

postinjection, with a calculated means value and standard deviational three hours of 4.8 ± 0.5% of the injected activity corrected for physical decay (%IA), and declined in roughly exponential fashion thereafter. In-111-WBC activity in the left hindlimb also increased rapidly, reaching a value of 4.2 ± 0.6%IA by three hours postinjection and an eventual plateau (4.5 ± 0.4%IA at 24 hours). Left hindlimb Ga-67 activity rose briefly to 9.2 ± 0.5%IA by six hours postinjection, and subsequently declined to a constant level of about 7.5%IA.

For rats injected with I-125-IL-8 or In-111-WBC, left hindlimb activity was significantly greater than right hindlimb activity at all imagining time points (p ≤ 0.05). For the rats injected with Ga-67 citrate, differences between left and right hindlimb activity were significant at all time points except 1 hour postinjection (p + 0.2).

Rats given I-125-IL-8 demonstrated the most marked asymmetry of hindlimb activity partitioning, with a mean left: right hindlimb activity ration (L/C) of 2.5 ± 0.9 for all imaging time points, and with no

significant temporal variation. By analysis of

variance, this ratio was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the corresponding ratio (1.5 + 0.3) in rats given either Ga-67 citrate or IN-111-WBC.

In order to determine whether differential limb perfusion in response to the inflammatory focus could account for such asymmetry, an additional three carrageenan-treated rats were injected intravenously with stannous pyrophosphate and Tc-99m pertechetate to label their erythrocytes in vivo. Because of the short physical half-life and in vivo degradation of the radiotracer, comparison between this blood pool agent and the inflammation-imaging agents was limited to analysis of images obtained ≤ 24 hours postinjection. As expected, activity in the left hindlimb was highest immediately after erythrocyte labeling (mean 3.1 ± 1.0 %IA), and decline to 1.6 ± 0.5%IA by 24 hours. The mean L/C ration and standard deviation calculated between 0 and 24 hours postinjection for rats carrying Tc-99m-labeled erythrocytes was 1.2 + 0.2. This ratio is significantly lower than that for rats injected with I-125-IL-8, but surprisingly, it is not significantly different from the L/C ratios of rats receiving Ga-67 citrate of In-111-WBC.

The above demonstrates that I-125-labeled human recombinant interleukin-8 (I-125-IL-8) compares

favorably with both Ga-67 citrate and In-111-labeled human leukocytes for imaging of carrageenan-induced acute inflammatory lesions in the rat hindlimb. In this Example, the postinjection time to peak activity for I-125-IL-8 is short, and the target-to-nontarget activity ratio for I-125-IL-8 is significantly higher than that for either agent of comparison or for a radiotracer of blood pool activity.

Without being bound to any particular theory about how I-125-IL-8 selectively appears in the inflammatory focus, the observations suggest that the interactions between IL-8 and neutrophils that have been established through in vitro experimentation may account for the in vivo behavior of I-125-IL-8. Rapid influx of IL-8 into a neutrophil-rich region is entirely consistent with the functioning of a high abundance, high-affinity receptor-mediated process, and the subsequent

exponential decline in lesion-associate activity appears logical following rapid internalization and degradation of the IL-8 ligand.

Initially, there was consideration of

radiolabeling homologous rat leukocytes for comparison in this Example, but our attempts to prepare In-111- labeled leukocytes from normal rat blood resulted in unsatisfactory cell yield and labeling efficiency.

Wishing neither to confound our experimental model by infusing exogenously stimulated leukocytes nor to exsanguinate rats needlessly, we elected to use readily available normal human leukocytes.

IL-8 offers several a priori advantages for clinical nuclear imagining. As a naturally occurring human polypeptide commercially available in recombinant (and potentially synthetic form), it is both contagion- free and nonimmunogenic, without known toxic effects in humans (unlike bacterial cytokines). IL-8 is readily radioiodinated without detectably altering its physical or biological properties, and preliminary work shows that IL-8 may also be radiolabeled with 1-123 or In-111 to yield qualitatively comparable images in

carrageenan-treated rats to those presented here.

Radiolabeling and administration of IL-8 involve no handling of blood or time-consuming isolation of blood components, considerations that would make IL-8 an agent of choice in individuals harboring blood-borne transmissible infections, and in subjects for whom an urgent study is indicated. The size and solubility of IL-8 permit ready access to tissue neutrophils, with a minimal lag period expected between injection and satisfactory imageability. Finally, the affinity and high receptor number on neutrophils for IL-8 should result in considerable signal amplification in an acute inflammatory focus of infectious or noninfectious etiology. This feature would make radiolabeled IL-8 particularly useful for detecting focal accumulation of neutrophils in neutropenic subjects and small children, from whom comparatively large blood volumes must be drawn to isolate peripheral leukocytes for a direct radiolabeling procedure.

Interleukin-8 material, when carrying a label or radioactive agent in accordance with the present invention, is particularly suitable for imaging sites of inflammation and infectious disease. Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail may be made to the described embodiments, it is intended that all matter in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as

illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

Claims :

1. A method of imaging a target site in an animal body, comprising introducing a labelled CXC chemokine into an animal's body, allowing the labelled CXC chemokine to accumulate at a target site of the animal's body, said target site including Interleukin- 8 receptor molecules, and detecting the accumulated, labelled CXC chemokine so as to image said target site.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said target site is an inflamed or diseased portion of said

animal's body.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said labelled CXC chemokine is radiolabelled CXC chemokine.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said CXC chemokine is labelled with indium-111, iodine-123, technetium-99m or copper-62.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said indium-111 is carried by a lysine of said CXC chemokine.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said CXC chemokine is labelled with indium-111 utilizing a chelating agent.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said chelating agent is C-DTPA.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said CXC chemokine is human Interleukin-8.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein said iodine- 123 is carried by a tyrosine, iodophenyl derivative or lysine of said CXC chemokine.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein said CXC chemokine is labelled with iodine-123 utilizing

chloramine-T hydrate.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said CXC chemokine is human Interleukin-8.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein said CXC chemokine is labelled with technetium-99m.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said

technetium-99m is carried by a lysine or an added free cysteine of said CXC chemokine.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said CXC chemokine is labelled utilizing a chelating agent.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said chelating agent is a triamide thiolate ligand, a diamide

dithiolate ligand or a diamide diphenolic ligand.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said CXC chemokine is labelled with technetium-99m or copper-62 and said chelating agent is a triamide thiolate ligand.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said CXC chemokine is human Interleukin-8.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said CXC chemokine is human Interleukin-8.

19. A method of delivering a labeling agent to a target site of an animal's body, comprising introducing into an animal's body a CXC chemokine carrying a labeling agent, and allowing the labeling agent- carrying CXC chemokine to accumulate at a target site which includes Interleukin-8 receptor molecules, so as to deliver said labeling agent to said target site.

20. A method of delivering a radioactive agent to a target site of an animal's body comprising

introducing into an animal's body a CXC chemokine carrying a radioactive agent, and allowing the

radioactive agent-carrying CXC chemokine to accumulate at a target site which includes Interleukin-8 receptor molecules, so as to deliver said radioactive agent to said target site.

21. A composition comprising a CXC chemokine carrying a labeling agent.

22. A composition comprising a CXC chemokine carrying a radioactive agent.

23. The composition of claim 22 wherein said radioactive agent is a radioactive labeling agent.

24. The composition of claim 23 wherein said radioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of indium-111, iodine-125 and technetium-99m.

25. A composition comprising CXC chemokine conjugated with a chelating agent.

26. The composition of claim 25 wherein said chelating agent is a triamide thiolate ligand, diamide dithiolate ligand or diamide diphenolic ligand.