1
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Rallapalli H, McCall EC, Koretsky AP. Genetic control of MRI contrast using the manganese transporter Zip14. Magn Reson Med 2024; 92:820-835. [PMID: 38573932 PMCID: PMC11142883 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Gene-expression reporter systems, such as green fluorescent protein, have been instrumental to understanding biological processes in living organisms at organ system, tissue, cell, and molecular scales. More than 30 years of work on developing MRI-visible gene-expression reporter systems has resulted in a variety of clever application-specific methods. However, these techniques have not yet been widely adopted, so a general-purpose expression reporter is still required. Here, we demonstrate that the manganese ion transporter Zip14 is an in vivo MRI-visible, flexible, and robust gene-expression reporter to meet this need. METHODS Plasmid constructs consisting of a cell type-specific promoter, gene coding for human Zip14, and a histology-visible tag were packaged into adeno-associated viruses. These viruses were intracranially injected into the mouse brain. Serial in vivo MRI was performed using a vendor-supplied 3D-MPRAGE sequence. No additional contrast agents were administered. Animals were sacrificed after the last imaging timepoint for immunohistological validation. RESULTS Neuron-specific overexpression of Zip14 produced substantial and long-lasting changes in MRI contrast. Using appropriate viruses enabled both anterograde and retrograde neural tracing. Expression of Zip14 in astrocytes also enabled MRI of glia populations in the living mammalian brain. CONCLUSIONS The flexibility of this system as an MRI-visible gene-expression reporter will enable many applications of serial, high-resolution imaging of gene expression for basic science and therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harikrishna Rallapalli
- Section on Plasticity and Imaging of the Nervous System, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eleanor C McCall
- Section on Plasticity and Imaging of the Nervous System, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alan P Koretsky
- Section on Plasticity and Imaging of the Nervous System, NINDS/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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2
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Huang Y, Chen X, Zhu Z, Mukherjee A. A Dual-Gene Reporter-Amplifier Architecture for Enhancing the Sensitivity of Molecular MRI by Water Exchange. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400087. [PMID: 38439618 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
The development of genetic reporters for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for investigating biological functions in vivo. However, current MRI reporters have low sensitivity, making it challenging to create significant contrast against the tissue background, especially when only a small fraction of cells express the reporter. To overcome this limitation, we developed an approach for amplifying the sensitivity of molecular MRI by combining a chemogenetic contrast mechanism with a biophysical approach to increase water diffusion through the co-expression of a dual-gene construct comprising an organic anion transporting polypeptide, Oatp1b3, and a water channel, Aqp1. We first show that the expression of Aqp1 amplifies MRI contrast in cultured cells engineered to express Oatp1b3. We demonstrate that the contrast amplification is caused by Aqp1-driven increase in water exchange, which provides the gadolinium ions internalized by Oatp1b3-expressing cells with access to a larger water pool compared with exchange-limited conditions. We further show that our methodology allows cells to be detected using approximately 10-fold lower concentrations of gadolinium than that in the Aqp1-free scenario. Finally, we show that our approach enables the imaging of mixed-cell cultures containing a low fraction of Oatp1b3-labeled cells that are undetectable on the basis of Oatp1b3 expression alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimeng Huang
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5080
| | - Xinyue Chen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5080
| | - Ziyue Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5080
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5080
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5080
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5080
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3
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Luo Z, Zhuang K, Kim SJ, Vollett KDW, Lou Z, Wang J, Cheng HYM, Khazaei M, Fehlings MG, Cheng HLM. Longitudinal Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tracking of Transplanted Neural Progenitor Cells in the Spinal Cord Utilizing the Bright-Ferritin Mechanism. Stem Cells Transl Med 2024:szae016. [PMID: 38457239 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szae016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) hold promise for treating spinal cord injury. Studies to date have focused on improving their regenerative potential and therapeutic effect. Equally important is ensuring successful delivery and engraftment of hNPCs at the injury site. Unfortunately, no current imaging solution for cell tracking is compatible with long-term monitoring in vivo. The objective of this study was to apply a novel bright-ferritin magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) mechanism to track hNPC transplants longitudinally and on demand in the rat spinal cord. We genetically modified hNPCs to stably overexpress human ferritin. Ferritin-overexpressing (FT) hNPCs labeled with 0.2 mM manganese provided significant T1-induced bright contrast on in vitro MRI, with no adverse effect on cell viability, morphology, proliferation, and differentiation. In vivo, 2 M cells were injected into the cervical spinal cord of Rowett nude rats. MRI employed T1-weighted acquisitions and T1 mapping on a 3 T scanner. Conventional short-term cell tracking was performed using exogenous Mn labeling prior to cell transplantation, which displayed transient bright contrast on MRI 1 day after cell transplantation and disappeared after 1 week. In contrast, long-term cell tracking using bright-ferritin allowed on-demand signal recall upon Mn supplementation and precise visualization of the surviving hNPC graft. In fact, this new cell tracking technology identified 7 weeks post-transplantation as the timepoint by which substantial hNPC integration occurred. Spatial distribution of hNPCs on MRI matched that on histology. In summary, bright-ferritin provides the first demonstration of long-term, on-demand, high-resolution, and specific tracking of hNPCs in the rat spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixiang Luo
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopaedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Keyu Zhuang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Seong Jun Kim
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kyle D W Vollett
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Zijian Lou
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jian Wang
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hai-Ying Mary Cheng
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, Canada
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohamad Khazaei
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Surgery and Spine Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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4
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Huang Y, Chen X, Zhu Z, Mukherjee A. A dual-gene reporter-amplifier architecture for enhancing the sensitivity of molecular MRI by water exchange. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.22.576672. [PMID: 38328134 PMCID: PMC10849537 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.22.576672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The development of genetic reporters for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for investigating biological functions in intact animals. However, current MRI reporters have low sensitivity, making it challenging to create significant contrast against the tissue background, especially when only a small percentage of cells express the reporter. To overcome this limitation, we developed an approach that amplifies signals by co-expressing an MRI reporter gene, Oatp1b3, with a water channel, aquaporin-1 (Aqp1). We first show that the expression of Aqp1 amplifies the paramagnetic relaxation effect of Oatp1b3 by facilitating transmembrane water exchange. This mechanism provides Oatp1b3-expressing cells with access to a larger water pool compared with typical exchange-limited conditions. We further demonstrated that our methodology allows dual-labeled cells to be detected using approximately 10-fold lower concentrations of contrast agent than that in the Aqp1-free scenario. Finally, we show that our approach enables the imaging of mixed-cell populations containing a low fraction of Oatp1b3-labeled cells that are otherwise undetectable based on Oatp1b3 expression alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xinyue Chen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
| | - Ziyue Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
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5
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Hong S, Lee DS, Bae GW, Jeon J, Kim HK, Rhee S, Jung KO. In Vivo Stem Cell Imaging Principles and Applications. Int J Stem Cells 2023; 16:363-375. [PMID: 37643761 PMCID: PMC10686800 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc23045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells are the foundational cells for every organ and tissue in our body. Cell-based therapeutics using stem cells in regenerative medicine have received attracting attention as a possible treatment for various diseases caused by congenital defects. Stem cells such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as well as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and neuroprogenitors stem cells (NSCs) have recently been studied in various ways as a cell-based therapeutic agent. When various stem cells are transplanted into a living body, they can differentiate and perform complex functions. For stem cell transplantation, it is essential to determine the suitability of the stem cell-based treatment by evaluating the origin of stem, the route of administration, in vivo bio-distribution, transplanted cell survival, function, and mobility. Currently, these various stem cells are being imaged in vivo through various molecular imaging methods. Various imaging modalities such as optical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), positron emission tomography (PET), and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) have been introduced for the application of various stem cell imaging. In this review, we discuss the principles and recent advances of in vivo molecular imaging for application of stem cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seongje Hong
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dong-Sung Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Seoul, Seoul, Korea
| | - Geun-Woo Bae
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Juhyeong Jeon
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hak Kyun Kim
- Department of Life Science, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Siyeon Rhee
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kyung Oh Jung
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
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6
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Dan Q, Jiang X, Wang R, Dai Z, Sun D. Biogenic Imaging Contrast Agents. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2207090. [PMID: 37401173 PMCID: PMC10477908 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202207090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Imaging contrast agents are widely investigated in preclinical and clinical studies, among which biogenic imaging contrast agents (BICAs) are developing rapidly and playing an increasingly important role in biomedical research ranging from subcellular level to individual level. The unique properties of BICAs, including expression by cells as reporters and specific genetic modification, facilitate various in vitro and in vivo studies, such as quantification of gene expression, observation of protein interactions, visualization of cellular proliferation, monitoring of metabolism, and detection of dysfunctions. Furthermore, in human body, BICAs are remarkably helpful for disease diagnosis when the dysregulation of these agents occurs and can be detected through imaging techniques. There are various BICAs matched with a set of imaging techniques, including fluorescent proteins for fluorescence imaging, gas vesicles for ultrasound imaging, and ferritin for magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, bimodal and multimodal imaging can be realized through combining the functions of different BICAs, which helps overcome the limitations of monomodal imaging. In this review, the focus is on the properties, mechanisms, applications, and future directions of BICAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Dan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Drug Addiction and Medication SafetyDepartment of UltrasoundInstitute of Ultrasonic MedicinePeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhen Peking University‐The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterShenzhen518036P. R. China
| | - Xinpeng Jiang
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringCollege of Future TechnologyPeking UniversityBeijing100871P. R. China
| | - Run Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Drug Addiction and Medication SafetyDepartment of UltrasoundInstitute of Ultrasonic MedicinePeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhen Peking University‐The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterShenzhen518036P. R. China
| | - Zhifei Dai
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringCollege of Future TechnologyPeking UniversityBeijing100871P. R. China
| | - Desheng Sun
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Drug Addiction and Medication SafetyDepartment of UltrasoundInstitute of Ultrasonic MedicinePeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhen Peking University‐The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterShenzhen518036P. R. China
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7
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Seo JP, Trippett JS, Huang Z, Wang RZ, Lee S, Szablowski JO. Acoustically-Targeted Measurement of Transgene Expression in the Brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.23.541868. [PMID: 37292585 PMCID: PMC10245922 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.23.541868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression is a critical component of brain physiology and activity, but monitoring this expression in the living brain represents a significant challenge. Here, we introduce a new paradigm called Recovery of Markers through InSonation (REMIS) for noninvasive measurement of gene expression in the brain with cell-type, spatial, and temporal specificity. Our approach relies on engineered protein markers that are designed to be expressed in neurons and exit into the interstitium. By applying ultrasound to targeted brain regions, these markers are released into the bloodstream, where they can be readily detected using biochemical techniques. REMIS can noninvasively confirm gene delivery and measure endogenous signaling in specific brain sites through a simple insonation and a subsequent blood test. Using REMIS, we successfully measured chemogenetic induction of neuronal activity in ultrasound-tar-geted brain regions. REMIS recovery of markers is reliable and demonstrated improved recovery of markers from the brain into the blood in every tested animal. Overall, our work establishes a noninvasive, spatially-specific means of monitoring gene delivery outcomes and endogenous signaling in mammalian brains, opening up possibilities for brain research and noninvasive monitoring of gene therapies in the brain.
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8
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Hill M, Cunniffe N, Franklin R. Seeing is believing: Identifying remyelination in the central nervous system. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2022; 66:102269. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2022.102269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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9
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Yun J, Baldini M, Chowdhury R, Mukherjee A. Designing Protein-Based Probes for Sensing Biological Analytes with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. ANALYSIS & SENSING 2022; 2:e202200019. [PMID: 37409177 PMCID: PMC10321474 DOI: 10.1002/anse.202200019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Genetically encoded sensors provide unique advantages for monitoring biological analytes with molecular and cellular-level specificity. While sensors derived from fluorescent proteins represent staple tools in biological imaging, these probes are limited to optically accessible preparations owing to physical curbs on light penetration. In contrast to optical methods, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used to noninvasively look inside intact organisms at any arbitrary depth and over large fields of view. These capabilities have spurred the development of innovative methods to connect MRI readouts with biological targets using protein-based probes that are in principle genetically encodable. Here, we highlight the state-of-the-art in MRI-based biomolecular sensors, focusing on their physical mechanisms, quantitative characteristics, and biological applications. We also describe how innovations in reporter gene technology are creating new opportunities to engineer MRI sensors that are sensitive to dilute biological targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Yun
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Michelle Baldini
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Rochishnu Chowdhury
- Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
- Center for BioEngineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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10
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Reporter Genes for Brain Imaging Using MRI, SPECT and PET. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158443. [PMID: 35955578 PMCID: PMC9368793 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of molecular imaging technologies for brain imaging can not only play an important supporting role in disease diagnosis and treatment but can also be used to deeply study brain functions. Recently, with the support of reporter gene technology, optical imaging has achieved a breakthrough in brain function studies at the molecular level. Reporter gene technology based on traditional clinical imaging modalities is also expanding. By benefiting from the deeper imaging depths and wider imaging ranges now possible, these methods have led to breakthroughs in preclinical and clinical research. This article focuses on the applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and positron emission tomography (PET) reporter gene technologies for use in brain imaging. The tracking of cell therapies and gene therapies is the most successful and widely used application of these techniques. Meanwhile, breakthroughs have been achieved in the research and development of reporter genes and their imaging probe pairs with respect to brain function research. This paper introduces the imaging principles and classifications of the reporter gene technologies of these imaging modalities, lists the relevant brain imaging applications, reviews their characteristics, and discusses the opportunities and challenges faced by clinical imaging modalities based on reporter gene technology. The conclusion is provided in the last section.
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11
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Li Z, Maity B, Hishikawa Y, Ueno T, Lu D. Importance of the Subunit-Subunit Interface in Ferritin Disassembly: A Molecular Dynamics Study. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:1106-1113. [PMID: 35015545 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c02753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ferritin is a spherical cage-like protein that is useful for loading large functional particles for various applications. To our knowledge, how pH affects the interfaces inside ferritin and the mechanism of ferritin disassembly is far from complete. For this article, we conducted a series of molecular dynamics simulations (MD) at different pH values to study how interfaces affect ferritins' stability. It is shown that dimers are stable even at extremely low pH (pH 2.0), indicating that the dimer is the essential subunit for disassembly, and the slight swelling of the dimer resulting from monomer rotation inside a dimer is what triggers disassembly. During ferritin disassembly, there are two types of interfaces involved, and the interface between dimers is crucial. We also found that the driving forces for maintaining dimer stability are different when a dimer is inside ferritin and in an acidic solution. At low pH, the protonation of residues can lead to the loss of the salt bridge and the hydrogen bond between dimers, resulting in the disassembly of ferritin in an acidic environment. The above simulations reveal the possible mechanism of ferritin disassembly in an acidic solution, which can help us to design innovative and functional ferritin cages for different applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Basudev Maity
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Yuki Hishikawa
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Takafumi Ueno
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
- World Research Hub Initiative (WRHI), Tokyo Institute of Technology, Nagatsuta-cho 4259, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan
| | - Diannan Lu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis, Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Helfer BM, Ponomarev V, Patrick PS, Blower PJ, Feitel A, Fruhwirth GO, Jackman S, Pereira Mouriès L, Park MVDZ, Srinivas M, Stuckey DJ, Thu MS, van den Hoorn T, Herberts CA, Shingleton WD. Options for imaging cellular therapeutics in vivo: a multi-stakeholder perspective. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:757-773. [PMID: 33832818 PMCID: PMC9344904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies have been making great advances toward clinical reality. Despite the increase in trial activity, few therapies have successfully navigated late-phase clinical trials and received market authorization. One possible explanation for this is that additional tools and technologies to enable their development have only recently become available. To support the safety evaluation of cell therapies, the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Cell Therapy-Tracking, Circulation and Safety Committee, a multisector collaborative committee, polled the attendees of the 2017 International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy conference in London, UK, to understand the gaps and needs that cell therapy developers have encountered regarding safety evaluations in vivo. The goal of the survey was to collect information to inform stakeholders of areas of interest that can help ensure the safe use of cellular therapeutics in the clinic. This review is a response to the cellular imaging interests of those respondents. The authors offer a brief overview of available technologies and then highlight the areas of interest from the survey by describing how imaging technologies can meet those needs. The areas of interest include imaging of cells over time, sensitivity of imaging modalities, ability to quantify cells, imaging cellular survival and differentiation and safety concerns around adding imaging agents to cellular therapy protocols. The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Cell Therapy-Tracking, Circulation and Safety Committee believes that the ability to understand therapeutic cell fate is vital for determining and understanding cell therapy efficacy and safety and offers this review to aid in those needs. An aim of this article is to share the available imaging technologies with the cell therapy community to demonstrate how these technologies can accomplish unmet needs throughout the translational process and strengthen the understanding of cellular therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vladimir Ponomarev
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - P Stephen Patrick
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Philip J Blower
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alexandra Feitel
- Formerly, Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Shawna Jackman
- Charles River Laboratories, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Margriet V D Z Park
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Mangala Srinivas
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Cenya Imaging BV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel J Stuckey
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mya S Thu
- Visicell Medical Inc, La Jolla, California, USA
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Farhadi A, Sigmund F, Westmeyer GG, Shapiro MG. Genetically encodable materials for non-invasive biological imaging. NATURE MATERIALS 2021; 20:585-592. [PMID: 33526879 PMCID: PMC8606175 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-020-00883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Many questions in basic biology and medicine require the ability to visualize the function of specific cells and molecules inside living organisms. In this context, technologies such as ultrasound, optoacoustics and magnetic resonance provide non-invasive imaging access to deep-tissue regions, as used in many laboratories and clinics to visualize anatomy and physiology. In addition, recent work has enabled these technologies to image the location and function of specific cells and molecules inside the body by coupling the physics of sound waves, nuclear spins and light absorption to unique protein-based materials. These materials, which include air-filled gas vesicles, capsid-like nanocompartments, pigment-producing enzymes and transmembrane transporters, enable new forms of biomolecular and cellular contrast. The ability of these protein-based contrast agents to be genetically encoded and produced by cells creates opportunities for unprecedented in vivo studies of cellular function, while their amenability to genetic engineering enables atomic-level design of their physical, chemical and biological properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Farhadi
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
- Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Felix Sigmund
- Department of Chemistry and TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Synthetic Biomedicine, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gil Gregor Westmeyer
- Department of Chemistry and TUM School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
- Institute for Synthetic Biomedicine, Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen, Neuherberg, Germany.
| | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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14
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Jacobs AH, Schelhaas S, Viel T, Waerzeggers Y, Winkeler A, Zinnhardt B, Gelovani J. Imaging of Gene and Cell-Based Therapies: Basis and Clinical Trials. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00060-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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15
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Williams SM, Chatterji D. An Overview of Dps: Dual Acting Nanovehicles in Prokaryotes with DNA Binding and Ferroxidation Properties. Subcell Biochem 2021; 96:177-216. [PMID: 33252729 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-58971-4_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
DNA binding proteins under starvation (Dps) are proteins belonging to the ferritin family with the capacity for DNA binding, in addition to iron storage and ferroxidation. Present only in the prokaryotes, these multifaceted proteins have been assigned with a number of roles, from pathogenesis to nucleoid condensation and protection. They have a significant role in protecting the cells from free radical assaults, indirectly by sequestration of iron and by directly binding to the DNA. Due to their symmetry, stability and biomineralization capacity, these proteins have ever increasing potential applications in biotechnology and drug delivery. This chapter tries to bring together all these aspects of Dps in the view of current understanding and older perspectives by studies of our group as well as other experts in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunanda Margrett Williams
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London, WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom.
| | - Dipankar Chatterji
- Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.
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16
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Helfer BM, Bulte JW. Cell Surveillance Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00042-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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17
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Perlman O, Ito H, Gilad AA, McMahon MT, Chiocca EA, Nakashima H, Farrar CT. Redesigned reporter gene for improved proton exchange-based molecular MRI contrast. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20664. [PMID: 33244130 PMCID: PMC7692519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77576-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Reporter gene imaging allows for non-invasive monitoring of molecular processes in living cells, providing insights on the mechanisms underlying pathology and therapy. A lysine-rich protein (LRP) chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI reporter gene has previously been developed and used to image tumor cells, cardiac viral gene transfer, and oncolytic virotherapy. However, the highly repetitive nature of the LRP reporter gene sequence leads to DNA recombination events and the expression of a range of truncated LRP protein fragments, thereby greatly limiting the CEST sensitivity. Here we report the use of a redesigned LRP reporter (rdLRP), aimed to provide excellent stability and CEST sensitivity. The rdLRP contains no DNA repeats or GC rich regions and 30% less positively charged amino-acids. RT-PCR of cell lysates transfected with rdLRP demonstrated a stable reporter gene with a single distinct band corresponding to full-length DNA. A distinct increase in CEST-MRI contrast was obtained in cell lysates of rdLRP transfected cells and in in vivo LRP expressing mouse brain tumors ([Formula: see text], n = 10).
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Affiliation(s)
- Or Perlman
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Suite 2301, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Hirotaka Ito
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Assaf A Gilad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- The Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Michael T McMahon
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Division of MR Research, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - E Antonio Chiocca
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hiroshi Nakashima
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christian T Farrar
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 149 13th Street, Suite 2301, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
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18
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Szulc DA, Lee XA, Cheng HYM, Cheng HLM. Bright Ferritin-a Reporter Gene Platform for On-Demand, Longitudinal Cell Tracking on MRI. iScience 2020; 23:101350. [PMID: 32707432 PMCID: PMC7381694 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A major unresolved challenge in cell-based regenerative medicine is the absence of non-invasive technologies for tracking cell fate in deep tissue and with high spatial resolution over an extended interval. MRI is highly suited for this task, but current methods fail to provide longitudinal monitoring or high sensitivity, or both. In this study, we fill this technological gap with the first discovery and demonstration of in vivo cellular production of endogenous bright contrast via an MRI genetic reporter system that forms manganese-ferritin nanoparticles. We demonstrate this technology in human embryonic kidney cells genetically modified to stably overexpress ferritin and show that, in the presence of manganese, these cells produce far greater contrast than conventional ferritin overexpression with iron or manganese-permeable cells. In living mice, diffusely implanted bright-ferritin cells produce the highest and most sustained contrast in skeletal muscle. The bright-ferritin platform has potential for on-demand, longitudinal, and sensitive cell tracking in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Szulc
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, RS407, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Translational Biology & Engineering Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Xavier A Lee
- Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Translational Biology & Engineering Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hai-Ying Mary Cheng
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, RS407, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada; Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Translational Biology & Engineering Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada; The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G4, Canada.
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19
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Ozbakir HF, Anderson NT, Fan KC, Mukherjee A. Beyond the Green Fluorescent Protein: Biomolecular Reporters for Anaerobic and Deep-Tissue Imaging. Bioconjug Chem 2020; 31:293-302. [PMID: 31794658 PMCID: PMC7033020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence imaging represents cornerstone technology for studying biological function at the cellular and molecular levels. The technology's centerpiece is a prolific collection of genetic reporters based on the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and related analogs. More than two decades of protein engineering have endowed the GFP repertoire with an incredible assortment of fluorescent proteins, allowing scientists immense latitude in choosing reporters tailored to various cellular and environmental contexts. Nevertheless, GFP and derivative reporters have specific limitations that hinder their unrestricted use for molecular imaging. These challenges have inspired the development of new reporter proteins and imaging mechanisms. Here, we review how these developments are expanding the frontiers of reporter gene techniques to enable nondestructive studies of cell function in anaerobic environments and deep inside intact animals-two important biological contexts that are fundamentally incompatible with the use of GFP-based reporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harun F. Ozbakir
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Nolan T. Anderson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Kang-Ching Fan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
- Center for Bioengineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States
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20
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Zheng N, Su P, Liu Y, Wang H, Nie B, Fang X, Xu Y, Lin K, Lv P, He X, Guo Y, Shan B, Manyande A, Wang J, Xu F. Detection of neural connections with ex vivo MRI using a ferritin-encoding trans-synaptic virus. Neuroimage 2019; 197:133-142. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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21
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Wu MR, Huang YY, Hsiao JK. Use of Indocyanine Green (ICG), a Medical Near Infrared Dye, for Enhanced Fluorescent Imaging-Comparison of Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3) and Sodium-Taurocholate Cotransporting Polypeptide (NTCP) Reporter Genes. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24122295. [PMID: 31234288 PMCID: PMC6630416 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24122295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular and cellular imaging in living organisms have ushered in an era of comprehensive understanding of intracellular and intercellular events. Currently, more efforts have been focused on the infrared fluorescent dyes that facilitate deeper tissue visualization. Both sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) and organic-anion-transporting polypeptide 1B3 (OATP1B3) are capable of carrying indocyanine green (ICG) into the cytoplasm. We compared the feasibility of NTCP and OATP1B3 as reporter genes in combination with ICG. NTCP and OATP1B3 were transduced into HT-29 cells. Genetically modified HT-29 cells were inoculated into nude mice. ICG was administered in vitro and in vivo and the signals were observed under confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, multimode microplate reader, and an in vivo imaging system. Both NTCP- and OATP1B3-expressing cells and xenografts had higher ICG intensities. The OATP1B3-expressing xenograft has a higher ICG uptake than the NTCP-expressing xenograft. NTCP or OATP1B3 combined with ICG could serve as a noninvasive imaging modality for molecular and cellular imaging. OATP1B3 outperforms NTCP in terms of in vivo imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menq-Rong Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei TzuChi General Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, No.289, Jianguo Rd., Xindian Dist., New Taipei city 23142, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-You Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Jong-Kai Hsiao
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei TzuChi General Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, No.289, Jianguo Rd., Xindian Dist., New Taipei city 23142, Taiwan.
- School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, No. 701, Sec. 3, Zhongyang Rd. Hualien 97004, Taiwan.
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22
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Hill LK, Frezzo JA, Katyal P, Hoang DM, Gironda ZBY, Xu C, Xie X, Delgado-Fukushima E, Wadghiri YZ, Montclare JK. Protein-Engineered Nanoscale Micelles for Dynamic 19F Magnetic Resonance and Therapeutic Drug Delivery. ACS NANO 2019; 13:2969-2985. [PMID: 30758189 PMCID: PMC6945506 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b07481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Engineered proteins provide an interesting template for designing fluorine-19 (19F) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, yet progress has been hindered by the unpredictable relaxation properties of fluorine. Herein, we present the biosynthesis of a protein block copolymer, termed "fluorinated thermoresponsive assembled protein" (F-TRAP), which assembles into a monodisperse nanoscale micelle with interesting 19F NMR properties and the ability to encapsulate and release small therapeutic molecules, imparting potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic (theranostic) agent. The assembly of the F-TRAP micelle, composed of a coiled-coil pentamer corona and a hydrophobic, thermoresponsive elastin-like polypeptide core, results in a drastic depression in spin-spin relaxation ( T2) times and unaffected spin-lattice relaxation ( T1) times. The nearly unchanging T1 relaxation rates and linearly dependent T2 relaxation rates have allowed for detection via zero echo time 19F MRI, and the in vivo MR potential has been preliminarily explored using 19F magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). This fluorinated micelle has also demonstrated the ability to encapsulate the small-molecule chemotherapeutic doxorubicin and release its cargo in a thermoresponsive manner owing to its inherent stimuli-responsive properties, presenting an interesting avenue for the development of thermoresponsive 19F MRI/MRS-traceable theranostic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay K. Hill
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York 11203, United States
| | - Joseph A. Frezzo
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Priya Katyal
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Dung Minh Hoang
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Zakia Ben Youss Gironda
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Cynthia Xu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Xuan Xie
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Erika Delgado-Fukushima
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
| | - Youssef Z. Wadghiri
- Center for Advanced Imaging Innovation and Research (CAIR), New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Jin Kim Montclare
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, New York University Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, New York 11201, United States
- Bernard and Irene Schwartz Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, United States
- Department of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10012, United States
- Department of Biomaterials, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, New York 10010, United States
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23
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Guo R, Li Q, Yang F, Hu X, Jiao J, Guo Y, Wang J, Zhang Y. In Vivo MR Imaging of Dual MRI Reporter Genes and Deltex-1 Gene-modified Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Closed Penile Fracture. Mol Imaging Biol 2019; 20:417-427. [PMID: 28971290 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-017-1128-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of dual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporter genes, including ferritin heavy subunit (Fth) and transferrin receptor (TfR), which provide sufficient MRI contrast for in vivo MRI tracking, and the Deltex-1 (DTX1) gene, which promotes human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation to smooth muscle cells (SMCs), to treat closed penile fracture (CPF). METHODS Multi-gene co-expressing hMSCs were generated. The expression of mRNA and proteins was assessed, and the original biological properties of hMSCs were determined and compared. The intracellular uptake of iron was evaluated, and the ability to differentiate into SMCs was detected. Fifty rabbits with CPF were randomly transplanted with PBS, hMSCs, Fth-TfR-hMSCs, DTX1-hMSCs, and Fth-TfR-DTX1-hMSCs. In vivo MRI was performed to detect the distribution and migration of the grafted cells and healing progress of CPF, and the results were correlated with histology. RESULTS The mRNA and proteins of the multi-gene were highly expressed. The transgenes could not influence the original biological properties of hMSCs. The dual MRI reporter genes increased the iron accumulation capacity, and the DTX1 gene promoted hMSC differentiation into SMCs. The distribution and migration of the dual MRI reporter gene-modified hMSCs, and the healing state of CPF could be obviously detected by MRI and confirmed by histology. CONCLUSION The dual MRI reporter genes could provide sufficient MRI contrast, and the distribution and migration of MSCs could be detected in vivo. The DTX1 gene can promote MSC differentiation into SMCs for the treatment of CPF and effectively inhibit granulation tissue formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruomi Guo
- Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qingling Li
- Department of VIP Medical Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Urology, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Hu
- Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ju Jiao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Guo
- Department of VIP Medical Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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24
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Zhang F, Duan X, Lu L, Zhang X, Chen M, Mao J, Cao M, Shen J. In Vivo Long-Term Tracking of Neural Stem Cells Transplanted into an Acute Ischemic Stroke model with Reporter Gene-Based Bimodal MR and Optical Imaging. Cell Transplant 2018; 26:1648-1662. [PMID: 29251112 PMCID: PMC5753979 DOI: 10.1177/0963689717722560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) is emerging as a new therapeutic approach for stroke. Real-time imaging of transplanted NSCs is essential for successful cell delivery, safety monitoring, tracking cell fate and function, and understanding the interactions of transplanted cells with the host environment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of magnetic nanoparticle-labeled cells has been the most widely used means to track stem cells in vivo. Nevertheless, it does not allow for the reliable discrimination between live and dead cells. Reporter gene-based MRI was considered as an alternative strategy to overcome this shortcoming. In this work, a class of lentiviral vector-encoding ferritin heavy chain (FTH) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was constructed to deliver reporter genes into NSCs. After these transgenic NSCs were transplanted into the contralateral hemisphere of rats with acute ischemic stroke, MRI and fluorescence imaging (FLI) were performed in vivo for tracking the fate of transplanted cells over a long period of 6 wk. The results demonstrated that the FTH and EGFP can be effectively and safely delivered to NSCs via the designed lentiviral vector. The distribution and migration of grafted stem cells could be monitored by bimodal MRI and FLI. FTH can be used as a robust MRI reporter for reliable reporting of the short-term viability of cell grafts, whereas its capacity for tracking the long-term viability of stem cells remains dependent on several confounding factors such as cell death and the concomitant reactive inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Zhang
- 1 Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaohui Duan
- 1 Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liejing Lu
- 1 Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- 1 Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Meiwei Chen
- 1 Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaji Mao
- 1 Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Minghui Cao
- 1 Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Shen
- 1 Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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25
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In Vitro Neural Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Carrying the FTH1 Reporter Gene and Detection with MRI. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:1978602. [PMID: 30046590 PMCID: PMC6038692 DOI: 10.1155/2018/1978602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based on the ferritin heavy chain 1 (FTH1) reporter gene has been used to trace stem cells. However, whether FTH1 expression is affected by stem cell differentiation or whether cell differentiation is affected by reporter gene expression remains unclear. Here, we explore the relationship between FTH1 expression and neural differentiation in the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) carrying FTH1 into neuron-like cells and investigate the feasibility of using FTH1 as an MRI reporter gene to detect neurally differentiated cells. By inducing cell differentiation with all-trans retinoic acid and a modified neuronal medium, MSCs and MSCs-FTH1 were successfully differentiated into neuron-like cells (Neurons and Neurons-FTH1), and the neural differentiation rates were (91.56±7.89)% and (92.23±7.64)%, respectively. Neuron-specific markers, including nestin, neuron-specific enolase, and microtubule-associated protein-2, were significantly expressed in Neurons-FTH1 and Neurons without noticeable differences. On the other hand, FTH1 was significantly expressed in MSCs-FTH1 and Neurons-FTH1 cells, and the expression levels were not significantly different. The R2 value was significantly increased in MSCs-FTH1 and Neurons-FTH1 cells, which was consistent with the findings of Prussian blue staining, transmission electron microscopy, and intracellular iron measurements. These results suggest that FTH1 gene expression did not affect MSC differentiation into neurons and was not affected by neural differentiation. Thus, MRI reporter gene imaging based on FTH1 can be used for the detection of neurally differentiated cells from MSCs.
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26
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Quantifying iron content in magnetic resonance imaging. Neuroimage 2018; 187:77-92. [PMID: 29702183 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.04.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Measuring iron content has practical clinical indications in the study of diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, ferritinopathies and multiple sclerosis as well as in the quantification of iron content in microbleeds and oxygen saturation in veins. In this work, we review the basic concepts behind imaging iron using T2, T2*, T2', phase and quantitative susceptibility mapping in the human brain, liver and heart, followed by the applications of in vivo iron quantification in neurodegenerative diseases, iron tagged cells and ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles.
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27
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Zhang B, Yan W, Zhu Y, Yang W, Le W, Chen B, Zhu R, Cheng L. Nanomaterials in Neural-Stem-Cell-Mediated Regenerative Medicine: Imaging and Treatment of Neurological Diseases. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2018; 30:e1705694. [PMID: 29543350 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Patients are increasingly being diagnosed with neuropathic diseases, but are rarely cured because of the loss of neurons in damaged tissues. This situation creates an urgent clinical need to develop alternative treatment strategies for effective repair and regeneration of injured or diseased tissues. Neural stem cells (NSCs), highly pluripotent cells with the ability of self-renewal and potential for multidirectional differentiation, provide a promising solution to meet this demand. However, some serious challenges remaining to be addressed are the regulation of implanted NSCs, tracking their fate, monitoring their interaction with and responsiveness to the tissue environment, and evaluating their treatment efficacy. Nanomaterials have been envisioned as innovative components to further empower the field of NSC-based regenerative medicine, because their unique physicochemical characteristics provide unparalleled solutions to the imaging and treatment of diseases. By building on the advantages of nanomaterials, tremendous efforts have been devoted to facilitate research into the clinical translation of NSC-based therapy. Here, recent work on emerging nanomaterials is highlighted and their performance in the imaging and treatment of neurological diseases is evaluated, comparing the strengths and weaknesses of various imaging modalities currently used. The underlying mechanisms of therapeutic efficacy are discussed, and future research directions are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingbo Zhang
- Institute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200443, China
- Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Organic Chemical Materials, Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Application for Functional Materials, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science & Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Yanjing Zhu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Weitao Yang
- Institute of Photomedicine, Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200443, China
| | - Wenjun Le
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200443, China
| | - Bingdi Chen
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, The Institute for Biomedical Engineering & Nano Science, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200443, China
| | - Rongrong Zhu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Liming Cheng
- Department of Spine Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Institute of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury, Tongji University School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
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28
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He X, Cai J, Li H, Liu B, Qin Y, Zhong Y, Wang L, Liao Y. In Vivo magnetic resonance imaging of xenografted tumors using FTH1 reporter gene expression controlled by a tet-on switch. Oncotarget 2018; 7:78591-78604. [PMID: 27732930 PMCID: PMC5346662 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
As a promising magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporter, ferritin has been used to track cells in vivo; however, its continuous overexpression can be cytotoxic, which restricts its application. In this study, we aimed to develop a switch to turn this genetic reporter “on” or “off” while monitoring cell grafts via MRI. To accomplish this, we genetically modified the ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) with a Tet-On switch and assessed the expression of FTH1 in transduced neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-SH) in vitro and in xenografted tumors in vivo. We found that FTH1 expression induced by doxycycline (Dox) in SK-N-SH-FTH1 cells depended on treatment dose and duration. We successfully detected T2-weighted MRI contrast in cell grafts after switching “on” the reporter gene using Dox, and this contrast disappeared when we switched it “off”. The genetic reporter FTH1 can thus be switched “on” or “off” throughout longitudinal monitoring of cell grafts, limiting expression to when MRI contrast is needed. The controllable imaging system we have developed minimizes risks from constitutive reporter gene overexpression and facilitates tumor cell monitoring in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoya He
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Jinhua Cai
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Yong Qin
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Yi Zhong
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Longlun Wang
- Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Yifan Liao
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Key Laboratory of Pediatrics in Chongqing, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing International Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
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29
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Wu Q, Ono K, Suzuki H, Eguchi M, Yamaguchi S, Sawada M. Visualization of Arc promoter-driven neuronal activity by magnetic resonance imaging. Neurosci Lett 2018; 666:92-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.12.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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30
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Stem Cell Tracing Through MR Molecular Imaging. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2018; 15:249-261. [PMID: 30603551 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-017-0112-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 12/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cell therapy opens a new window in medicine to overcome several diseases that remain incurable. It appears such diseases as cardiovascular disorders, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, urinary system diseases, cartilage lesions and diabetes are curable with stem cell transplantation. However, some questions related to stem cell therapy have remained unanswered. Stem cell imaging allows approval of appropriated strategies such as selection of the type and dose of stem cell, and also mode of cell delivery before being tested in clinical trials. MRI as a non-invasive imaging modality provides proper conditions for this aim. So far, different contrast agents such as superparamagnetic or paramagnetic nanoparticles, ultrasmall superparamagnetic nanoparticles, fluorine, gadolinium and some types of reporter genes have been used for imaging of stem cells. The core subject of these studies is to investigate the survival and differentiation of stem cells, contrast agent's toxicity and long term following of transplanted cells. The promising results of in vivo and some clinical trial studies may raise hope for clinical stem cells imaging with MRI.
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31
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Wu MR, Liu HM, Lu CW, Shen WH, Lin IJ, Liao LW, Huang YY, Shieh MJ, Hsiao JK. Organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B3 as a dual reporter gene for fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging. FASEB J 2018; 32:1705-1715. [PMID: 29146731 PMCID: PMC5892727 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201700767r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Reporter proteins have broad applications in visualizing molecular events at the cellular, tissue and whole-body levels. Transmembrane transporters recognizing specific molecular domains are of particular interest because they enable the migration of signal-source molecules from the extracellular space to the cytoplasm for subsequent application in multimodality imaging. Organic anion-transporting polypeptides (OATPs) have demonstrated their MRI reporter efficacy. We further expanded their use as a dual-modality reporter in MRI and noninvasive in vivo imaging system (IVIS). We overexpressed OATP1B3 in the HT-1080 sarcoma cell line. Both Gd-EOB-DTPA, an MRI contrast agent, and indocyanine green (ICG), a near-infrared fluorescent dye that provides better deep-tissue detection because of its long wavelength, could be delivered to the intracellular space and imaged in a tumor-bearing nude mouse model. Our in vivo dual-imaging reporter system achieved high sensitivity in MRI and observation periods lasting as long as 96 h in IVIS. Because of the superior temporal and spatial resolutions and the clinical availability of both ICG and Gd-EOB-DTPA, this dual-imaging OATP1B3 system will find biomedical use in tumor biology, stem cell trafficking, and tissue engineering.—Wu, M.-R., Liu, H.-M., Lu, C.-W., Shen, W.-H., Lin, I.-J., Liao, L.-W., Huang, Y.-Y., Shieh, M.-J., Hsiao, J.-K. Organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B3 as a dual reporter gene for fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menq-Rong Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei TzuChi General Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hon-Man Liu
- Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Fu-Jen Catholic University and Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Wen Lu
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei TzuChi General Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Way-Hone Shen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei TzuChi General Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - I-Jou Lin
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei TzuChi General Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Li-Wen Liao
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei TzuChi General Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-You Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Jium Shieh
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jong-Kai Hsiao
- Department of Medical Imaging, Taipei TzuChi General Hospital, Buddhist Tzu-Chi Medical Foundation, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
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32
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Mukherjee A, Davis HC, Ramesh P, Lu GJ, Shapiro MG. Biomolecular MRI reporters: Evolution of new mechanisms. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2017; 102-103:32-42. [PMID: 29157492 PMCID: PMC5726449 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful technique for observing the function of specific cells and molecules inside living organisms. However, compared to optical microscopy, in which fluorescent protein reporters are available to visualize hundreds of cellular functions ranging from gene expression and chemical signaling to biomechanics, to date relatively few such reporters are available for MRI. Efforts to develop MRI-detectable biomolecules have mainly focused on proteins transporting paramagnetic metals for T1 and T2 relaxation enhancement or containing large numbers of exchangeable protons for chemical exchange saturation transfer. While these pioneering developments established several key uses of biomolecular MRI, such as imaging of gene expression and functional biosensing, they also revealed that low molecular sensitivity poses a major challenge for broader adoption in biology and medicine. Recently, new classes of biomolecular reporters have been developed based on alternative contrast mechanisms, including enhancement of spin diffusivity, interactions with hyperpolarized nuclei, and modulation of blood flow. These novel reporters promise to improve sensitivity and enable new forms of multiplexed and functional imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Mukherjee
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Hunter C Davis
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Pradeep Ramesh
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - George J Lu
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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Santoso MR, Yang PC. Molecular Imaging of Stem Cells and Exosomes for Myocardial Regeneration. CURRENT CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING REPORTS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s12410-017-9433-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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34
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Genetically encoded iron-associated proteins as MRI reporters for molecular and cellular imaging. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2017; 10. [DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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35
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Gilad AA, Shapiro MG. Molecular Imaging in Synthetic Biology, and Synthetic Biology in Molecular Imaging. Mol Imaging Biol 2017; 19:373-378. [PMID: 28213833 PMCID: PMC6058969 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-017-1062-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Biomedical synthetic biology is an emerging field in which cells are engineered at the genetic level to carry out novel functions with relevance to biomedical and industrial applications. This approach promises new treatments, imaging tools, and diagnostics for diseases ranging from gastrointestinal inflammatory syndromes to cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. As these cellular technologies undergo pre-clinical and clinical development, it is becoming essential to monitor their location and function in vivo, necessitating appropriate molecular imaging strategies, and therefore, we have created an interest group within the World Molecular Imaging Society focusing on synthetic biology and reporter gene technologies. Here, we highlight recent advances in biomedical synthetic biology, including bacterial therapy, immunotherapy, and regenerative medicine. We then discuss emerging molecular imaging approaches to facilitate in vivo applications, focusing on reporter genes for noninvasive modalities such as magnetic resonance, ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging, bioluminescence, and radionuclear imaging. Because reporter genes can be incorporated directly into engineered genetic circuits, they are particularly well suited to imaging synthetic biological constructs, and developing them provides opportunities for creative molecular and genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assaf A Gilad
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
- Heritage Medical Research Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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36
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Schilling F, Ros S, Hu DE, D'Santos P, McGuire S, Mair R, Wright AJ, Mannion E, Franklin RJM, Neves AA, Brindle KM. MRI measurements of reporter-mediated increases in transmembrane water exchange enable detection of a gene reporter. Nat Biotechnol 2017; 35:75-80. [PMID: 27918546 PMCID: PMC5230773 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.3714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Non-invasive imaging of gene expression can be used to track implanted cells in vivo but often requires the addition of an exogenous contrast agent that may have limited tissue access. We show that the urea transporter (UT-B) can be used as a gene reporter, where reporter expression is detected using 1H MRI measurements of UT-B-mediated increases in plasma membrane water exchange. HEK cells transfected with the reporter showed an increased apparent water exchange rate (AXR), which increased in line with UT-B expression. AXR values measured in vivo, in UT-B-expressing HEK cell xenografts, were significantly higher (about twofold, P < 0.0001), compared with non-expressing controls. Fluorescence imaging of a red fluorescent protein (mStrawberry), co-expressed with UT-B showed that UT-B expression correlated in a linear fashion with AXR. Transduction of rat brain cells in situ with a lentiviral vector expressing UT-B resulted in about a twofold increase in AXR at the site of virus injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Schilling
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Susana Ros
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - De-En Hu
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paula D'Santos
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah McGuire
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard Mair
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Alan J. Wright
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth Mannion
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robin J. M. Franklin
- Wellcome Trust–Medical Research Council Stem Cell Institute and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0AH, United Kingdom
| | - André A. Neves
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kevin M. Brindle
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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37
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Non-invasive imaging using reporter genes altering cellular water permeability. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13891. [PMID: 28008959 PMCID: PMC5196229 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive imaging of gene expression in live, optically opaque animals is important for multiple applications, including monitoring of genetic circuits and tracking of cell-based therapeutics. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could enable such monitoring with high spatiotemporal resolution. However, existing MRI reporter genes based on metalloproteins or chemical exchange probes are limited by their reliance on metals or relatively low sensitivity. Here we introduce a new class of MRI reporters based on the human water channel aquaporin 1. We show that aquaporin overexpression produces contrast in diffusion-weighted MRI by increasing tissue water diffusivity without affecting viability. Low aquaporin levels or mixed populations comprising as few as 10% aquaporin-expressing cells are sufficient to produce MRI contrast. We characterize this new contrast mechanism through experiments and simulations, and demonstrate its utility in vivo by imaging gene expression in tumours. Our results establish an alternative class of sensitive, metal-free reporter genes for non-invasive imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging combined with molecular reporters can visualise cellular functions in intact organisms. Here Mukherjee et al. present a cellular imaging approach based on intracellular changes in water diffusion using human aquaporin 1 gene as a genetically encoded reporter for MRI.
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38
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Cho IK, Wang S, Mao H, Chan AWS. Genetic engineered molecular imaging probes for applications in cell therapy: emphasis on MRI approach. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING 2016; 6:234-261. [PMID: 27766183 PMCID: PMC5069277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in stem cell-based regenerative medicine, cell replacement therapy, and genome editing technologies (i.e. CRISPR-Cas 9) have sparked great interest in in vivo cell monitoring. Molecular imaging promises a unique approach to noninvasively monitor cellular and molecular phenomena, including cell survival, migration, proliferation, and even differentiation at the whole organismal level. Several imaging modalities and strategies have been explored for monitoring cell grafts in vivo. We begin this review with an introduction describing the progress in stem cell technology, with a perspective toward cell replacement therapy. The importance of molecular imaging in reporting and assessing the status of cell grafts and their relation to the local microenvironment is highlighted since the current knowledge gap is one of the major obstacles in clinical translation of stem cell therapy. Based on currently available imaging techniques, we provide a brief discussion on the pros and cons of each imaging modality used for monitoring cell grafts with particular emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the reporter gene approach. Finally, we conclude with a comprehensive discussion of future directions of applying molecular imaging in regenerative medicine to emphasize further the importance of correlating cell graft conditions and clinical outcomes to advance regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- In K Cho
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research CenterAtlanta, GA, USA
| | - Silun Wang
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hui Mao
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anthony WS Chan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA, USA
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research CenterAtlanta, GA, USA
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39
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Dzien P, Tee S, Kettunen MI, Lyons SK, Larkin TJ, Timm KN, Hu D, Wright A, Rodrigues TB, Serrao EM, Marco‐Rius I, Mannion E, D'Santos P, Kennedy BWC, Brindle KM. (13) C magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements with hyperpolarized [1-(13) C] pyruvate can be used to detect the expression of transgenic pyruvate decarboxylase activity in vivo. Magn Reson Med 2016; 76:391-401. [PMID: 26388418 PMCID: PMC5025726 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.25879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Revised: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Dissolution dynamic nuclear polarization can increase the sensitivity of the (13) C magnetic resonance spectroscopy experiment by at least four orders of magnitude and offers a novel approach to the development of MRI gene reporters based on enzymes that metabolize (13) C-labeled tracers. We describe here a gene reporter based on the enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1), which catalyzes the decarboxylation of pyruvate to produce acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide. METHODS Pyruvate decarboxylase from Zymomonas mobilis (zmPDC) and a mutant that lacked enzyme activity were expressed using an inducible promoter in human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) cells. Enzyme activity was measured in the cells and in xenografts derived from the cells using (13) C MRS measurements of the conversion of hyperpolarized [1-(13) C] pyruvate to H(13) CO3-. RESULTS Induction of zmPDC expression in the cells and in the xenografts derived from them resulted in an approximately two-fold increase in the H(13) CO3-/[1-(13) C] pyruvate signal ratio following intravenous injection of hyperpolarized [1-(13) C] pyruvate. CONCLUSION We have demonstrated the feasibility of using zmPDC as an in vivo reporter gene for use with hyperpolarized (13) C MRS. Magn Reson Med 76:391-401, 2016. © 2015 The Authors. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Dzien
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | - Sui‐Seng Tee
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | - Mikko I. Kettunen
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
- Present address: A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern FinlandNeulaniementieKuopioFinland.
| | - Scott K. Lyons
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | | | - Kerstin N. Timm
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
| | - De‐En Hu
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | - Alan Wright
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | - Tiago B. Rodrigues
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | - Eva M. Serrao
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | | | - Elizabeth Mannion
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | - Paula D'Santos
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
| | | | - Kevin M. Brindle
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Research Institute, Li Ka Shing CentreCambridgeUK.
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40
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Radoul M, Lewin L, Cohen B, Oren R, Popov S, Davidov G, Vandsburger MH, Harmelin A, Bitton R, Greneche JM, Neeman M, Zarivach R. Genetic manipulation of iron biomineralization enhances MR relaxivity in a ferritin-M6A chimeric complex. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26550. [PMID: 27211820 PMCID: PMC4876375 DOI: 10.1038/srep26550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferritin has gained significant attention as a potential reporter gene for in vivo imaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, due to the ferritin ferrihydrite core, the relaxivity and sensitivity for detection of native ferritin is relatively low. We report here on a novel chimeric magneto-ferritin reporter gene - ferritin-M6A - in which the magnetite binding peptide from the magnetotactic bacteria magnetosome-associated Mms6 protein was fused to the C-terminal of murine h-ferritin. Biophysical experiments showed that purified ferritin-M6A assembled into a stable protein cage with the M6A protruding into the cage core, enabling magnetite biomineralisation. Ferritin-M6A-expressing C6-glioma cells showed enhanced (per iron) r2 relaxivity. MRI in vivo studies of ferritin-M6A-expressing tumour xenografts showed enhanced R2 relaxation rate in the central hypoxic region of the tumours. Such enhanced relaxivity would increase the sensitivity of ferritin as a reporter gene for non-invasive in vivo MRI-monitoring of cell delivery and differentiation in cellular or gene-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Radoul
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 Israel
| | - Limor Lewin
- Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Batya Cohen
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 Israel
| | - Roni Oren
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 Israel
| | - Stanislav Popov
- Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Geula Davidov
- Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Moriel H. Vandsburger
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 Israel
| | - Alon Harmelin
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 Israel
| | - Ronit Bitton
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Ilse Katz Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 84105 Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Jean-Marc Greneche
- Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans (IMMM), UMR CNRS 6283 Université du Maine, Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans Cedex France
| | - Michal Neeman
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100 Israel,
| | - Raz Zarivach
- Department of Life Sciences and the National Institute for Biotechnology in the Negev, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel,
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Pereira SM, Williams SR, Murray P, Taylor A. MS-1 magA: Revisiting Its Efficacy as a Reporter Gene for MRI. Mol Imaging 2016; 15:15/0/1536012116641533. [PMID: 27118760 PMCID: PMC5470133 DOI: 10.1177/1536012116641533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial genes involved in the biomineralization of magnetic nanoparticles in magnetotactic bacteria have recently been proposed as reporters for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In such systems, the expression of the bacterial genes in mammalian cells purportedly leads to greater concentrations of intracellular iron or the biomineralization of iron oxides, thus leading to an enhancement in relaxation rate that is detectable via MRI. Here, we show that the constitutive expression of the magA gene from Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum is tolerated by human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells but induces a strong toxic effect in murine mesenchymal/stromal cells and kidney-derived stem cells, severely restricting its effective use as a reporter gene for stem cells. Although it has been suggested that magA is involved in iron transport, when expressed in HEK cells, it does not affect the transcription of endogenous genes related to iron homeostasis. Furthermore, the magA-induced enhancement in iron uptake in HEK cells is insignificant, suggesting this gene is a poor reporter even for cell types that can tolerate its expression. We suggest that the use of magA for stem cells should be approached with caution, and its efficacy as a reporter gene requires a careful assessment on a cell-by-cell basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Pereira
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Steve R Williams
- Centre for Imaging Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Murray
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Arthur Taylor
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Patrick PS, Rodrigues TB, Kettunen MI, Lyons SK, Neves AA, Brindle KM. Development of Timd2 as a reporter gene for MRI. Magn Reson Med 2016; 75:1697-707. [PMID: 25981669 PMCID: PMC4832381 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.25750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the potential of an MRI gene reporter based on the ferritin receptor Timd2 (T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing protein 2), using T1- and T2-weighted imaging. METHODS Pellets of cells that had been modified to express the Timd2 transgene, and incubated with either iron-loaded or manganese-loaded ferritin, were imaged using T1- and T2-weighted MRI. Mice were also implanted subcutaneously with Timd2-expressing cells and the resulting xenograft tissue imaged following intravenous injection of ferritin using T2-weighted imaging. RESULTS Timd2-expressing cells, but not control cells, showed a large increase in both R2 and R1 in vitro following incubation with iron-loaded and manganese-loaded ferritin, respectively. Expression of Timd2 had no effect on cell viability or proliferation; however, manganese-loaded ferritin, but not iron-loaded ferritin, was toxic to Timd2-expressing cells. Timd2-expressing xenografts in vivo showed much smaller changes in R2 following injection of iron-loaded ferritin than the same cells incubated in vitro with iron-loaded ferritin. CONCLUSION Timd2 has demonstrated potential as an MRI reporter gene, producing large increases in R2 and R1 with ferritin and manganese-loaded ferritin respectively in vitro, although more modest changes in R2 in vivo. Manganese-loaded apoferritin was not used in vivo due to the toxicity observed in vitro. Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. Stephen Patrick
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Tiago B. Rodrigues
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Mikko I. Kettunen
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Scott K. Lyons
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - André A. Neves
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Kevin M. Brindle
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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Pereira SM, Herrmann A, Moss D, Poptani H, Williams SR, Murray P, Taylor A. Evaluating the effectiveness of transferrin receptor-1 (TfR1) as a magnetic resonance reporter gene. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2016; 11:236-44. [PMID: 26929139 PMCID: PMC4981909 DOI: 10.1002/cmmi.1686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR) reporter genes have the potential for tracking the biodistribution and fate of cells in vivo, thus allowing the safety, efficacy and mechanisms of action of cell-based therapies to be comprehensively assessed. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of the iron importer transferrin receptor-1 (TfR1) as an MR reporter gene in the model cell line CHO-K1. Overexpression of the TfR1 transgene led to a reduction in the levels of endogenous TfR1 mRNA, but to a 60-fold increase in total TfR1 protein levels. Although the mRNA levels of ferritin heavy chain-1 (Fth1) did not change, Fth1 protein levels increased 13-fold. The concentration of intracellular iron increased significantly, even when cells were cultured in medium that was not supplemented with iron and the amount of iron in the extracellular environment was thus at physiological levels. However, we found that, by supplementing the cell culture medium with ferric citrate, a comparable degree of iron uptake and MR contrast could be achieved in control cells that did not express the TfR1 transgene. Sufficient MR contrast to enable the cells to be detected in vivo following their administration into the midbrain of chick embryos was obtained irrespective of the reporter gene. We conclude that TfR1 is not an effective reporter and that, to track the biodistribution of cells with MR imaging in the short term, it is sufficient to simply culture cells in the presence of ferric citrate. Copyright © 2016 The Authors Contrast Media & Molecular Imaging Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Pereira
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Anne Herrmann
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Diana Moss
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Harish Poptani
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Steve R Williams
- Centre for Imaging Sciences, Oxford Road, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Patricia Murray
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Arthur Taylor
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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Lee CY, Thompson RT, Prato FS, Goldhawk DE, Gelman N. Investigating the Relationship between Transverse Relaxation Rate (R2) and Interecho Time in MagA-Expressing, Iron-Labeled Cells. Mol Imaging 2015; 14:551-60. [PMID: 26637544 DOI: 10.2310/7290.2015.00027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reporter gene-based labeling of cells with iron is an emerging method of providing magnetic resonance imaging contrast for long-term cell tracking and monitoring cellular activities. This report investigates 9.4 T nuclear magnetic resonance properties of mammalian cells overexpressing MagA, a putative iron transport protein from magnetotactic bacteria. MagA-expressing MDA-MB-435 cells were cultured in the presence and absence of iron supplementation and compared to the untransfected control. The relationship between the transverse relaxation rate (R2) and interecho time was investigated using the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill sequence. This relationship was analyzed using a model based on water diffusion in weak magnetic field inhomogeneities (Jensen-Chandra model) as well as a fast-exchange model (Luz-Meiboom model). Increases in R2 with increasing interecho time were larger in the iron-supplemented, MagA-expressing cells compared to other cells. The dependence of R2 on interecho time in these iron-supplemented, MagA-expressing cells was better represented by the Jensen-Chandra model compared to the Luz-Meiboom model, whereas the Luz-Meiboom model performed better for the remaining cell types. Our findings provide an estimate of the distance scale of microscopic magnetic field variations in MagA-expressing cells, which is thought to be related to the size of iron-containing vesicles.
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Identification of Iron Homeostasis Genes Dysregulation Potentially Involved in Retinopathy of Prematurity Pathogenicity by Microarray Analysis. J Ophthalmol 2015; 2015:584854. [PMID: 26557385 PMCID: PMC4628661 DOI: 10.1155/2015/584854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a serious disease of preterm neonates and there are limited systematic studies of the molecular mechanisms underlying ROP. Therefore, here we performed global gene expression profiling in human fetal retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMECs) under hypoxic conditions in vitro. Aborted fetuses were enrolled and primary RMECs were isolated from eyeballs. Cultivated cells were treated with CoCl2 to induce hypoxia. The dual-color microarray approach was adopted to compare gene expression profiling between treated RMECs and the paired untreated control. The one-class algorithm in significance analysis of microarray (SAM) software was used to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted to validate the results. Gene Ontology was employed for functional enrichment analysis. There were 326 DEGs between the hypoxia-induced group and untreated group. Of these genes, 198 were upregulated in hypoxic RMECs, while the other 128 hits were downregulated. In particular, genes in the iron ion homeostasis pathway were highly enriched under hypoxic conditions. Our study indicates that dysregulation of genes involved in iron homeostasis mediating oxidative damage may be responsible for the mechanisms underlying ROP. The “oxygen plus iron” hypothesis may improve our understanding of ROP pathogenesis.
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Guan X, Jiang X, Yang C, Tian X, Li L. The MRI marker geneMagAattenuates the oxidative damage induced by iron overload in transgenic mice. Nanotoxicology 2015; 10:531-41. [DOI: 10.3109/17435390.2015.1090029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Feng H, Xia X, Li C, Song Y, Qin C, Zhang Y, Lan X. TYR as a multifunctional reporter gene regulated by the Tet-on system for multimodality imaging: an in vitro study. Sci Rep 2015; 5:15502. [PMID: 26483258 PMCID: PMC4611178 DOI: 10.1038/srep15502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The human tyrosinase gene TYR is a multifunctional reporter gene with potential use in photoacoustic imaging (PAI), positron emission tomography (PET), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We sought to establish and evaluate a reporter gene system using TYR under the control of the Tet-on gene expression system (gene expression induced by doxycycline [Dox]) as a multimodality imaging agent. We transfected TYR into human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), naming the resulting cell line 231-TYR. Using non-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells as a control, we verified successful expression of TYR by 231-TYR after incubation with Dox using western blot, cellular tyrosinase activity, Masson-Fontana silver staining, and a cell immunofluorescence study, while the control cells and 231-TYR cells without Dox exposure revealed no TYR expression. Detected by its absorbance at 405 nm, increasing concentrations of melanin correlated positively with Dox concentration and incubation time. TYR expression by Dox-induced transfected cells shortened MRI T1 and T2 relaxation times. Photoacoustic signals were easily detected in these cells. (18)F-5-fluoro-N-(2-[diethylamino]ethyl)picolinamide ((18)F-5-FPN), which targets melanin, quickly accumulated in Dox-induced 231-TYR cells. These show that TYR induction of melanin production is regulated by the Tet-on system, and TYR-containing indicator cells may have utility in multimodality imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Feng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xiaotian Xia
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Chongjiao Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Yiling Song
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Chunxia Qin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Yongxue Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xiaoli Lan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Hubei Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan 430022, China
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Andrzejewska A, Nowakowski A, Janowski M, Bulte JWM, Gilad AA, Walczak P, Lukomska B. Pre- and postmortem imaging of transplanted cells. Int J Nanomedicine 2015; 10:5543-59. [PMID: 26366076 PMCID: PMC4562754 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s83557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic interventions based on the transplantation of stem and progenitor cells have garnered increasing interest. This interest is fueled by successful preclinical studies for indications in many diseases, including the cardiovascular, central nervous, and musculoskeletal system. Further progress in this field is contingent upon access to techniques that facilitate an unambiguous identification and characterization of grafted cells. Such methods are invaluable for optimization of cell delivery, improvement of cell survival, and assessment of the functional integration of grafted cells. Following is a focused overview of the currently available cell detection and tracking methodologies that covers the entire spectrum from pre- to postmortem cell identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Andrzejewska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adam Nowakowski
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Miroslaw Janowski
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
- RusselI H Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeff WM Bulte
- RusselI H Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Assaf A Gilad
- RusselI H Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Piotr Walczak
- RusselI H Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Barbara Lukomska
- NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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Song J, Cai Z, White AG, Jin T, Wang X, Kadayakkara D, Anderson CJ, Ambrose Z, Young WB. Visualization and quantification of simian immunodeficiency virus-infected cells using non-invasive molecular imaging. J Gen Virol 2015; 96:3131-3142. [PMID: 26297664 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In vivo imaging can provide real-time information and three-dimensional (3D) non-invasive images of deep tissues and organs, including the brain, whilst allowing longitudinal observation of the same animals, thus eliminating potential variation between subjects. Current in vivo imaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and bioluminescence imaging (BLI), can be used to pinpoint the spatial location of target cells, which is urgently needed for revealing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) dissemination in real-time and HIV-1 reservoirs during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). To demonstrate that in vivo imaging can be used to visualize and quantify simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-transduced cells, we genetically engineered SIV to carry different imaging reporters. Based on the expression of the reporter genes, we could visualize and quantify the SIV-transduced cells via vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein pseudotyping in a mouse model using BLI, PET-CT or MRI. We also engineered a chimeric EcoSIV for in vivo infection study. Our results demonstrated that BLI is sensitive enough to detect as few as five single cells transduced with virus, whilst PET-CT can provide 3D images of the spatial location of as few as 10 000 SIV-infected cells. We also demonstrated that MRI can provide images with high spatial resolution in a 3D anatomical context to distinguish a small population of SIV-transduced cells. The in vivo imaging platform described here can potentially serve as a powerful tool to visualize lentiviral infection, including when and where viraemia rebounds, and how reservoirs are formed and maintained during latency or suppressive ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasheng Song
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zhengxin Cai
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alexander G White
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Tao Jin
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xiaolei Wang
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Deepak Kadayakkara
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Carolyn J Anderson
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zandrea Ambrose
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Won-Bin Young
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Overexpression of the MRI Reporter Genes Ferritin and Transferrin Receptor Affect Iron Homeostasis and Produce Limited Contrast in Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:15481-96. [PMID: 26184159 PMCID: PMC4519909 DOI: 10.3390/ijms160715481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Revised: 06/24/2015] [Accepted: 07/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Imaging technologies that allow the non-invasive monitoring of stem cells in vivo play a vital role in cell-based regenerative therapies. Recently, much interest has been generated in reporter genes that enable simultaneous monitoring of the anatomical location and viability of cells using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we investigate the efficacy of ferritin heavy chain-1 (Fth1) and transferrin receptor-1 (TfR1) as reporters for tracking mesenchymal stem cells. The overexpression of TfR1 was well tolerated by the cells but Fth1 was found to affect the cell’s iron homeostasis, leading to phenotypic changes in the absence of iron supplementation and an upregulation in transcript and protein levels of the cell’s endogenous transferrin receptor. Neither the sole overexpression of Fth1 nor TfR1 resulted in significant increases in intracellular iron content, although significant differences were seen when the two reporter genes were used in combination, in the presence of high concentrations of iron. The supplementation of the culture medium with iron sources was a more efficient means to obtain contrast than the use of reporter genes, where high levels of intracellular iron were reflected in transverse (T2) relaxation. The feasibility of imaging iron-supplemented cells by MRI is shown using a 3R-compliant chick embryo model.
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