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Scheele CLGJ, Herrmann D, Yamashita E, Celso CL, Jenne CN, Oktay MH, Entenberg D, Friedl P, Weigert R, Meijboom FLB, Ishii M, Timpson P, van Rheenen J. Multiphoton intravital microscopy of rodents. NATURE REVIEWS. METHODS PRIMERS 2022; 2:89. [PMID: 37621948 PMCID: PMC10449057 DOI: 10.1038/s43586-022-00168-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Tissues are heterogeneous with respect to cellular and non-cellular components and in the dynamic interactions between these elements. To study the behaviour and fate of individual cells in these complex tissues, intravital microscopy (IVM) techniques such as multiphoton microscopy have been developed to visualize intact and live tissues at cellular and subcellular resolution. IVM experiments have revealed unique insights into the dynamic interplay between different cell types and their local environment, and how this drives morphogenesis and homeostasis of tissues, inflammation and immune responses, and the development of various diseases. This Primer introduces researchers to IVM technologies, with a focus on multiphoton microscopy of rodents, and discusses challenges, solutions and practical tips on how to perform IVM. To illustrate the unique potential of IVM, several examples of results are highlighted. Finally, we discuss data reproducibility and how to handle big imaging data sets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colinda L. G. J. Scheele
- Laboratory for Intravital Imaging and Dynamics of Tumor Progression, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Herrmann
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erika Yamashita
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- WPI-Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Bioimaging and Drug Discovery, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Cristina Lo Celso
- Department of Life Sciences and Centre for Hematology, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Sir Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Craig N. Jenne
- Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maja H. Oktay
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Integrated Imaging Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - David Entenberg
- Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
- Integrated Imaging Program, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Peter Friedl
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- David H. Koch Center for Applied Genitourinary Cancers, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Roberto Weigert
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Franck L. B. Meijboom
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Sustainable Animal Stewardship, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Faculty of Humanities, Ethics Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Masaru Ishii
- Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine and Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- WPI-Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Laboratory of Bioimaging and Drug Discovery, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan
| | - Paul Timpson
- Cancer Ecosystems Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research and The Kinghorn Cancer Centre, Cancer Department, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jacco van Rheenen
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Sugaya K. Characterization of cells expressing MRI reporters for the analysis of epigenetics. Anal Biochem 2021; 633:114395. [PMID: 34600867 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2021.114395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics is thought to be involved in highly advanced life phenomena, and its regulation has created new opportunities in regenerative medicine. Mintbody (modification-specific intracellular antibody) can track a posttranslational protein modification in epigenetics using a genetic system encoded within a single chain of variable fragments tagged with a fluorescent protein. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique that allows observation of specific molecules in living organisms. The ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) is one of the MRI reporters used in mammals. The combination of FTH1 with mintbody may show remarkable ability as a reporter for MRI to investigate epigenetics in the deep part of a living organism. This article discusses the suitability and safety of FTH1 for use in the analysis of epigenetics by MRI. Cells expressing the FTH1 hybrid of mintbody showed insufficiently increased sensitivity by MRI even in the presence of excess iron. After incubation with ferric ammonium citrate, DNA damage was found in cells expressing the FTH1 hybrid of mintbody. The use of FTH1 as a genetically encoded reporter for MRI appears to be limited by the requirement of metal and its relatively low sensitivity. These results suggest future directionality and the possibility of studying epigenetics in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimihiko Sugaya
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Theranostics, National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST), Chiba, Japan.
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Zhou J, Zhou Q, Shu G, Wang X, Lu Y, Chen H, Hu T, Cai J, Du Y, Yu R. Dual-Effect of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Reporter Gene in Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Nanomedicine 2020; 15:7235-7249. [PMID: 33061378 PMCID: PMC7533905 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s257628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Propose The early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with ferritin heavy chain (Fth) modified by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter has been studied. However, no study has focused on the considerable upregulation and specific targeting effects of transferrin receptors (TfR) caused by the transfection of plasmids encoded with the AFP promoter. Thus, the objective of our study was to investigate whether the transfection of Fth gene modified with AFP promoter (AFP@Fth) could be used for early diagnosis and enhanced treatment of HCC. Methods The AFP@Fth plasmid was transfected into AFP positive cells. The expression of intracellular Ferritin was verified by Western blot, and the upregulation of TfR was confirmed by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analysis. Cellular iron accumulation resulting in decreased imaging signals was examined by magnetic resonance imagining. Doxorubicin liposome modified with transferrin (Tf-LPD) was prepared to investigate the efficiency of the subsequent treatment after transfection. The enhanced drug distribution and effects were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Results Both Ferritin and TfR were overexpressed after transfection. The transfected cells showed higher intracellular iron accumulation and resulted in a lower MR T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) intensity, suggesting that the transfection of AFP@Fth could be a potential strategy for early diagnosis of liver cancer. The following treatment efficacy was revealed by Tf-LPD. As compared with un-transfected cells, transfected cells exhibited higher uptake of transferrin-modified liposomes (Tf-LP), which was due to the specific interaction between Tf and TfR overexpressed on the transfected cells. This is also the reason why Tf-LPD showed better in vitro and in vivo anticancer ability than doxorubicin loaded liposome (LPD). These results suggested that transfection of AFP@Fth could result in enhanced therapy of liver cancer. Conclusion Transfection of AFP@Fth could be used for early diagnosis and for enhanced treatment of live cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaping Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaomei Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Gaofeng Shu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanfei Lu
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Chen
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Hu
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinsong Cai
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongzhong Du
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Risheng Yu
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310009, People's Republic of China
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Liu T, Zhu Y, Zhao R, Wei X, Xin X. Visualization of exosomes from mesenchymal stem cells in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging. Magn Reson Imaging 2020; 68:75-82. [PMID: 32027941 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2020.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE We develop a method of imaging exosomes in vivo according to the vital role of exosomes in intercellular communication. This study aims to design a new label method that allows the visualization of labeled exosomes with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). METHODS We designed a fusion protein consisting of two parts, namely, ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) and a truncated lactadherin. FTH1 is used as an MRI reporter. Lactadherin is a trans-membrane protein. The lactadherin protein are mostly located on the outer surface of exosomes. We replaced the outer membrane part of lactadherin with FTH1, infected mesenchymal stem cells with lentivirus carrying the fusion protein, and isolated exosomes from the labeled cells by ultracentrifugation. Labeled exosomes were validated by transmission electron microscopy images, Western blot, nanosight particle tracking, and visualized in vitro and in vivo by MRI. RESULTS FTH1 expression would suppress mesenchymal stem cell proliferation, whereas the characterization of labeled exosomes remains comparable with unlabeled exosomes. MR imaging shows that exosomes labeled with FTH1 can be visualized in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION This innovative reporter-imaging approach to track and visualize exosomes with MRI can be utilized as a tool for the study of the role of exosomes under different conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Yurong Zhu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruiting Zhao
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Xinhua Wei
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuegang Xin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China; School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
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Chang L, Wang YC, Ershad F, Yang R, Yu C, Fan Y. Wearable Devices for Single-Cell Sensing and Transfection. Trends Biotechnol 2019; 37:1175-1188. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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Zhang Q, Lu Y, Xu X, Li S, Du Y, Yu R. MR molecular imaging of HCC employing a regulated ferritin gene carried by a modified polycation vector. Int J Nanomedicine 2019; 14:3189-3201. [PMID: 31118631 PMCID: PMC6504634 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s191270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Early diagnosis is essential for reducing liver cancer mortality, and molecular diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an emerging and promising technology. The chief aim of the present work is to use the ferritin gene, modified by the alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter, carried by a highly safe vector, to produce signal contrast on T2-weighted MR imaging as an endogenous contrast agent, and to provide a highly specific target for subsequent therapy. Methods: Polyethyleneimine-β-cyclodextrin (PEI-β-CD, PC) was synthesized as a novel vector. The optimal nitrogen/phosphorus ratio (N/P) of the PC/plasmid DNA complex was determined by gel retardation, biophysical properties and transmission electron microscopy morphological analysis. The transfection efficiency was observed under a fluorescence microscope and analyzed by flow cytometry. Cellular iron accumulation caused by ferritin overexpression was verified by Prussian blue staining, and the resulting contrast imaging effect was examined by MRI. Results: The modified cationic polymer PC was much safer than high molecular weight PEI, and could condense plasmid DNA at an N/P ratio of 50 with suitable biophysical properties and a high transfection efficiency. Overexpression of ferritin enriched intracellular iron. The short-term iron imbalance initiated by AFP promoter regulation only occurred in hepatoma cells, resulting in signal contrast on MRI. The specific target TfR was also upregulated during this process. Conclusion: These results illustrate that the regulated ferritin gene carried by PC can be used as an endogenous contrast agent for MRI detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This molecular imaging technique may promote safer early diagnosis of HCC, and provide a more highly specific target for future chemotherapy drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanfei Lu
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoling Xu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Shujuan Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongzhong Du
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Risheng Yu
- Department of Radiology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
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Jiang C, Wu D, Haacke EM. Ferritin-EGFP Chimera as an Endogenous Dual-Reporter for Both Fluorescence and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Human Glioma U251 Cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 3:1-8. [PMID: 30042970 PMCID: PMC6024424 DOI: 10.18383/j.tom.2015.00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A unique hybrid protein ferritin–enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was built to serve as an endogenous dual reporter for both fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It consists of a human ferritin heavy chain (an iron-storage protein) at the N terminus, a flexible polypeptide in the middle as a linker, and an EGFP at the C terminus. Through antibiotic screening, we established stable human glioma U251 cell strains that expressed ferritin–EGFP under the control of tetracycline. These cells emitted bright green fluorescence and were easily detected by a fluorescent microscope. Ferritin–EGFP overexpression proved effective in triggering obvious intracellular iron accumulation as shown by Prussian blue staining and by MRI. Further, we found that ferritin–EGFP overexpression did not cause proliferation differences between experimental and control group cells when ferritin–EGFP was expressed for <96 hours. Application of this novel ferritin–EGFP chimera has a promising future for combined optical and MRI approaches to study in vivo imaging at a cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caihong Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China and
| | - Dongmei Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China and
| | - E Mark Haacke
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China and.,Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
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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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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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Rohani R, Figueredo R, Bureau Y, Koropatnick J, Foster P, Thompson RT, Prato FS, Goldhawk DE. Imaging tumor growth non-invasively using expression of MagA or modified ferritin subunits to augment intracellular contrast for repetitive MRI. Mol Imaging Biol 2014; 16:63-73. [PMID: 23836502 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-013-0661-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The bacterial gene MagA imparts magnetic properties to mammalian cells and provides a basis for cell tracking by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In a mouse model of tumor growth from transplanted cells, we used repetitive MRI to demonstrate the in vivo imaging potential of MagA expression relative to a modified ferritin overexpression system, lacking regulation through iron response elements (HF + LF). PROCEDURES Subcutaneous tumor xenografts were monitored weekly from days 2 to 34 post-injection. Small animal MRI employed balanced steady-state free precession. Imaging was correlated with tumor histology using hematoxylin, Prussian Blue, Ki-67, and BS-1 lectin. RESULTS Tumor heterogeneity with respect to tissue morphology and magnetic resonance (MR) contrast was apparent within a week of cell transplantation. In MagA- and HF + LF-expressing tumors, MR contrast enhancement was recorded up to day 20 post-injection and 0.073-cm(3) tumor volumes. MagA-expressing tumors showed increases in both quantity and quality of MR contrast as measured by fractional void volume and contrast-to-noise ratio, respectively. MR contrast in both MagA- and HF + LF-expressing tumors was maximal by day 13, doubling fractional void volume 1 week ahead of controls. CONCLUSIONS MagA- and HF + LF-expressing tumor xenografts augment MR contrast after 1 week of growth. MagA expression increases MR contrast within days of cell transplantation and provides MR contrast comparable to HF + LF. MagA has utility for monitoring cell growth and differentiation, with potential for in vivo detection of reporter gene expression using MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roja Rohani
- Imaging Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
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Naumova AV, Balu N, Yarnykh VL, Reinecke H, Murry CE, Yuan C. Magnetic Resonance Imaging Tracking of Graft Survival in the Infarcted Heart: Iron Oxide Particles Versus Ferritin Overexpression Approach. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol Ther 2014; 19:358-367. [PMID: 24685664 DOI: 10.1177/1074248414525999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The main objective of cell therapy is the regeneration of damaged tissues. To distinguish graft from host tissue by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a paramagnetic label must be introduced to cells prior to transplantation. The paramagnetic label can be either exogenous iron oxide nanoparticles or a genetic overexpression of ferritin, an endogenous iron storage protein. The purpose of this work was to compare the efficacy of these 2 methods for MRI evaluation of engrafted cell survival in the infarcted mouse heart. Mouse skeletal myoblasts were labeled either by cocultivation with iron oxide particles or by engineering them to overexpress ferritin. Along with live cell transplantation, 2 other groups of mice were injected with dead-labeled cells. Both particle-labeled and ferritin-tagged grafts were detected as areas of MRI signal hypointensity in the left ventricle of the mouse heart using T2*-weighted sequences, although the signal attenuation decreased with ferritin tagging. Importantly, live cells could not be distinguished from dead cells when labeled with iron oxide particles, whereas the ferritin tagging was detected only in live grafts, thereby allowing identification of viable grafts using MRI. Thus, iron oxide particles can provide information about initial cell injection success but cannot assess graft viability. On the other hand, genetically based cell tagging, such as ferritin overexpression, despite having lower signal intensity in comparison with iron oxide particles, is able to identify live transplanted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Naumova
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Niranjan Balu
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Vasily L Yarnykh
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hans Reinecke
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Charles E Murry
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chun Yuan
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Construction and identification of the adenoviral vector with dual reporter gene for multimodality molecular imaging. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 33:600-605. [PMID: 23904384 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-013-1165-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Revised: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vector containing dual reporter gene [i.e. human transferrin receptor gene (TFRC) and firefly luciferase reporter gene] was constructed to provide a novel experimental tool for magnetic resonance (MR) and bioluminescence dual-modality molecular imaging. The cDNA of TFRC was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into the multiple cloning site of pShuttle-CMV-CMV-Luciferase vector. After identification by Sfi I digestion and sequencing, pShuttle-TFRC-Luciferase vector and the adenoviral backbone vector (pAdeno) were subjected to homologous recombination. The correct recombinant plasmid was then transfected into 293 packaging cells to produce adenoviral particles and confirmed by PCR. After infection of human colorectal cancer LOVO cells with Ad-TFRC-Luciferase, the expressions of transferrin receptor (TfR) and luciferase protein were detected respectively by Western blotting and bioluminescence imaging in vitro. The results showed that TFRC gene was successfully inserted into the adenoviral shuttle vector carrying luciferase gene. DNA sequence analysis indicated that the TFRC gene sequence in the shuttle plasmid was exactly the same as that reported in GenBank. The recombinant plasmid was identified correct by restriction digestion. Ad-TFRC-Luciferase recombinant adenovirus was constructed successfully, and the virus titer was 1.6×10(10) pfu/mL. Forty-eight h after dual reporter gene transfection, the expressions of TfR and luciferase protein were increased significantly (P<0.01). It was concluded that the recombinant adenovirus vector with dual reporter gene was successfully established, which may be used for in vivo tracing target cells in multimodality imaging.
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Vandsburger MH, Radoul M, Cohen B, Neeman M. MRI reporter genes: applications for imaging of cell survival, proliferation, migration and differentiation. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2013; 26:872-84. [PMID: 23225197 PMCID: PMC3713407 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.2869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2012] [Revised: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Molecular imaging strives to detect molecular events at the level of the whole organism. In some cases, the molecule of interest can be detected either directly or with targeted contrast media. However many genes and proteins and particularly those located in intracellular compartments are not accessible for targeted agents. The transcriptional regulation of these genes can nevertheless be detected, although indirectly, using reporter gene encoding for readily detectable proteins. Such reporter proteins can be expressed in the tissue of interest by genetically introducing the reporter gene in the target cells. Imaging of reporter genes has become a powerful tool in modern biomedical research. Typically, expression of fluorescent and bioluminescent proteins and the reaction product of expressed enzymes and exogenous substrates were examined using in vitro histological methods and in vivo whole body imaging methods. Recent advances in MRI reporter gene methods raised the possibility that MRI could become a powerful tool for concomitant high-resolution anatomical and functional imaging and for imaging of reporter gene activity. An immediate application of MRI reporter gene methods was by monitoring gene expression patterns in gene therapy and in vivo imaging of the survival, proliferation, migration and differentiation of pluripotent and multipotent cells used in cell-based regenerative therapies for cancer, myocardial infarction and neural degeneration. In this review, we characterized a variety of MRI reporter gene methods based on their applicability to report cell survival/proliferation, migration and differentiation. In particular, we discussed which methods were best suited for translation to clinical use in regenerative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Radoul
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science
| | - Batya Cohen
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science
| | - Michal Neeman
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science
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Kircher MF, Willmann JK. Molecular body imaging: MR imaging, CT, and US. Part II. Applications. Radiology 2012; 264:349-68. [PMID: 22821695 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.12111703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Molecular imaging is expected to have a major impact on the early diagnosis of diseases and disease monitoring in the next decade. Traditionally, nuclear imaging techniques have been the mainstay of molecular imaging in the clinical arena. However, with continued development of molecularly targeted contrast agents for nonnuclear imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), and ultrasonography (US), the spectrum of clinical molecular imaging applications is expanding. In the second part of this review series, an overview of applications of molecular MR imaging-, CT-, and US-based imaging strategies that show promise for clinical translation is presented, and key challenges that need to be addressed to successfully translate these promising techniques in the future are discussed. © RSNA, 2012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz F Kircher
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Naumova AV, Yarnykh VL, Balu N, Reinecke H, Murry CE, Yuan C. Quantification of MRI signal of transgenic grafts overexpressing ferritin in murine myocardial infarcts. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2012; 25:1187-95. [PMID: 22362654 PMCID: PMC3389131 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.2788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2011] [Revised: 11/28/2011] [Accepted: 01/15/2012] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The noninvasive detection of transplanted cells in damaged organs and the longitudinal follow-up of cell fate and graft size are important for the evaluation of cell therapy. We have shown previously that the overexpression of the natural iron storage protein, ferritin, permits the detection of engrafted cells in mouse heart by MRI, but further imaging optimization is required. Here, we report a systematic evaluation of ferritin-based stem cell imaging in infarcted mouse hearts in vivo using three cardiac-gated pulse sequences in a 3-T scanner: black-blood proton-density-weighted turbo spin echo (PD TSE BB), bright-blood T(2) -weighted gradient echo (GRE) and black-blood T(2) -weighted GRE with improved motion-sensitized-driven equilibrium (iMSDE) preparation. Transgenic C2C12 myoblast grafts overexpressing ferritin did not change MRI contrast in the PD TSE BB images, but showed a 20% reduction in signal intensity ratio in black-blood T(2) -weighted iMSDE (p < 0.05) and a 30% reduction in bright-blood T(2) -weighted GRE (p < 0.0001). Graft size measurements by T(2) iMSDE and T(2) GRE were highly correlated with histological assessments (r = 0.79 and r = 0.89, respectively). Unlabeled wild-type C2C12 cells transplanted to mouse heart did not change the MRI signal intensity, although endogenous hemosiderin was seen in some infarcts. These data support the use of ferritin to track the survival, growth and migration of stem cells transplanted into the injured heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Naumova
- Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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16
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Quantification of HSV-1-mediated expression of the ferritin MRI reporter in the mouse brain. Gene Ther 2012; 20:589-96. [PMID: 22996196 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2012.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The development of effective strategies for gene therapy has been hampered by difficulties verifying transgene delivery in vivo and quantifying gene expression non-invasively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers high spatial resolution and three-dimensional views, without tissue depth limitations. The iron-storage protein ferritin is a prototype MRI gene reporter. Ferritin forms a paramagnetic ferrihydrite core that can be detected by MRI via its effect on the local magnetic field experienced by water protons. In an effort to better characterize the ferritin reporter for central nervous system applications, we expressed ferritin in the mouse brain in vivo using a neurotropic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). We computed three-dimensional maps of MRI transverse relaxation rates in the mouse brain with ascending doses of ferritin-expressing HSV-1. We established that the transverse relaxation rates correlate significantly to the number of inoculated infectious particles. Our results are potentially useful for quantitatively assessing limitations of ferritin reporters for gene therapy applications.
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17
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MRI study on reversible and irreversible electroporation induced blood brain barrier disruption. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42817. [PMID: 22900052 PMCID: PMC3416789 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2012] [Accepted: 07/12/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Electroporation, is known to induce cell membrane permeabilization in the reversible (RE) mode and cell death in the irreversible (IRE) mode. Using an experimental system designed to produce a continuum of IRE followed by RE around a single electrode we used MRI to study the effects of electroporation on the brain. Fifty-four rats were injected with Gd-DOTA and treated with a G25 electrode implanted 5.5 mm deep into the striata. MRI was acquired immediately after treatment, 10 min, 20 min, 30 min, and up to three weeks following the treatment using: T1W, T2W, Gradient echo (GE), serial SPGR (DCE-MRI) with flip angles ranging over 5–25°, and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWMRI). Blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption was depicted as clear enhancement on T1W images. The average signal intensity in the regions of T1-enhancement, representing BBB disruption, increased from 1887±83 (arbitrary units) immediately post treatment to 2246±94 20 min post treatment, then reached a plateau towards the 30 min scan where it reached 2289±87. DWMRI at 30 min showed no significant effects. Early treatment effects and late irreversible damage were clearly depicted on T2W. The enhancing volume on T2W has increased by an average of 2.27±0.27 in the first 24–48 hours post treatment, suggesting an inflammatory tissue response. The permanent tissue damage, depicted as an enhancing region on T2W, 3 weeks post treatment, decreased to an average of 50±10% of the T2W enhancing volumes on the day of the treatment which was 33±5% of the BBB disruption volume. Permanent tissue damage was significantly smaller than the volume of BBB disruption, suggesting, that BBB disruption is associated with RE while tissue damage with IRE. These results demonstrate the feasibility of applying reversible and irreversible electroporation for transient BBB disruption or permanent damage, respectively, and applying MRI for planning/monitoring disruption volume/shape by optimizing electrode positions and treatment parameters.
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Markelc B, Bellard E, Sersa G, Pelofy S, Teissie J, Coer A, Golzio M, Cemazar M. In vivo molecular imaging and histological analysis of changes induced by electric pulses used for plasmid DNA electrotransfer to the skin: a study in a dorsal window chamber in mice. J Membr Biol 2012; 245:545-54. [PMID: 22644389 PMCID: PMC3464392 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-012-9435-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2012] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Electropermeabilization/electroporation (EP) is a physical method that by application of electric pulses to cells increases cell membrane permeability and enables the introduction of molecules into the cells. One of the uses of EP in vivo is plasmid DNA electrotransfer to the skin for DNA vaccination. EP of tissues induces reduction of blood flow and, in combination with plasmid DNA, induction of an immune response. One of the EP protocols for plasmid DNA electrotransfer to the skin is a combination of high-voltage (HV) and low-voltage (LV) pulses. However, the effects of this pulse combination on skin-vessel blood flow are not known. Therefore, using intravital microscopy in a dorsal window chamber in mice and fluorescently labeled dextrans, the effects of one HV and eight LV pulses on skin vasculature were investigated. In addition, a detailed histological analysis was performed. Image analysis of fluorescence intensity changes demonstrated that EP induces a transient constriction and increased permeability of blood vessels as well as a “vascular lock.” Histological analysis revealed rounding up of endothelial cells and stacking up of erythrocytes at 1 h after EP. In addition, extravasation of erythrocytes and leukocyte infiltration accompanied by edema were determined up to 24 h after EP. In conclusion, our results show that blood flow modifying effects of EP in skin contribute to the infiltration of immune cells in the exposed area. When combined with plasmid DNA for vaccination, this could enable the initial and prolonged contact of immune cells with encoded therapeutic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bostjan Markelc
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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19
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Is there a path beyond BOLD? Molecular imaging of brain function. Neuroimage 2012; 62:1208-15. [PMID: 22406355 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.02.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Revised: 02/18/2012] [Accepted: 02/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The dependence of BOLD on neuro-vascular coupling leaves it many biological steps removed from direct monitoring of neural function. MRI based approaches have been developed aimed at reporting more directly on brain function. These include: manganese enhanced MRI as a surrogate for calcium ion influx; agents responsive to calcium concentrations; approaches to measure membrane potential; agents to measure neurotransmitters; and strategies to measure gene expression. This work has led to clever design of molecular imaging tools and many contributions to studies of brain function in animal models. However, a robust approach that has potential to get MRI closer to neurons in the human brain has not yet emerged.
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20
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Magnetic resonance imaging of tumors colonized with bacterial ferritin-expressing Escherichia coli. PLoS One 2011; 6:e25409. [PMID: 21984917 PMCID: PMC3184983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0025409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2011] [Accepted: 09/02/2011] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent studies have shown that human ferritin can be used as a reporter of gene expression for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Bacteria also encode three classes of ferritin-type molecules with iron accumulation properties. Methods and Findings Here, we investigated whether these bacterial ferritins can also be used as MRI reporter genes and which of the bacterial ferritins is the most suitable reporter. Bacterial ferritins were overexpressed in probiotic E. coli Nissle 1917. Cultures of these bacteria were analyzed and those generating highest MRI contrast were further investigated in tumor bearing mice. Among members of three classes of bacterial ferritin tested, bacterioferritin showed the most promise as a reporter gene. Although all three proteins accumulated similar amounts of iron when overexpressed individually, bacterioferritin showed the highest contrast change. By site-directed mutagenesis we also show that the heme iron, a unique part of the bacterioferritin molecule, is not critical for MRI contrast change. Tumor-specific induction of bacterioferritin-expression in colonized tumors resulted in contrast changes within the bacteria-colonized tumors. Conclusions Our data suggest that colonization and gene expression by live vectors expressing bacterioferritin can be monitored by MRI due to contrast changes.
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21
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Matsumura S, Aoki I, Saga T, Shiba K. A tumor-environment-responsive nanocarrier that evolves its surface properties upon sensing matrix metalloproteinase-2 and initiates agglomeration to enhance T₂ relaxivity for magnetic resonance imaging. Mol Pharm 2011; 8:1970-4. [PMID: 21899281 DOI: 10.1021/mp2001999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We designed and synthesized a modified ferritin as a tumor-environment-responsive nanocarrier. We found that this nanocarrier could evolve its surface properties upon sensing a tumor-associated protease, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), which initiated agglomeration, resulting in the enhancement of T(2) relaxivity for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The designed ferritin contained a triad of modifiers composed of (i) a "sensing" segment (substrate peptide of MMP-2), (ii) "hydrophobic" segments and (iii) a "hydrophilic" segment of polyethylene glycol (PEG). The hydrophilic segment ensured the particles' monodispersibility in aqueous conditions. In the presence of MMP-2 activity, the "sensing" segment was cleaved by the enzyme and its submerged "hydrophobic" segments were exposed on the surface, resulting in the initiation of aggregation. Because ferritin contains ferrihydrite in its inner space, this multimerization resulted in the enhancement of T(2) relaxivity, suggesting that this nanocarrier may be useful as a contrast agent in MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sachiko Matsumura
- Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan.
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22
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Markelc B, Tevz G, Cemazar M, Kranjc S, Lavrencak J, Zegura B, Teissie J, Sersa G. Muscle gene electrotransfer is increased by the antioxidant tempol in mice. Gene Ther 2011; 19:312-20. [PMID: 21716301 PMCID: PMC3298856 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Electropermeabilization (EP) is an effective method of gene transfer into different tissues. During EP, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed, which could affect transfection efficiency. The role of generated ROS and the role of antioxidants in electrotransfer in myoblasts in vitro and in Musculus tibialis cranialis in mice were, therefore, investigated. We demonstrate in the study that during EP of C2C12 myoblasts, ROS are generated on the surface of the cells, which do not induce long-term genomic DNA damage. Plasmid DNA for transfection (pEGFP-N1), which is present outside the cells during EP, neutralizes the generated ROS. The ROS generation is proportional to the amplitude of the electric pulses and can be scavenged by antioxidants, such as vitamin C or tempol. When antioxidants were used during gene electrotransfer, the transfection efficiency of C2C12 myoblasts was statistically significantly increased 1.6-fold with tempol. Also in vivo, the transfection efficiency of M. tibialis cranialis in mice was statistically significantly increased 1.4-fold by tempol. The study indicates that ROS are generated on cells during EP and can be scavenged by antioxidants. Specifically, tempol can be used to improve gene electrotransfer into the muscle and possibly also to other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Markelc
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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23
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Richard-Fiardo P, Franken PR, Harrington KJ, Vassaux G, Cambien B. The use of molecular imaging of gene expression by radiotracers in gene therapy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2011; 11:1273-85. [DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2011.588596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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24
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Campan M, Lionetti V, Aquaro GD, Forini F, Matteucci M, Vannucci L, Chiuppesi F, Di Cristofano C, Faggioni M, Maioli M, Barile L, Messina E, Lombardi M, Pucci A, Pistello M, Recchia FA. Ferritin as a reporter gene for in vivo tracking of stem cells by 1.5-T cardiac MRI in a rat model of myocardial infarction. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2011; 300:H2238-50. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00935.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The methods currently utilized to track stem cells by cardiac MRI are affected by important limitations, and new solutions are needed. We tested human ferritin heavy chain (hFTH) as a reporter gene for in vivo tracking of stem cells by cardiac MRI. Swine cardiac stem/progenitor cells were transduced with a lentiviral vector to overexpress hFTH and cultured to obtain cardiospheres (Cs). Myocardial infarction was induced in rats, and, after 45 min, the animals were subjected to intramyocardial injection of ∼200 hFTH-Cs or nontransduced Cs or saline solution in the border zone. By employing clinical standard 1.5-Tesla MRI scanner and a multiecho T2* gradient echo sequence, we localized iron-accumulating tissue only in hearts treated with hFTH-Cs. This signal was detectable at 1 wk after infarction, and its size did not change significantly after 4 wk (6.33 ± 3.05 vs. 4.41 ± 4.38 mm2). Cs transduction did not affect their cardioreparative potential, as indicated by the significantly better preserved left ventricular global and regional function and the 36% reduction in infarct size in both groups that received Cs compared with control infarcts. Prussian blue staining confirmed the presence of differentiated, iron-accumulating cells containing mitochondria of porcine origin. Cs-derived cells displayed CD31, α-smooth muscle, and α-sarcomeric actin antigens, indicating that the differentiation into endothelial, smooth muscle and cardiac muscle lineage was not affected by ferritin overexpression. In conclusion, hFTH can be used as a MRI reporter gene to track dividing/differentiating stem cells in the beating heart, while simultaneously monitoring cardiac morpho-functional changes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vincenzo Lionetti
- Sector of Medicine, Scuola Superiore Sant′Anna
- Fondazione CNR-Regione Toscana “G. Monasterio”
| | | | | | | | - Laura Vannucci
- Retrovirus Centre and Virology Section, Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa
| | - Flavia Chiuppesi
- Retrovirus Centre and Virology Section, Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa
| | - Claudio Di Cristofano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University, Polo Pontino, I.C.O.T, Latina
| | | | - Margherita Maioli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, University of Sassari, Sassari
| | - Lucio Barile
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan
| | - Elisa Messina
- Department of Experimental Medicine, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome
| | | | - Angela Pucci
- Division of Surgical, Molecular and Ultrastructural Pathology, Pisa University Hospital, Pisa, Italy; and
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Retrovirus Centre and Virology Section, Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Pisa, Pisa
| | - Fabio A. Recchia
- Sector of Medicine, Scuola Superiore Sant′Anna
- Department of Physiology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
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25
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Hasegawa S, Koshikawa-Yano M, Saito S, Morokoshi Y, Furukawa T, Aoki I, Saga T. Molecular imaging of mesothelioma by detection of manganese-superoxide dismutase activity using manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Int J Cancer 2011; 128:2138-46. [PMID: 20617513 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a fatal malignancy with a rapidly increasing incidence in industrialized countries because of the widespread use of asbestos in the past centuries. Early diagnosis of MM is critical for a better prognosis, but this is often difficult because of the lack of disease-specific diagnostic imaging. Here, we report that manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) represents a promising approach for a more selective mesothelioma imaging by monitoring a high-level expression of manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), which is observed in many MM. We found that most human MM cells overexpressed Mn-SOD protein compared with human mesothelial cells and that NCI-H226 human MM cells highly expressed Mn-SOD and augmented Mn accumulation when loaded with manganese chloride (MnCl(2)). The cells showed marked T(1)-signal enhancement on in vitro MRI after incubation with MnCl(2) because of the T(1) shortening effect of Mn(2+). H226 subcutaneous tumor was preferentially enhanced compared with a lung adenocarcinoma cell tumor and another human MM cell tumor in MnCl(2)-enhanced T(1)-weighted MR image (T(1)WI), correlating with their respective Mn-SOD expression levels. Moreover, in a more clinically relevant setting, H226 xenografted pleural tumor was markedly enhanced and readily detected by MEMRI using manganese dipyridoxyl diphosphate (MnDPDP), a clinically used contrast agent, as well as MnCl(2). Therefore, we propose that MEMRI can be a potentially powerful method for noninvasive detection of MM, with high spatial resolution and marked signal enhancement, by targeting Mn-SOD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumitaka Hasegawa
- Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan.
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26
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Mahmood F, Hansen RH, Agerholm-Larsen B, Jensen KS, Iversen HK, Gehl J. Diffusion-weighted MRI for verification of electroporation-based treatments. J Membr Biol 2011; 240:131-8. [PMID: 21380763 PMCID: PMC3069326 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-011-9351-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2010] [Accepted: 02/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Clinical electroporation (EP) is a rapidly advancing treatment modality that uses electric pulses to introduce drugs or genes into, e.g., cancer cells. The indication of successful EP is an instant plasma membrane permeabilization in the treated tissue. A noninvasive means of monitoring such a tissue reaction represents a great clinical benefit since, in case of target miss, retreatment can be performed immediately. We propose diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) as a method to monitor EP tissue, using the concept of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). We hypothesize that the plasma membrane permeabilization induced by EP changes the ADC, suggesting that DW-MRI constitutes a noninvasive and quick means of EP verification. In this study we performed in vivo EP in rat brains, followed by DW-MRI using a clinical MRI scanner. We found a pulse amplitude-dependent increase in the ADC following EP, indicating that (1) DW-MRI is sensitive to the EP-induced changes and (2) the observed changes in ADC are indeed due to the applied electric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Mahmood
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
| | - Rasmus H. Hansen
- Department of Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Birgit Agerholm-Larsen
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
- Glostrup Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Kurt S. Jensen
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
- Glostrup Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Helle K. Iversen
- Glostrup Research Institute, Department of Neurology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
| | - Julie Gehl
- Center for Experimental Drug and Gene Electrotransfer, Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev Ringvej 75, 2730 Herlev, Denmark
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27
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Evaluation of ferritin-overexpressing brain in newly developed transgenic mice. Magn Reson Imaging 2011; 29:179-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2010.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2010] [Revised: 08/09/2010] [Accepted: 08/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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28
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Potential targets for molecular imaging of apoptosis resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomed Imaging Interv J 2011; 7:e5. [PMID: 21655114 PMCID: PMC3107687 DOI: 10.2349/biij.7.1.e5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2010] [Revised: 08/25/2010] [Accepted: 09/22/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers, which is mainly a concern in Southeast Asia. Apoptosis resistance in HCC is one of the significant factors for hepatocarcinogenesis and tumour progression. Recent advances of apoptosis resistance mechanisms in HCC could serve as potential targets for molecular imaging, which would be of considerable value to explore the molecular processes involved in HCC progression and to evaluate responses of certain anti-HCC therapies. Disruptions in the balance of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic processes have been found to be involved in apoptosis resistance in HCC. Loss of response to death receptors, transformation of growth factor-β induced apoptosis, upregulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 subgroup, as well as downregulation of pro-apoptotic Bax subgroup and BH3-only subgroup, are associated with apoptosis resistance in HCC. Mutation of p53 gene, dysregulation of NF-κB and survivin are also of interest because of their contribution to HCC development. In this review, the aim is to identify potential targets for molecular imaging of apoptosis resistance in HCC.
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29
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Hasegawa S, Furukawa T, Saga T. Molecular MR imaging of cancer gene therapy: ferritin transgene reporter takes the stage. Magn Reson Med Sci 2010; 9:37-47. [PMID: 20585193 DOI: 10.2463/mrms.9.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been actively investigated and made rapid progress in the past decade. Applied to cancer gene therapy, the technique's high spatial resolution allows evaluation of gene delivery into target tissues. Because noninvasive monitoring of the duration, location, and magnitude of transgene expression in tumor tissues or cells provides useful information for assessing therapeutic efficacy and optimizing protocols, molecular imaging is expected to become a critical step in the success of cancer gene therapy in the near future. We present a brief overview of the current status of molecular MR imaging, especially in vivo reporter gene imaging using ferritin and other reporters, discuss its application to cancer gene therapy, and present our research of MR imaging detection of electroporation-mediated cancer gene therapy using the ferritin reporter gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumitaka Hasegawa
- Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Inage-ku, Chiba, Japan.
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30
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Kim HS, Cho HR, Choi SH, Woo JS, Moon WK. In vivo imaging of tumor transduced with bimodal lentiviral vector encoding human ferritin and green fluorescent protein on a 1.5T clinical magnetic resonance scanner. Cancer Res 2010; 70:7315-24. [PMID: 20823165 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A combination of reporter genes for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging can provide an additional level of noninvasive and quantitative information about biological processes occurring in deep tissues. We developed a bimodal lentiviral vector to monitor deep tissue events using MRI to detect myc-tagged human ferritin heavy chain (myc-hFTH) expression and fluorescence imaging to detect green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression. The transgene construct was stably transfected into MCF-7 and F-98 cells. After transplantation of the cells expressing myc-hFTH and GFP into mice or rats, serial MRI and fluorescence imaging were performed with a human wrist coil on a 1.5T MR scanner and optical imaging analyzer for 4 weeks. No cellular toxicity due to overexpression of myc-hFTH and GFP was observed in MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays. Iron accumulation was observed in myc-hFTH cells and tumors by Prussian blue staining and iron binding assays. The myc-hFTH cells and tumors had significantly lower signal intensities in T(2)-weighted MRI than mock-transfected controls (P ≤ 0.05). This is direct evidence that myc-hFTH expression can be visualized noninvasively with a 1.5T clinical MR scanner. This study shows that MRI and fluorescence imaging of transplanted cells at molecular and cellular levels can be performed simultaneously using our bimodal lentiviral vector system. Our techniques can be used to monitor tumor growth, metastasis, and regression during cell and gene-based therapy in deep tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoe Suk Kim
- Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital and Institute of Radiation Medicine, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
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31
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Ziv K, Meir G, Harmelin A, Shimoni E, Klein E, Neeman M. Ferritin as a reporter gene for MRI: chronic liver over expression of H-ferritin during dietary iron supplementation and aging. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2010; 23:523-31. [PMID: 20175142 PMCID: PMC3558734 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.1491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The iron storage protein, ferritin, provides an important endogenous MRI contrast that can be used to determine the level of tissue iron. In recent years the impact of modulating ferritin expression on MRI contrast and relaxation rates was evaluated by several groups, using genetically modified cells, viral gene transfer and transgenic animals. This paper reports the follow-up of transgenic mice that chronically over-expressed the heavy chain of ferritin (h-ferritin) in liver hepatocytes (liver-hfer mice) over a period of 2 years, with the aim of investigating the long-term effects of elevated level of h-ferritin on MR signal and on the well-being of the mice. Analysis revealed that aging liver-hfer mice, exposed to chronic elevated expression of h-ferritin, have increased R(2) values compared to WT. As expected for ferritin, R(2) difference was strongly enhanced at high magnetic field. Histological analysis of these mice did not reveal liver changes with prolonged over expression of ferritin, and no differences could be detected in other organs. Furthermore, dietary iron supplementation significantly affected MRI contrast, without affecting animal wellbeing, for both wildtype and ferritin over expressing transgenic mice. These results suggest the safety of ferritin over-expression, and support the use of h-ferritin as a reporter gene for MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keren Ziv
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Gila Meir
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Alon Harmelin
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Eyal Shimoni
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Eugenia Klein
- Department of Chemical Research Support, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Michal Neeman
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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Characterization of T-cell responses in macaques immunized with a single dose of HIV DNA vaccine. J Virol 2009; 84:1243-53. [PMID: 19923181 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01846-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The optimization of immune responses (IR) induced by HIV DNA vaccines in humans is one of the great challenges in the development of an effective vaccine against AIDS. Ideally, this vaccine should be delivered in a single dose to immunize humans. We recently demonstrated that the immunization of mice with a single dose of a DNA vaccine derived from pathogenic SHIV(KU2) (Delta4SHIV(KU2)) induced long-lasting, potent, and polyfunctional HIV-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses (G. Arrode, R. Hegde, A. Mani, Y. Jin, Y. Chebloune, and O. Narayan, J. Immunol. 178:2318-2327, 2007). In the present work, we expanded the characterization of the IR induced by this DNA immunization protocol to rhesus macaques. Animals immunized with a single high dose of Delta4SHIV(KU2) DNA vaccine were monitored longitudinally for vaccine-induced IR using multiparametric flow cytometry-based assays. Interestingly, all five immunized macaques developed broad and polyfunctional HIV-specific T-cell IR that persisted for months, with an unusual reemergence in the blood following an initial decline but in the absence of antibody responses. The majority of vaccine-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells lacked gamma interferon production but showed high antigen-specific proliferation capacities. Proliferative CD8(+) T cells expressed the lytic molecule granzyme B. No integrated viral vector could be detected in mononuclear cells from immunized animals, and this high dose of DNA did not induce any detectable autoimmune responses against DNA. Taken together, our comprehensive analysis demonstrated for the first time the capacity of a single high dose of HIV DNA vaccine alone to induce long-lasting and polyfunctional T-cell responses in the nonhuman primate model, bringing new insights for the design of future HIV vaccines.
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