Non-invasive longitudinal tracking of human amniotic fluid stem cells in the mouse heart

Human stem cells from various sources have potential therapeutic applications. The clinical implementation of these therapies introduces the need for methods of noninvasive tracking of cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique for in vivo detection and tracking of superparamagnetic micron sized iron oxide particle (MPIO)-labeled human amniotic fluid stem (hAFS) cells injected in the mouse heart. Because of the small subject size, MR signal and resolution of the in vivo MRI were increased using strong gradients, a 7.0 Tesla magnet, and an ECG and respiratory gated gradient echo sequence. MRI images of mouse heart were acquired during a 4 week course of this longitudinal study. At the end of the study, histological analysis was used to correlate cell localization with the MRI results. Introduction of MPIOs into hAFS had no significant effect upon cell proliferation and differentiation. Results of flow cytometry analysis indicated that hAFS cells remained labeled for up to 4 weeks. MRI of MPIO-labeled hAFS cells injected in agarose gels resulted in significant hypointense regions. Labeled hAFS cells injected into mouse hearts produced hypointense regions in the MR images that could be detected 24 hours and 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post injection. The co-localization of labeled cells within the hypointense regions was confirmed by histological analysis. These results indicate that high resolution MRI can be used successfully for noninvasive longitudinal tracking of hAFS cells injected in the mouse heart. The potential utility of this finding is that injected stem cells can be tracked in vivo and might serve to monitor cell survival, proliferation and integration into myocardial tissue.     

In Vivo Tracking of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle Labeled Chondrocytes in Large Animal Model

Chondrocytes have been widely used as tissue engineered seed cells for repair of focal cartilage lesions in clinic. However, in vivo behaviors of delivered chondrocytes are still poorly understood. In this study, the feasibility of in vivo tracking of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPIO)-labeled chondrocytes by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for articular cartilage repair in minipig model was investigated. Results showed that chondrocytes were efficiently labeled by SPIO at optimal low dosages while maintaining essential cell properties. MRI SET2WI sequence revealed that marked hypointense signal void areas representing the transplanted labeled chondrocytes could be observed for at least 12?weeks. Histochemical staining confirmed the presence of Prussian blue-positive cells and GFP-positive cells at the hypointense signal void areas. These findings provide knowledge on the in vivo tracking of SPIO labeled chondrocytes on cartilage repair following transplantation in minipigs.     

MRI活体示踪超顺磁性氧化铁标记兔骨髓间充质干细胞的自体皮下移植

背景：高磁场MRI已被成功应用于示踪移植超顺磁性氧化铁标记骨髓基质干细胞的研究,但目前还有应用低磁场MRI示踪移植干细胞的报道。 目的：探讨用0.2 T MRI活体示踪自体皮下移植磁化标记骨髓基质干细胞的分布和迁移的可行性。 方法：从兔骨髓中分离培养骨髓基质干细胞,采用超顺磁性氧化铁和BrdU双重标记后,与壳聚糖复合植入兔自体大腿皮下。自体皮下移植未标记骨髓基质干细胞和皮下单纯注射超顺磁性氧化铁为对照。 结果与结论：超顺磁性氧化铁标记骨髓基质干细胞经普鲁士蓝染色和电镜检查证实细胞胞浆含致密铁颗粒。超顺磁性氧化铁标记后自体皮下移植的兔骨髓基质干细胞在GRET2*WI序列成像时产生特征性的低信号改变至少维持8周,且信号逐渐从移植部位进入组织深处。但普鲁士蓝染色和BrdU免疫组化显示大部分的移植细胞仍停留在原移植部位。提示体外超顺磁性氧化铁能有效地标记骨髓基质干细胞,利用0.2 T MRI活体示踪自体皮下移植的超顺磁性氧化铁标记兔骨髓基质干细胞分布和迁移是可行的。     

Hepatocyte-like cells from human mesenchymal stem cells engrafted in regenerating rat liver tracked with in vivo magnetic resonance imaging

Cell transplantation using hepatocytes derived from stem cells has been regarded as a possible alternative treatment for various hepatic disorders. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the bone marrow have shown the potential to differentiate into hepatocytes in in vitro and in vivo conditions. Noninvasive imaging techniques allowing in vivo assessment of the location of cells are of great value for experimental studies in which these cells are transplanted. We labeled human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with green fluorescence protein (GFP) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) using a transfection agent (GenePORTER). Cellular labeling was evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of labeled suspensions, and Prussian blue staining for iron assessment. hMSCs labeled with SPIO and GFP were injected into the portal veins of immunosuppressed, hepatic-damaged rats. MR imaging findings were compared histologically. To identify the differentiation of hMSCs into hepatocytes and to trace the hepatocytes with molecular imaging, we observed the potential of SPIO and GFP double-labeled hMSCs to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in the regenerating rat liver. Serial MR imaging showed the possible detection of transplanted cells in the early period of transplantation. Our results indicate that magnetic labeling of hMSCs with SPIO may enable cellular MR imaging and tracking in experimental in vivo settings.     

In vivo Tracking of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Labeled with a Novel Chitosan-coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles using 3.0T MRI

This study aimed to characterize and MRI track the mesenchymal stem cells labeled with chitosan-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide (Chitosan-SPIO). Chitosan-SPIO was synthesized from a mixture of FeCl₂ and FeCl₃. The human bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSC) were labeled with 50 µg Fe/mL chitosan-SPIO and Resovist. The labeling efficiency was assessed by iron content, Prussian blue staining, electron microscopy and in vitro MR imaging. The labeled cells were also analyzed for cytotoxicity, phenotype and differentiation potential. Electron microscopic observations and Prussian blue staining revealed 100% of cells were labeled with iron particles. MR imaging was able to detect the labeled MSC successfully. Chitosan-SPIO did not show any cytotoxicity up to 200 µg Fe/mL concentration. The labeled stem cells did not exhibit any significant alterations in the surface markers expression or adipo/osteo/chondrogenic differentiation potential when compared to unlabeled control cells. After contralateral injection into rabbit ischemic brain, the iron labeled stem cells were tracked by periodical in vivo MR images. The migration of cells was also confirmed by histological studies. The novel chitosan-SPIO enables to label and track MSC for in vivo MRI without cellular alteration.     

体外磁共振观察胎鼠神经干细胞的标记

背景：神经干细胞移植后的细胞存活、识别和迁移需动态监控。 目的：通过体外磁共振技术对胎鼠神经干细胞体外标记,为神经干细胞在神经系统修复中的应用提供依据。 方法：采用胎鼠神经干细胞的分离与培养标记、染色剂鉴定及神经干细胞的活性检测,构建大鼠脑缺血再灌注模型,采用超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒体外标记胎鼠的神经干细胞并移植至模型大鼠左侧脑内,未标记的胎鼠神经干细胞移植至右侧脑中,对标记的细胞进行普鲁士蓝染色,观察其定植和迁移情况,并通过磁共振示踪动态的监测神经干细胞在活体移植之后的信号改变情况。 结果与结论：超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒体外标记胎鼠神经干细胞的方法效率达95%以上,电镜结果显示超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒体外标记胎鼠的神经干细胞内含铁颗粒,且集中在溶酶体和内涵体当中,磁共振结果显示胎鼠标记的神经干细胞呈现低信号改变,细胞活性的影响与未标记组差异无显著性意义,但标记的胎鼠神经干细胞T2WI 与 T2*WI信号降低。证实超顺磁性氧化铁颗粒体外标记胎鼠的神经干细胞可高效表达,磁共振的监控可以用于神经干细胞的活体示踪。   中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞;骨髓干细胞;造血干细胞;脂肪干细胞;肿瘤干细胞;胚胎干细胞;脐带脐血干细胞;干细胞诱导;干细胞分化;组织工程     

MRI tracking of transplanted iron‐labeled mesenchymal stromal cells in an immune‐compromised mouse model of critical limb ischemia

Peripheral arterial disease is a clinical problem in which mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation may offer substantial benefit by promoting the generation of new blood vessels and improving limb ischemia and wound healing via their potent paracrine activities. MRI allows for the noninvasive tracking of cells over time using iron oxide contrast agents to label cells before they are injected or transplanted. However, a major limitation of the tracking of iron oxide‐labeled cells with MRI is the possibility that dead or dying cells will transfer the iron oxide label to local bystander macrophages, making it very difficult to distinguish between viable transplanted cells and endogenous macrophages in the images. In this study, a severely immune‐compromised mouse, with limited macrophage activity, was investigated to examine cell tracking in a system in which bystander cell uptake of dead, iron‐labeled cells or free iron particles was minimized. MRI was used to track the fate of MSCs over 21 days after their intramuscular transplantation in mice with a femoral artery ligation. In all mice, a region of signal loss was observed at the injection site and the volume of signal hypointensity diminished over time. Fluorescence and light microscopy showed that iron‐positive MSCs persisted at the transplant site and often appeared to be integrated in perivascular niches. This was compared with MSC transplantation in immune‐competent mice with femoral artery ligation. In these mice, the regions of signal loss caused by iron‐labeled MSC cleared more slowly, and histology revealed iron particles trapped at the site of cell transplantation and associated with areas of inflammation. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

SPIO标记猪脂肪干细胞的生物学特性与多向分化潜能及体外3.0T MR成像

背景：不同种类细胞的最佳化标记方案需要大量实验证明,而每种细胞对应标记策略的安全性检测至关重要。 目的：应用超顺磁性氧化铁联合多聚左旋赖氨酸标记猪脂肪干细胞,探讨磁标记对细胞生物学特性和多向分化潜能的影响以及标记细胞体外3.0T MR成像特性。 方法：五指山小型猪皮下脂肪分离培养脂肪干细胞;超顺磁性氧化铁-多聚左旋赖氨酸复合物标记液标记脂肪干细胞;应用3.0T MR对不同浓度标记细胞进行T1WI、T2WI及T2*WI序列体外成像。 结果与结论：普鲁士蓝染色显示标记细胞胞质内含有多少不等的蓝染铁颗粒,细胞标记率近100%;标记细胞向心肌、骨、脂肪方向诱导分化成功;不同浓度标记细胞MR扫描显示,随细胞浓度升高,3种序列信号变化率均增加;相同浓度细胞T2*WI信号变化率最大,T1WI最小,同一浓度3种MR序列间信号变化率差异均有显著性意义(P < 0.01);3.0T MR成像能检测到至少1×10⁶ L^-1标记细胞。结果显示应用超顺磁性氧化铁联合多聚左旋赖氨酸标记方案可有效标记脂肪干细胞,不影响细胞活力、增殖及多向分化能力;T2*WI序列检测标记细胞最敏感。     

MR tracking of transplanted glial cells using poly-L-lysine-CF3

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using super-paramagnetic iron oxides (SPIOs) is a powerful tool to monitor transplanted cells in living animals. Since, however, SPIOs are negative contrast agents, positive agents have been explored. In this study, we examined the feasibility of FITC-labeled poly-L-lysine-CF3 (PLK-CF3) using glial cells. FITC-labeled PLK-CF3 was easily internalized by neuroblastoma cells and glia as adding it into culture medium. No toxicity was seen at the concentration of less than 80 microg/ml. MR images positively detected labeled cells transplanted in the brain of living mouse. The results indicate that FITC-labeled PLK-CF3 is a useful positive contrast agent for MR tracking.     

In vivo visualization and ex vivo quantification of murine breast cancer cells in the mouse brain using MRI cell tracking and electron paramagnetic resonance

Cell tracking could be useful to elucidate fundamental processes of cancer biology such as metastasis. The aim of this study was to visualize, using MRI, and to quantify, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), the entrapment of murine breast cancer cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIOs) in the mouse brain after intracardiac injection. For this purpose, luciferase‐expressing murine 4 T1‐luc breast cancer cells were labeled with fluorescent Molday ION Rhodamine B SPIOs. Following intracardiac injection, SPIO‐labeled 4 T1‐luc cells were imaged using multiple gradient‐echo sequences. Ex vivo iron oxide quantification in the mouse brain was performed using EPR (9 GHz). The long‐term fate of 4 T1‐luc cells after injection was characterized using bioluminescence imaging (BLI), brain MRI and immunofluorescence. We observed hypointense spots due to SPIO‐labeled cells in the mouse brain 4 h after injection on T₂*‐weighted images. Histology studies showed that SPIO‐labeled cancer cells were localized within blood vessels shortly after delivery. Ex vivo quantification of SPIOs showed that less than 1% of the injected cells were taken up by the mouse brain after injection. MRI experiments did not reveal the development of macrometastases in the mouse brain several days after injection, but immunofluorescence studies demonstrated that these cells found in the brain established micrometastases. Concerning the metastatic patterns of 4 T1‐luc cells, an EPR biodistribution study demonstrated that SPIO‐labeled 4 T1‐luc cells were also entrapped in the lungs of mice after intracardiac injection. BLI performed 6 days after injection of 4 T1‐luc cells showed that this cell line formed macrometastases in the lungs and in the bones. Conclusively, EPR and MRI were found to be complementary for cell tracking applications. MRI cell tracking at 11.7 T allowed sensitive detection of isolated SPIO‐labeled cells in the mouse brain, whereas EPR allowed the assessment of the number of SPIO‐labeled cells in organs shortly after injection. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Stem cell implantation in ischemic mouse heart: a high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging investigation

Advances in the biology of stem cells have evoked great interest in cell replacement therapies for the regeneration of heart tissue after myocardial infarction. However, results from human trials are controversial, since the destination of the injected cells, their engraftment and their long-term fate have remained unclear. Here we investigate whether transplanted cells can be identified in the intact and lesioned murine myocardium employing high-resolution MRI. Cardiac progenitor cells, expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), were labeled with ultra-small paramagnetic iron-oxide (USPIO) nanoparticles and transplanted into the intact or injured myocardium of mice. Their precise location was determined with high-resolution MRI and compared with histological tissue sections, stained with Prussian blue for iron content. These experiments showed that iron nanoparticle-loaded cells could be identified at high resolution in the mouse heart. However, ischemic myocardium (after cryoinjury or left coronary artery ligation) was characterized by a signal attenuation similar to that induced by USPIO-labeled cells in T2*-weighted MR images, making detection of labeled stem cells in this area by T2*-sensitive contrast rather difficult. In animals with myocardial injury only, the signal attenuated areas were of the same size in proton density- and T2*-weighted MR images. In injured animals also receiving labeled cells the lesioned area appeared larger in T2*--than in proton density-weighted MR images. This sequence-dependent lesion size change is due to the increased signal loss caused by the iron oxide nanoparticles, most sensitively detectable in the T2*-sensitive images. Thus, using the novel combination of these two parameter weightings, USPIO-labeled cells can be detected at high resolution in ischemic myocardium.     

Viability and MR detectability of iron labeled mesenchymal stem cells used for endoscopic injection into the porcine urethral sphincter

Direct stem cell therapies for functionally impaired tissue require a sufficient number of cells in the target region and a method for verifying the fate of the cells in the subsequent time course. In vivo MRI of iron labeled mesenchymal stem cells has been suggested to comply with these requirements. The study was conducted to evaluate proliferation, migration, differentiation and adhesion effects as well as the obtained iron load of an iron labeling strategy for mesenchymal stem cells. After injection into the porcine urethral sphincter, the labeled cells were monitored for up to six months using MRI. Mesenchymal stem cells were labeled with ferucarbotran (60/100/200 µg/mL) and ferumoxide (200 µg/mL) for the analysis of migration and viability. Phantom MR measurements were made to evaluate effects of iron labeling. For short and long term studies, the iron labeled cells were injected into the porcine urethral sphincter and monitored by MRI. High resolution anatomical images of the porcine urethral sphincter were applied for detection of the iron particles with a turbo‐spin‐echo sequence and a gradient‐echo sequence with multiple T_E values. The MR images were then compared with histological staining. The analysis of cell function after iron labeling showed no effects on proliferation or differentiation of the cells. Although the adherence increases with higher iron dose, the ability to migrate decreases as a presumed effect of iron labeling. The iron labeled mesenchymal stem cells were detectable in vivo in MRI and histological staining even six months after injection. Labeling with iron particles and subsequent evaluation with highly resolved three dimensional data acquisition allows sensitive tracking of cells injected into the porcine urethral sphincter for several months without substantial biological effects on mesenchymal stem cells. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Efficient in vitro labeling of human neural precursor cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles: relevance for in vivo cell tracking

Recent studies have raised appealing possibilities of replacing damaged or lost neural cells by transplanting in vitro-expanded neural precursor cells (NPCs) and/or their progeny. Magnetic resonance (MR) tracking of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled cells is a noninvasive technique to track transplanted cells in longitudinal studies on living animals. Murine NPCs and human mesenchymal or hematopoietic stem cells can be efficiently labeled by SPIOs. However, the validation of SPIO-based protocols to label human neural precursor cells (hNPCs) has not been extensively addressed. Here, we report the development and validation of optimized protocols using two SPIOs (Sinerem and Endorem) to label human hNPCs that display bona fide stem cell features in vitro. A careful titration of both SPIOs was required to set the conditions resulting in efficient cell labeling without impairment of cell survival, proliferation, self-renewal, and multipotency. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) combined with histology and confocal microscopy indicated that low numbers (5 x 10(3) to 1 x 10(4)) of viable SPIO-labeled hNPCs could be efficiently detected in the short term after transplantation in the adult murine brain and could be tracked for at least 1 month in longitudinal studies. By using this approach, we also clarified the impact of donor cell death to the MR signal. This study describes a simple protocol to label NPCs of human origin using SPIOs at optimized low dosages and demonstrates the feasibility of noninvasive imaging of labeled cells after transplantation in the brain; it also evidentiates potential limitations of the technique that have to be considered, particularly in the perspective of neural cell-based clinical applications.     

Iron oxide labelling of human mesenchymal stem cells in collagen hydrogels for articular cartilage repair

For the development of new therapeutical cell-based strategies for articular cartilage repair, a reliable cell monitoring technique is required to track the cells in vivo non-invasively and repeatedly. We present a systematic and detailed study on the performance and biological impact of a simple and efficient labelling protocol for human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Commercially available very small superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (VSOPs) were used as magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent. Iron uptake via endocytosis was confirmed histologically with prussian blue staining and quantified by mass spectrometry. Compared with unlabelled cells, VSOP-labelling did neither influence the viability nor the proliferation potential of hMSCs. Furthermore, iron incorporation did not affect hMSCs in undergoing adipogenic, osteogenic or chondrogenic differentiation, as demonstrated histologically and by gene expression analyses. The efficiency of the labelling protocol was assessed with high-resolution MR imaging at 11.7T. VSOP-labelled hMSCs were visualised in a collagen type I hydrogel, which is in clinical use for matrix-based articular cartilage repair. The presence of VSOP-labelled hMSCs was indicated by distinct hypointense spots in the MR images, as a result of iron specific loss of signal intensity. In summary, this labelling technique has great potential to visualise hMSCs and track their migration after transplantation for articular cartilage repair with MR imaging.     

Ultrasound phase-contrast transmission imaging of localized thermal variation and the identification of fat/tissue boundaries

We present a new ultrasound technique for registering localized temperature changes in soft tissues. Conversely, small temperature changes may be induced in order to image tissue layers. The concept is motivated by the search for a compact, low cost method for guiding noninvasive thermal therapies; however its utility may extend to a wide range of imaging problems such as tumour imaging in the breast. This method combines ultrasound transmission imaging, planar projection techniques and phase-contrast theory. After outlining the theoretical foundation of the technique, its feasibility is tested by simulating localized heating within homogeneous tissue layers. Success of this imaging method is evaluated as a function of the ultrasound-imaging wavelength for a Gaussian-shaped heated region over the frequency range from 0.1 to 2 MHz. Furthermore we simulate two-dimensional image reconstruction from a receiving array. We conclude that thermal phase-contrast imaging in tissues is plausible for detecting the treatment spot in thermal therapies while operating at frequencies below 1 MHz. Additionally, it may also be possible to use the method for noninvasive thermometry. However, thermometry would require operation at higher frequencies at the tradeoff of increased attenuation and higher sensitivity to scattering, which needs to be further explored.     

Magnetic-resonance-based tracking and quantification of intravenously injected neural stem cell accumulation in the brains of mice with experimental multiple sclerosis

Eliciting the in situ accumulation and persistence patterns of stem cells following transplantation would provide critical insight toward human translation of stem cell-based therapies. To this end, we have developed a strategy to track neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) in vivo using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Initially, we evaluated three different human-grade superparamagnetic iron oxide particles for labeling NPCs and found the optimal labeling to be achieved with Resovist. Next, we carried out in vivo experiments to monitor the accumulation of Resovist-labeled NPCs following i.v. injection in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of multiple sclerosis. With a human MR scanner, we were able to visualize transplanted cells as early as 24 hours post-transplantation in up to 80% of the brain demyelinating lesions. Interestingly, continued monitoring of transplanted mice indicated that labeled NPCs were still present 20 days postinjection. Neuropathological analysis confirmed the presence of transplanted NPCs exclusively in inflammatory demyelinating lesions and not in normal-appearing brain areas. Quantification of transplanted cells by means of MR-based ex vivo relaxometry (R2*) showed significantly higher R2* values in focal inflammatory brain lesions from EAE mice transplanted with labeled NPCs as compared with controls. Indeed, sensitive quantification of low numbers of NPCs accumulating into brain inflammatory lesions (33.3-164.4 cells per lesion; r(2) = .998) was also obtained. These studies provide evidence that clinical-grade human MR can be used for noninvasive monitoring and quantification of NPC accumulation in the central nervous system upon systemic cell injection. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.     

Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeling efficiency and subsequent MRI tracking of native cell populations pertinent to pulmonary heart valve tissue engineering studies

The intimal and medial linings of the pulmonary artery consist largely of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), respectively. The migration of these cell types to a potential tissue-engineered pulmonary valve (TEPV) implant process is therefore of interest in understanding the valve remodeling process. Visualization and cell tracking by MRI, which employs hypointense contrast achievable through the use of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) microparticles to label cells, provides a method in which this can be studied. We investigated the SPIO labeling efficiency of human VECs and VSMCs, and used two- and three-dimensional gradient echo sequences to track the migration of these cells in agar gel constructs. Protamine sulfate (4.5 μg/mL) was used to enhance SPIO uptake and was found to have no influence on cell viability or proliferation. MRI experiments were initially performed using a 9.4-T scanner. The results demonstrated that the spatial positions of hypointense spots were relatively unchanged over 12 days. Subsequent MR experiments performed at 7 T demonstrated that three-dimensional imaging provided the best spatial resolution to assess cell fate. R(2)* maps were bright in SPIO cell-encapsulated gels in comparison with unlabeled counterparts. Signal voids were ruled out as hypointense regions owing to the smooth exponential decay of T(2)* in these voxels. As a next step, we intend to use the SPIO cell labeling and MR protocols established in this study to assess whether hemodynamic stresses will alter the vascular cell migratory patterns. These studies will shed light on the mechanisms of vascular remodeling after TEPV implantation.     

磁共振成像及氧化铁粒子标记在干细胞治疗脑缺血大鼠中的应用

目的 探讨磁共振成像及氧化铁粒子标记在干细胞治疗脑卒中模型中的应用价值.方法 线栓法建立9只大鼠大脑中动脉缺血模型,进行神经行为学评分、磁共振影像学和病理学评价,并对上述3项指标进行相关性分析.用超顺磁性氧化铁体外标记骨髓间充质干细胞,并另筛选18只脑缺血大鼠,分别接受缺血对侧皮层(n.6)、缺血同侧纹状体(n=6)的标记干细胞移植,并设对照组(n=6).分别在脑缺血后1 d、细胞移植后第1天、第7天及第14天进行磁共振扫描,观察各时间点的标记干细胞显示情况,并对各组之间梗死体积的变化进行统计学分析.结果 神经行为学评分、磁共振影像学和病理学评价对大鼠脑缺血模型评价的相关性好.磁共振各序列均可显示局部移植的标记干细胞,梯度回波序列最敏感,T2像空间分辨力高.磁共振成像可显示局部移植标记干细胞随时间推移而产生的分布变化.干细胞治疗各组之间脑梗死体积变化无明显差异.结论 磁共振成像是大鼠脑缺血模型评价的理想工具,配合氧化铁粒子标记干细胞可活体状态下了解干细胞移植后的分布变化.     

胰岛细胞移植磁共振扫描活体示踪的序列优化

背景：细胞移植领域仍缺乏有效的方法活体示踪观察细胞移植后体内的转归,随着分子影像学的发展使磁共振移植细胞活体示踪技术成为可能。 目的：对胰岛细胞移植磁共振成像活体示踪的扫描序列和参数进行优化,提高胰岛细胞移植磁共振扫描活体示踪结果的可靠性。 方法：通过SD大鼠门静脉输注超顺磁氧化铁纳米颗粒菲立磁标记的胰岛细胞,固定于7 cm小动物专用线圈,在临床1.5T MR上分别采用SE T1W、FSE T2W、FGRE、SPGR对移植前后大鼠肝脏进行扫描,观察输注胰岛细胞前后研究部位的信号变化,并比较不同序列SPIO标记胰岛细胞与周围肝脏组织的对比度噪声比。 结果与结论：FGRE和SPGR都可以较好地克服腹部呼吸运动伪影,敏感地显示超顺磁氧化铁纳米颗粒菲立磁标记的胰岛细胞。标记胰岛细胞在SD大鼠肝脏MRI图像上表现为斑点状的信号减低区,广泛分布于肝脏各部位。结果显示磁共振扫描可以对肝内胰岛移植物进行有效示踪,序列的选择至关重要。     

Magnetic resonance tracking of magnetically labeled autologous bone marrow CD34+ cells transplanted into the spinal cord via lumbar puncture technique in patients with chronic spinal cord injury: CD34+ cells' migration into the injured site

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the possibility of delivering autologous bone marrow precursor cells into the spinal cord via lumbar puncture technique (LP) in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Magnetic resonance imaging provides a noninvasive method for studying the fate of transplanted cells in vivo. Considering these propositions, we studied magnetic resonance tracking of autologous bone marrow CD34(+) cells labeled with magnetic nanoparticles delivered into the spinal cord via LP in patients with SCI. Sixteen patients with chronic SCI were enrolled and divided into two groups; one group got their own labeled-CD34(+) cells injected into the spinal cord via LP (n = 10); the others received an injection, but it contained magnetic beads without stem cells (controls, n = 6). CD34(+) cells were magnetically labeled with magnetic beads coated with a monoclonal antibody specific for the CD34 cell membrane antigen. Magnetic resonance images were obtained by a standard turbospin echo-T2 weighted sequences before and 20 and 35 days after post-transplantation. The median number of CD34(+) cells injected via LP was 0.7 x 10(6) (range 0.45 to 1.22 x 10(6)). Magnetically labeled CD34(+) cells were visible at the lesion site as hypointense signals in five patients of the labeled-CD34(+) group 20 and 35 days after transplantation; these signals were not visible in any patient of the control group. We suggested for the first time that autologous bone marrow CD34(+) cells labeled with magnetic nanoparticles delivered into the spinal cord via LP technique migrated into the injured site in patients with chronic SCI.