In Vivo Tracking of @entity1 Neural Progenitor Cells in the XXXX Brain Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Is Not Enhanced by Ferritin Expression.

@entity1 @entity101 @entity1933 @entity179 @entity35 @entity68
Rapid growth in the field of stem cell research has generated a lot of interest in their therapeutic use, especially in the treatment of @entity179 . Specifically, @entity1 neural progenitor cells (hNPCs), unique in their capability to differentiate into cells of the neural lineage, have been widely investigated due to their ability to survive, thrive, and migrate toward injured tissues. Still, one of the major roadblocks for clinical applicability arises from the inability to monitor these cells following transplantation. Molecular imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have been explored to assess hNPC transplant location, migration, and survival. Here we investigated whether inducing hNPCs to overexpress ferritin (hNPCs(Fer)), an @entity68 storage protein, is sufficient to track these cells long term in the @entity35 striatum using MRI. We found that @entity101 on MRI images could establish hNPC(Fer) location. Unexpectedly, however, wild-type hNPC transplants were detected in a similar manner, which is likely due to increased @entity68 accumulation following transplantation-induced damage. Hence, we labeled hNPCs with superparamagnetic @entity1933 (SPIO) nanoparticles to further increase @entity68 content in an attempt to enhance cell contrast in MRI. SPIO-labeling of hNPCs (hNPCs-SPIO) achieved @entity101 , with significantly greater area of decreased T2* compared to hNPC(Fer) (p   <   0.0001) and all other controls used. However, none of the techniques could be used to determine graft rejection in vivo, which is imperative for understanding cell behavior following transplantation. We conclude that in order for cell survival to be monitored in preclinical and clinical settings, another molecular imaging technique must be employed, including perhaps multimodal imaging, which would utilize MRI along with another imaging modality.
