| Author |
Yang, Zhong Xian Yi, Meizi Yan, Gen Huang, Dexiao Cheng, Xiaofang Jia, Yanlong Wu, Renhua Geng, Kuan |
| Description |
Author Affiliation: Geng K ( The Chinese People's Liberation Army 59 Hospital, Yunnan, Kaiyuan, Yunnan 661699, P.R. China.); Yang ZX ( Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.); Huang D ( Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.); Yi M ( Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.); Jia Y ( Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.); Yan G ( Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.); Cheng X ( Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.); Wu R ( Department of Medical Imaging, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, P.R. China.) |
| Abstract |
Progress in the development of stem cell and gene therapy requires repeatable and noninvasive techniques to monitor the survival and integration of stem cells in vivo with a high temporal and spatial resolution. The purpose of the present study was to examine the feasibility of using the standard contrast agent gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (GdDTPA) to label rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for stem cell tracking. MSCs, obtained from the bilateral femora of rats, were cultured and propagated. The nonliposomal lipid transfection reagent effectene was then used to induce the intracellular uptake of GdDTPA. Electron microscopy was used to detect the distribution of GdDTPA particles in the MSCs. The labeling efficiency of the GdDTPA particles in the MSCs was determined using spectrophotometry, and MTT and trypan blue exclusion assays were used to evaluate the viability and proliferation of the labeled MSCs. T1weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to observe the labeled cells in vitro and in the rat brain. GdDTPA particles were detected inside the MSCs using transmission electron microscopy and a high labeling efficiency was observed. No difference was observed in cell viability or proliferation between the labeled and unlabeled MSCs (P>0.05). In the in vitro T1weighted MRI and in the rat brain, a high signal intensity was observed in the labeled MSCs. The T1weighted imaging of the labeled cells revealed a significantly higher signal intensity compared with that of the unlabeled cells (P<0.05) and the T1 values were significantly lower. The function of the labeled MSCs demonstrated no change following GdDTPA labeling, with no evident adverse effect on cell viability or proliferation. Therefore, a change in MR signal intensity was detected in vitro and in vivo, suggesting GdDTPA can be used to label MSCs for MRI tracking. |
