title: Imaging of luciferase and GFP-transfected human tumours in nude mice.
abstract: Studies were performed to compare green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transfected and fi re fl y luciferase (Luc)-transfected MCF-7 human breast tumour cells both in vitro and in vivo. For in vitro studies, cells were serially diluted in 96-well microplates and analysed using a NightOwl LB 981 Molecular Light Imager and a Victor multilabel reader. For in vivo studies, nude mice were injected either intraperitoneally, intravenously or subcutaneously with transfected cells and then imaged using the NightOwl Imager after intraperitoneal injection of d-luciferin for Luc tumours, or excitation at 470 nm for GFP tumours. In vitro imaging studies revealed that both GFP and Luc transfectants were quantifiable. However, the Luc-transfected cells were detectable at a significantly lower concentration compared to GFP transfectants. In vivo studies demonstrated that GFP-transfected tumours were detectable as subcutaneous and intraperitoneal tumours but not as deep tissue lesions, whereas Luc-transfected tumours were detectable as subcutaneous and intraperitoneal tumours and as deep tissue lesions resulting from intraperitoneal or intravenous inoculation. These findings demonstrate that GFP-transfected cells may be useful for imaging studies of superficial tumours where both excitation and emission wavelengths are able to penetrate tissues, whereas luciferase-transfected cells appear superior for imaging studies of primary and metastatic tumours in distant sites and deep tissues.
authors.affiliation: Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Cancer Research Inc., Plantation, FL 33313, USA.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Caceres
authors.forename: Xiao Yun
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jin-an
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Ralitza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zankina
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aller
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D014162:Transfection; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008156:Luciferases