title: Generic method for imaging transgene expression.
abstract: We propose a generic method to report on gene expression based on the use of an antigen-antibody reporting system and visualization by MRI. This methodology was demonstrated using a truncated form of the H2K(k) antigen, tH2K(k), as the nonendogenous antigen to be imaged. HeLa cells, transfected to express tH2K(k), exposed to tH2K(k) antibodies conjugated to a superparamagnetic iron oxide particle, generated strong negative contrast compared to non-H2K(k) expressing cells by MRI. T(2) of the tH2K(k) expressing cells was 57.6 +/- 17.0 ms, compared to 424.0 +/- 38.7 and 445.4 +/- 47.2 ms for the mock transfected and nontransfected cells, respectively (P < 0.001). tH2K(k) expression in the former cells was confirmed by flow cytometry, fluorescence, and electron microscopy. The methodology can be adapted to image in vivo other nonendogenous antigens in cells/tissues.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Imaging Group, Imaging Sciences Department, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, United Kingdom. po-wah.so@csc.mrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Po-Wah
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hotee
authors.forename: Amy H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Herlihy
authors.forename: Jimmy D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D003287:Contrast Media; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D003287:Contrast Media; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins