Magnetic resonance imaging using hemagglutinating virus of Japan-envelope vector successfully detects localization of intra-cardially administered microglia in normal mouse brain.
Although the therapeutic use of microglia has received some attention for the treatment of brain diseases, few non-invasive techniques exist for monitoring the cells after administration. Here, we present a technique using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to track microglia injected intra-cardially. We labeled microglia expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein with superparamagnetic iron oxide (Resovist) using the hemagglutinating virus of Japan-envelope vector. We injected labeled microglia into the left ventricle of the heart of mice. After monitoring exogenously administered microglia in the mouse brain in vivo using T(2)*-weighted MRI at a magnetic field of 7T, we compared the MR images with histochemical localization of exogenous microglia in vitro. MRI revealed clear signal changes attributable to Resovist-containing microglia in the mouse brain. Histochemistry demonstrated the presence of exogenous microglia in the brain at the same locations shown by MRI. This study demonstrates the usefulness of MRI for non-invasive monitoring of exogenous microglia, and suggests a promising future for microglia/macrophages as therapeutic tools for brain disease.
Song
Yang
Y
Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Setatsukinowa-cho, Otsu 520-2192, Japan.
Morikawa
Shigehiro
S
Morita
Masahito
M
Inubushi
Toshiro
T
Takada
Tatsuyuki
T
Torii
Ryuzo
R
Tooyama
Ikuo
I
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007501:Iron; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology*; D010087:Oxides; D029082:Sendai virus / Q000235:genetics
D003287:Contrast Media; D003911:Dextrans; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D010087:Oxides; D007501:Iron; C065507:ferumoxides; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide