Clinically applicable 7-Tesla magnetic resonance visualization of transplanted human adult stem cells labeled with CliniMACS nanoparticles.
BACKGROUND
Intra-myocardial transplantation of bone marrow derived cells is currently under clinical evaluation as a therapy for heart failure. A major limitation of all clinical studies for myocardial restoration through cell transfer is the inability to track the fate of the transplanted cells. We present a clinically applicable technique using advanced ultra high-field 7-Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of nanoparticle-labeled transplanted human EPCs in porcine ischemic hearts.


METHODS
CD133 positive cells were isolated from bone marrow by magnetic bead selection. Positive cells (5 - 8 x 10 (6) cells) were transplanted into porcine ischemic myocardium (n = 8). Control animals (n = 3) received a medium injection. MRI on a 7T scanner was performed to demonstrate the distribution of the EPCs.


RESULTS
CD133+ cells were identified on gradient echo images (T(1)-weighted) within the myocardium 4 weeks after transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
Magnetically labeled EPCs transplanted for therapeutic neovascularization or reduction of infarct size in myocardial ischemia can be visualized by MRI at high-field strengths.
Ruhparwar
A
A
Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. ruhparwar.arjang@mh-hannover.de
Ghodsizad
A
A
Niehaus
M
M
Bara
C
C
Lotz
J
J
Voelkel
T
T
Makoui
M
M
Martin
U
U
Wolf
F
F
Gams
E
E
Klein
M
M
Haverich
A
A
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000637:transplantation*; D000818:Animals; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000601:surgery*; D013552:Swine; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D007505:Iron-Dextran Complex