Gadofluorine m uptake in stem cells as a new magnetic resonance imaging tracking method: an in vitro and in vivo study.
OBJECTIVE
Cell tracking using ultrasmall iron particles is well established in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, in experimental models, intrinsic iron signals derived from erythrocytes mask the labeled cells. Therefore, we evaluated Gadofluorine M with other gadolinium chelates for a T1-weighted positive enhancement for cell tracking in vitro. In addition, Gadofluorine M was tested in vivo.


METHODS
Gadofluorine M and other gadolinium chelates were used to label stem cells with and without uptake-mediating agents in vitro and in vivo using a 1.5 T MRI. In addition, histology and molecular modeling was investigated.


RESULTS
Gadofluorine M revealed comparable properties to an uptake mediating agent in molecular modeling. Without an uptake-mediating agent Gadofluorine M-labeled cells were detected as a T1-weighted positive contrast in vitro and in vivo. Histology confirmed a 100% success rate for intracellular labeling.


CONCLUSIONS
This study describes a novel contrast agent with the capability of intracellular accumulation without an uptake mediator providing a T1-positive MRI signal at 1.5 T and may be suitable for cell tracking in animal models with intraparenchymal hemorrhages such as stroke or malignant tumors.
Giesel
Frederik Lars
FL
German Cancer Research Center, Department of Radiology, Heidelberg, Germany. f.giesel@dkfz.de
Stroick
Mark
M
Griebe
Martin
M
Tröster
Helmut
H
von der Lieth
Claus W
CW
Requardt
Martin
M
Rius
Maria
M
Essig
Marco
M
Kauczor
Hans-Ulrich
HU
Hennerici
M G
MG
Fatar
Marc
M
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D003287:Contrast Media; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C477144:gadofluorine; C517961:gadofluorine M; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA