title: In vivo magnetic resonance imaging of vascularization in islet transplantation.
abstract: To evaluate changes in neovascularization of transplanted islets in vivo, dynamic contrast (gadolinium) enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used. Both iron (Feridex)-labeled and unlabeled syngeneic murine subcapsular islet grafts were studied. Differences in dynamic contrast enhancement of islet grafts were quantified after gadolinium injection at post-transplant days 3 and 14. Normalized contrast concentrations at day 14 in transplanted islets were increased relative with that on day 3. Time to peak contrast enhancement was faster by 12 min at day 14 compared to day 3 islets (while kidney and muscle peak times remained the same). Areas under the curve for contrast concentration versus time plots were larger in 14-day relative to 3-day islet grafts. In conclusion, noninvasive assessment of neovascularization is achievable. In vivo dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can be used to detect and quantify changes in vascularization following islet transplantation. This technique may be useful in developing pro-angiogenic strategies to improve the transplantation outcome in experimental and clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Islet Transplant Laboratory, Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, CA, USA. ehathout@llu.edu
authors.forename: Eba
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hathout
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sowers
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mace
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peverini
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chinnock
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obenaus
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005682:Gadolinium; D007501:Iron; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000098:blood supply*; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005682:Gadolinium; D007501:Iron