title: Hepatocyte-like cells from human mesenchymal stem cells engrafted in regenerating rat liver tracked with in vivo magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: Cell transplantation using hepatocytes derived from stem cells has been regarded as a possible alternative treatment for various hepatic disorders. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the bone marrow have shown the potential to differentiate into hepatocytes in in vitro and in vivo conditions. Noninvasive imaging techniques allowing in vivo assessment of the location of cells are of great value for experimental studies in which these cells are transplanted. We labeled human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) with green fluorescence protein (GFP) and superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) using a transfection agent (GenePORTER). Cellular labeling was evaluated with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of labeled suspensions, and Prussian blue staining for iron assessment. hMSCs labeled with SPIO and GFP were injected into the portal veins of immunosuppressed, hepatic-damaged rats. MR imaging findings were compared histologically. To identify the differentiation of hMSCs into hepatocytes and to trace the hepatocytes with molecular imaging, we observed the potential of SPIO and GFP double-labeled hMSCs to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells in the regenerating rat liver. Serial MR imaging showed the possible detection of transplanted cells in the early period of transplantation. Our results indicate that magnetic labeling of hMSCs with SPIO may enable cellular MR imaging and tracking in experimental in vivo settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dongho
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jung Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Misun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Kang Won
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Seung Sam
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Paik
authors.forename: Sook Ja
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hee Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Jin Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Hee Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yun Seob
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hyunsoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khang
authors.forename: Jong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Won
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008280:Magnetics; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C000499:ferric oxide