The SPECT imaging shows the accumulation of neural progenitor cells into internal organs after systemic administration in middle cerebral artery occlusion rats.
The regenerative potential of stem cells from various sources has been under intense investigation in the experimental models of cerebral ischemia. To end up with a restorative therapeutic treatment, it is crucial to get the cell transplants to the site of injury. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of small animal SPECT/CT in assessing the definite accumulation of (111)In-oxine-labeled human embryonic stem (ES) cell-derived neural progenitors and rat hippocampal progenitors after intravenous or intra-arterial administration (femoral vein vs. common carotid artery) in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and sham-operated rats. Cell detection was carried out immediately and 24h after the infusion using a SPECT/CT device. The results showed that after intravenous injections both cell types accumulated primarily into internal organs, instead of brain. In contrast, after intra-arterial injection, a weak signal was detected in the ischemic hemisphere. Additional studies showed that the detection sensitivity of SPECT/CT device was approximately 1000 (111)In-oxine-labeled cells and labeling did not affect the cell viability. In conclusion, a small animal SPECT is powerful technique to study the whole body biodistribution of cell-based therapies. Our data showed that intravenous administration is not an optimal route to deliver neural progenitor cell-containing transplants into the brain after MCAO in rats.
Regea Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland.
Riikka S
RS
Lappalainen
Susanna
S
Narkilahti
Tuulia
T
Huhtala
Timo
T
Liimatainen
Tiina
T
Suuronen
Ale
A
Närvänen
Riitta
R
Suuronen
Outi
O
Hovatta
Jukka
J
Jolkkonen
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005333:Fetus; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007554:Isotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D015125:Oxyquinoline / Q000378:metabolism; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007554:Isotopes; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; C000605730:PAX6 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605733:Pax6 protein, rat; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015125:Oxyquinoline