In vivo monitoring of magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells administered intravascularly in rat acute renal failure.
OBJECTIVE
Many studies have demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) contribute to the recovery of acute renal failure (ARF). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate tracking of MSCs intravascularly administered in a rat model of ARF for cellular therapy using a 1.5 T MRI system.


METHODS
Fe2O3-PLL nanoparticle-labelled and unlabelled MSCs were injected into the abdominal aortas by transcatheterisation of 20 ARF rats, whose renal failure was induced by intramusclar injection of glycerol, while phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was injected in 20 control rats. Magnetic resonance (MR) images of the kidneys were obtained, before injection of MSCs, after 1 hour, after 1, 2, and 4 days respectively. The MR imaging findings were correlated with the distribution of transplanted MSCs. The kidney injury was histologically evaluated, and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein was examined. The Renal function was estimated by quantitative analysis.


RESULTS
In the rat model of ARF the labelled MSCs showed a bilateral loss of signal intensity in the outer zone of the renal cortex on T2*-weighted MR images, which was visible up to 4 days after transplantation. Labelled MSCs were detected in glomerular capillaries by histological examination, the corresponding areas where signal intensity decreased in MR images. Compared to the control group, those ARF rats with MSCs injection had less renal injury, more enhanced tubular cell proliferation and better renal function.


CONCLUSIONS
MR imaging visualises those intravascularly administered MSCs in vivo, which promoted recovery of ARF.
Sun
Jun-Hui
JH
Department of Radiology, Zhong-Da Hospital, Southeast University, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Functional Imaging, Nanjing, China.
Teng
Gao-Jun
GJ
Ma
Zhang-Long
ZL
Ju
Sheng-Hong
SH
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D011540:Prussian Blue Reaction; D051381:Rats
D005290:Ferric Compounds; C000499:ferric oxide