title: Bioluminescence imaging of human embryonic stem cells transplanted in vivo in murine and chick models.
abstract: Research into the behavior, efficacy, and biosafety of stem cells with a view to clinical transplantation requires the development of noninvasive methods for in vivo imaging of cells transplanted into animal models. This is particularly relevant for human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), because transplantation of undifferentiated hESCs leads to tumor formation. The present study aimed to monitor hESCs in real time when injected in vivo. hESCs were stably transfected to express luciferase, and luciferase expression was clearly detected in the undifferentiated and differentiated state. When transfected hESCs were injected into chick embryos, bioluminescence could be detected both ex and in ovo. In the SCID mouse model, undifferentiated hESCs were detectable after injection either into the muscle layer of the peritoneum or the kidney capsule. Tumors became detectable between days 10-30, with approximately a 3 log increase in the luminescence signal by day 75. The growth phase occurred earlier in the kidney capsule and then reached a plateau, whilst tumors in the peritoneal wall grew steadily throughout the period analysed. These results show the widespread utility of bioluminescent for in vivo imaging of hESCs in a variety of model systems for preclinical research into regenerative medicine and cancer biology.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Development, University of Nottingham , Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, United Kingdom .
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Priddle
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grabowska
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Philip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sottile
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Denning
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D012984:Software; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008156:Luciferases