title: The use of cellular magnetic resonance imaging to track the fate of iron-labeled multipotent stromal cells after direct transplantation in a mouse model of spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to track the fate of iron-labeled, multipotent stromal cells (MSC) after their direct transplantation into mice with spinal cord injuries using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice with spinal cord injuries received a direct transplant of (1) live MSC labeled with micron-sized iron oxide particles (MPIO); (2) dead, MPIO-labeled MSC; (3) unlabeled MSC; or (4) free MPIO and were imaged at 3 T for 6 weeks after transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Live, iron-labeled MSC appeared as a well-defined region of signal loss in the mouse spinal cord at the site of transplant. However, the MR appearance of dead, iron-labeled MSC and free iron particles was similar and persisted for the 6 weeks of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iron-labeled stem cells can be detected and monitored in vivo after direct transplantation into the injured spinal cord of mice. However, the fate of the iron label is not clear. Our investigation indicates that caution should be taken when interpreting MR images after direct transplantation of iron-labeled cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biophysics, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. gonzalez@imaging.robarts.ca
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Lara
authors.forename: Xiaoyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Klara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hofstetrova
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pniak
authors.forename: Yuhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Catherine D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: McFadden
authors.forename: Francisco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Martinez-Santiesteban
authors.forename: Brian K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Rutt
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Paula J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D011992:Endosomes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D051379:Mice; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D007501:Iron