title: Trafficking macrophage migration using reporter gene imaging with human sodium iodide symporter in animal models of inflammation.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of nuclear molecular imaging using the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS) as a reporter gene to monitor macrophage migration toward the inflammatory foci.
  
  
  METHODS
  A stable macrophage cell line coexpressing hNIS and green fluorescent protein (GFP) genes (RAW264.7/hNIS-GFP and R(NIS) cell) was established from an immortalized macrophage cell line (RAW264.7 cells). (125)I uptake was determined (for hNIS protein functional activity), and flow cytometry analysis (to examine GFP gene expression), a cell proliferation assay, a cytokine assay, and a phagocytic activity assay were performed. (99m)Tc-pertechnetate images were acquired at 1 d after subcutaneous inoculation of R(NIS) cells in nude mice. Chemical inflammation was induced for in vivo imaging in the thigh of nude mice by turpentine oil injection. Small-animal PET with (18)F-FDG and (124)I was performed with an intravenous administration of RAW264.7 or R(NIS) cells in inflammation-induced animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of hNIS and GFP genes was confirmed in R(NIS) cells by flow cytometry and immunofluorescent staining. (125)I uptake was about 67 times higher in R(NIS) cells than in RAW264.7 cells. No significant difference was observed in cell proliferation, cytokine production, and phagocytic activity between RAW264.7 and R(NIS) cells. (99m)Tc-pertechnetate imaging revealed increased tracer uptake at the inoculation site. PET with (124)I demonstrated a donut-shaped uptake, correlating with uptake shown by the (18)F-FDG PET images, at the inflammation site of mice administered R(NIS) cells. (124)I uptake (percentage injected dose per gram) was about 2.12 times higher at the inflammation site in the R(NIS) mice than in RAW264.7 mice. By immunohistochemistry, the migration of macrophages was further confirmed by positive staining for GFP and hNIS at the inflammation site of R(NIS) mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data support the feasibility of hNIS reporter gene imaging to monitor the macrophage migration toward an inflammatory lesion. Macrophages expressing hNIS may provide a new strategy to investigate the cellular behavior seen with inflammatory response in a preclinical model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hyoung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Yong Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Yong Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gil Sook
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Dong-Il
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Jeoung-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Shin Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Byeong Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jaetae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D017930:Genes, Reporter / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099209:Sodium-Iodide Symporters
chemical_list: D027981:Symporters; D000099209:Sodium-Iodide Symporters