title: In vivo bioluminescent imaging of α-fetoprotein-producing hepatocellular carcinoma in the diethylnitrosamine-treated mouse using recombinant adenoviral vector.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The in vivo molecular imaging method is a useful tool for monitoring carcinogenesis in various hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models, such as xenografted-, chemical induced- and transgenic mice. The tumor-specific gene expression strategy, such as transcriptional targeting, is essential for achieving a lower toxicity for normal liver tissue in therapy and the monitoring of tumor progression in diagnosis, respectively. The present study aimed to visualize spontaneously developing α-fetoprotein (AFP)-producing HCC through targeted gene expression in tumors using recombinant adenoviral vector.
  
  
  METHODS
  The recombinant adenovirus vector, AdAFPfLuc (containing firefly luciferase gene driven by human AFP enhancer/promoter) was prepared. After in vitro infection by adenovirus, gene expression was confirmed using the luciferase assay, semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting in AFP-producing and nonproducing cells. Tumor-bearing mice were intravenously injected with adenovirus, and bioluminescent images were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of fLuc was efficiently demonstrated by the luciferase assay in AFP-producing cells but not in AFP-nonproducing cells. AFP-producing HCC targeted gene expression was confirmed at the mRNA and protein levels. After being injected intravenously in HuH-7 xenografts and HCC-bearing diethylnitrosamine-treated mice using adenovirus, functional reporter gene expression was confirmed in tumors by in vivo bioluminescent imaging (BLI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recombinant adenovirus vector system can be used to monitor spontaneously developing AFP-producing HCC and to evaluate targeted gene expression in tumors by in vivo BLI in a small animal model.
authors: Molecular Imaging Research Center, Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Kwang Il
authors: KI
authors: Kim
authors: Ju Hui
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: Yong Jin
authors: YJ
authors: Lee
authors: Tae Sup
authors: TS
authors: Lee
authors: Jae Jun
authors: JJ
authors: Park
authors: Inho
authors: I
authors: Song
authors: Sang-Soep
authors: SS
authors: Nahm
authors: Gi Jeong
authors: GJ
authors: Cheon
authors: Sang Moo
authors: SM
authors: Lim
authors: June-Key
authors: JK
authors: Chung
authors: Joo Hyun
authors: JH
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D016513:Mice, SCID; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D051598:Whole Body Imaging; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly