18F-FDG labeling of mesenchymal stem cells and multipotent adult progenitor cells for PET imaging: effects on ultrastructure and differentiation capacity.
Because of their extended differentiation capacity, stem cells have gained great interest in the field of regenerative medicine. For the development of therapeutic strategies, more knowledge on the in vivo fate of these cells has to be acquired. Therefore, stem cells can be labeled with radioactive tracer molecules such as (18)F-FDG, a positron-emitting glucose analog that is taken up and metabolically trapped by the cells. The aim of this study was to optimize the radioactive labeling of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) in vitro with (18)F-FDG and to investigate the potential radiotoxic effects of this labeling procedure with a range of techniques, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM).


METHODS
Mouse MSCs and rat MAPCs were used for (18)F-FDG uptake kinetics and tracer retention studies. Cell metabolic activity, proliferation, differentiation and ultrastructural changes after labeling were evaluated using an Alamar Blue reagent, doubling time calculations and quantitative TEM, respectively. Additionally, mice were injected with MSCs and MAPCs prelabeled with (18)F-FDG, and stem cell biodistribution was investigated using small-animal PET.


RESULTS
The optimal incubation period for (18)F-FDG uptake was 60 min. Significant early tracer washout was observed, with approximately 30%-40% of the tracer being retained inside the cells 3 h after labeling. Cell viability, proliferation, and differentiation capacity were not severely affected by (18)F-FDG labeling. No major changes at the ultrastructural level, considering mitochondrial length, lysosome size, the number of lysosomes, the number of vacuoles, and the average rough endoplasmic reticulum width, were observed with TEM. Small-animal PET experiments with radiolabeled MAPCs and MSCs injected intravenously in mice showed a predominant accumulation in the lungs and a substantial elution of (18)F-FDG from the cells.


CONCLUSIONS
MSCs and MAPCs can be successfully labeled with (18)F-FDG for molecular imaging purposes. The main cellular properties are not rigorously affected. TEM confirmed that the cells' ultrastructural properties are not influenced by (18)F-FDG labeling. Small-animal PET studies confirmed the intracellular location of the tracer and the possibility of imaging injected prelabeled stem cell types in vivo. Therefore, direct labeling of MSCs and MAPCs with (18)F-FDG is a suitable technique to noninvasively assess cell delivery and early retention with PET.
Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Esther
E
Wolfs
Tom
T
Struys
Tineke
T
Notelaers
Scott J
SJ
Roberts
Abhishek
A
Sohni
Guy
G
Bormans
Koen
K
Van Laere
Frank P
FP
Luyten
Olivier
O
Gheysens
Ivo
I
Lambrichts
Catherine M
CM
Verfaillie
Christophe M
CM
Deroose
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D051381:Rats; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D005462:Fluorine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18