title: Long-term MRI cell tracking after intraventricular delivery in a patient with global cerebral ischemia and prospects for magnetic navigation of stem cells within the CSF.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the study was to evaluate the long-term clinical tracking of magnetically labeled stem cells after intracerebroventricular transplantation as well as to investigate in vitro feasibility for magnetic guidance of cell therapy within large fluid compartments.
  
  
  METHODS
  After approval by our Institutional Review Board, an 18-month-old patient, diagnosed as being in a vegetative state due to global cerebral ischemia, underwent cell transplantation to the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle, with umbilical cord blood-derived stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) contrast agent. The patient was followed over 33 months with clinical examinations and MRI. To evaluate the forces governing the distribution of cells within the fluid compartment of the ventricular system in vivo, a gravity-driven sedimentation assay and a magnetic field-driven cell attraction assay were developed in vitro.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four hours post-transplantation, MR imaging (MRI) was able to detect hypointense cells in the occipital horn of the lateral ventricle. The signal gradually decreased over 4 months and became undetectable at 33 months. In vitro, no significant difference in cell sedimentation between SPIO-labeled and unlabeled cells was observed (p = NS). An external magnet was effective in attracting cells over distances comparable to the size of human lateral ventricles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MR imaging of SPIO-labeled cells allows monitoring of cells within lateral ventricles. While the initial biodistribution is governed by gravity-driven sedimentation, an external magnetic field may possibly be applied to further direct the distribution of labeled cells within large fluid compartments such as the ventricular system.
authors.affiliation: NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Neurosurgery, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Miroslaw
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janowski
authors.affiliation: Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Walczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kropiwnicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Magnetic Resonance Unit, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jurkiewicz
authors.affiliation: NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Domanska-Janik
authors.affiliation: Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of Magnetic Resonance Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jeff W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bulte
authors.affiliation: NeuroRepair Department, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lukomska
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roszkowski
mesh_terms: D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D058948:Cell Tracking / Q000379:methods*; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles