title: Successful in vivo MRI tracking of MSCs labeled with Gadoteridol in a Spinal Cord Injury experimental model.
abstract: In this study, murine Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) labeled with the clinically approved MRI agent Gadoteridol through a procedure based on the hypo-osmotic shock were successfully tracked in vivo in a murine model of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). With respect to iso-osmotic incubations, the hypo-osmotic labeling significantly increased the Gd(3+) cellular uptake, and enhanced both the longitudinal relaxivity (r1) of the intracellular Gadoteridol and the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) measured on cell pellets, without altering the biological and functional profile of cells. A substantial T1 Contrast Enhancement after local transplantation of 3.0×10(5) labeled cells in SCI mice enabled to follow their migratory dynamics in vivo for about 10days, and treated animals recovered from the motor impairment caused by the injury, indicating unaltered therapeutic efficacy. Finally, analytical and histological data corroborated the imaging results, highlighting the opportunity to perform a precise and reliable monitoring of the cell-based therapy.
authors.affiliation: Centro di Imaging Molecolare e Preclinico, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Molecolari e Scienze della Salute, Università di Torino, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Department of Neuroscience, Università di Torino, Orbassano, Torino 10043, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boido
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biotechnology Center, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università di Torino, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pasquino
authors.affiliation: Centro di Imaging Molecolare e Preclinico, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Molecolari e Scienze della Salute, Università di Torino, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garello
authors.affiliation: Centro di Imaging Molecolare e Preclinico, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Molecolari e Scienze della Salute, Università di Torino, Torino 10126, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boffa
authors.affiliation: Centro di Imaging Molecolare e Preclinico, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Molecolari e Scienze della Salute, Università di Torino, Torino 10126, Italy. Electronic address: enzo.terreno@unito.it.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terreno
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival; D058948:Cell Tracking; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D009995:Osmosis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C491049:Aif1 protein, mouse; D015703:Antigens, CD; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D003287:Contrast Media; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; C062402:gadoteridol; C051774:neurofilament protein H; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D005682:Gadolinium
keywords: Cell tracking; Hypotonic swelling; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mesenchymal Stem Cell; Spinal Cord Injury