title: Genetic engineered molecular imaging probes for applications in cell therapy: emphasis on MRI approach.
abstract: Recent advances in stem cell-based regenerative medicine, cell replacement therapy, and genome editing technologies (i.e. CRISPR-Cas 9) have sparked great interest inin vivocell monitoring. Molecular imaging promises a unique approach to noninvasively monitor cellular and molecular phenomena, including cell survival, migration, proliferation, and even differentiation at the whole organismal level. Several imaging modalities and strategies have been explored for monitoring cell graftsin vivo. We begin this review with an introduction describing the progress in stem cell technology, with a perspective toward cell replacement therapy. The importance of molecular imaging in reporting and assessing the status of cell grafts and their relation to the local microenvironment is highlighted since the current knowledge gap is one of the major obstacles in clinical translation of stem cell therapy. Based on currently available imaging techniques, we provide a brief discussion on the pros and cons of each imaging modality used for monitoring cell grafts with particular emphasis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the reporter gene approach. Finally, we conclude with a comprehensive discussion of future directions of applying molecular imaging in regenerative medicine to emphasize further the importance of correlating cell graft conditions and clinical outcomes to advance regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA, USA; Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research CenterAtlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: In K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Silun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of MedicineAtlanta, GA, USA; Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Yerkes National Primate Research CenterAtlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony Ws
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Chan
keywords: In vivo cell monitoring; cell tracking; longitudinal monitoring; magnetic resonance imaging; molecular imaging; regenerative medicine; reporter gene; stem cell