title: Tracking dendritic cell migration into lymph nodes by using a novel PET probe18F-tetrafluoroborate for sodium/iodide symporter.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recently,18F-tetrafluoroborate (TFB) was used as a substrate for the human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) reporter gene. This study evaluated the feasibility of performing molecular-genetic imaging by using the new radiotracer (18F-TFB) for the hNIS gene, to track dendritic cell (DC) migration in live mice. A murine dendritic cell line (DC2.4) co-expressing the hNIS and effluc genes (DC/NF) was established. To confirm the functional cellular expression of both effluc and NIS in the inoculated DC/NF cells by bio-medical imaging, combined bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and18F-TFB positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging was performed after intramuscular injection with parental DCs and DC/NF cells. For DC-tracking, parental DCs or DC/NF cells were injected in the left or right mouse footpad, respectively, and18F-TFB PET/CT and BLI were performed to monitor these cells in live mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In vivo PET/CT and BLI showed a clear signal in DC/NF injection sites but not in parental DC injection sites. The signal intensity in DC/NF cells was correlated with time. In vivo18F-TFB PET/CT imaging showed higher radiotracer activity in the draining popliteal lymph nodes (DPLNs) in DC/NF injection sites than those in DC injection sites on day 2. BLI also showed DC/NF cell migration to the DPLNs on day 2 after the injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Migration of DCs to the lymph nodes was successfully monitored using18F-TFB PET/CT imaging of the NIS gene and optical imaging of the effluc gene in live mice. These data support the feasibility of using18F-TFB as a substrate for hNIS reporter gene imaging to track the migration of DCs to the lymph nodes in live animals. The use of18F-TFB may facilitate enhanced PET imaging of the hNIS reporter gene in small animals and humans in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.|Leading-edge Research Center for Drug Discovery and Development for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, 807 Hogukro, Buk-gu, Daegu, 41404, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Bong
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ho Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dongnam Institution of Radiological and Medical Sciences, 40, Jwadong-gil, Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 46033, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hongje
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.|Laboratory Animal Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 80 Cheombok-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41061, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.|Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dongnam Institution of Radiological and Medical Sciences, 40, Jwadong-gil, Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 46033, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Byeong-Cheol
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.|Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 80 Cheombok-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41061, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jaetae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea. syjeong@knu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Shin Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeong
keywords: 18F-tetrafluoroborate; Dendritic cell; Immunotherapy; Sodium/iodide symporter