Heechul Kim1,2, Candace Kerr3,4, Naser Muja1,2, Piotr Walczak1,2, Jeff W.M. Bulte1,2
1Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; 2Cellular Imaging Section, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; 3Dept. of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; 4Stem Cell Biology Program, , Institute for Cell Engineering , The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Feridex-labeled hESC-derived oligodendroglial progenitors were transplanted and tracked in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. Feridex-labeling did not impair the therapeutic benefit induced by transplanted cells. At day 1 post-tx, hypointense MRI signals were detected mainly in the ventricle and subventricular zones. These signals persisted on days 5, 15, and 30 post-tx.The hypointense areas within the ventricle were significantly decreased at day 30 post-tx as compared to days 1, 5, and 15. Based on the above results, we postulate that cell migration mainly occurs through the ventricular system to the parenchyma during days 15-30 post-tx.