Hui Mao1,2, Jun Liu2,3, Eric C. Cheng2, Rober C. Long4, Shang Hsun Yang2, Liya Wang4, Pei Hsun Cheng2, Jin jing Yang2, Anthony W.S. Chan2
1Department of Radiology, Emory Unversity School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; 2Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; 3Neuroscience program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; 4Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
MRI reporters based on endogenous gene expression for MRI contrast offers advantages in longitudinal cell monitoring. Engineering stem cells with an MRI reporter may enable long term in vivo tracking implanted cells with MRI. We report a study on introducing a MRI reporter gene (ferrotin) into mouse ES (mES) cells and successful monitoring of transgenic mES cell grafts in mice. Transgenic mES cell lines carrying human ferritin heavy chain were established and T2 weighted MRI and multiple-TE T2 relaxometry of mice carrying mES cell grafts showed T2 contrast and significantly decreased T2 relaxation time in transgenic mES graft overexpressing ferritin.