ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the feasibility of rat sodium/iodide symporter (rNIS) as a reporter gene monitoring rat bone marrow mesenchymal cells (rBMSC) transplanted to rat myocardium in vivo.Methods Recombinated adenovirus vector was constructed by rNIS/enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) (Ad-rNIS/EGFP).rBMSC transfected by Ad-rNIS/EGFP were studied using fluorescence microscope.Fifteen rats were transplanted with rBMSC and randomly divided into three groups:rNIS group (with rNIS transfection), blocked group (with rNIS transfection) by oral intake of perchloric sodium before planar imaging(GE Millennium MPR SPECT), and control group (without rNIS transfection).All rats underwent 99Tcm-pertechnetate planar imaging.The biological distribution of 99Tcm-pertechnetate was studied.The expressions of rNIS gene and protein in myocardium were measured by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot, respectively.The expressions of CD29, CD44, CD90, CD11b, CD34 and CD45 were measured by immunohistochemistry.Results rBMSC transfected by Ad-rNIS/EGFP showed EGFP expression under fluorescence microscope.The transplanted rat myocardium could be visualized on 99Tcm-pertechnetate planar imaging in rNIS group.The relative uptake ratio( Rheart/Rhmb, RUR) was 6.7 ±0.4.RUR in control group (3.0 ±0.2) was lower than that in rNIS group (t =2.78, P=0.03).The percentage injection dose per gram of tissue (% ID/g) of the transplanted myocardium was 60.2 ± 20.8 in rNIS group,which was higher than that (2.5 ± 0.4) % ID/g of control group ( t = 7.13, P＜0.001 ).rNIS gene and protein were highly expressed in transplanted myocardium in rNIS group but less expressed in control group.The expressions of CD29, CD44 and CD90 were positive, CD45 and CD45 negative CD11b mildly positive in the myocardium transplanted with infective rBMSC.Conclusion rNIS can efficiently monitor rBMSC transplanted to rat myocardium.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate if 99mTc-HYNIC-annexin V may be used to detect the early chemotherapeutic effect and to determine the best timing for detecting apoptosis in vivo.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Annexin V was labeled with 99mTc using HYNIC as a bifunctional agent. Normal Kunming mice received inoculation of Ehrlich ascites cells into the right upper limb. After the tumor reached 1 cm in diameter, the mice were randomly divided into saline treatment group as control and cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg injected intraperitoneally) treatment group. 99mTc-HYNIC-annexin V was injected intravenously at 1 h and 24 h after treatment. Region of interest technique (ROI) from the SPECT images taken at different time was used to get the ratio of tumor/limb in each group. TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptotic cells and the rates of positive stained cells were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment with saline, only little amount of the radiolabeled tracer could be seen in the tumor and showed weak image of the tumor. But after 24 h of treatment with cyclophosphamide, clear image on the tumor could be seen. 24 h after the treatment of cyclophosphamide, the ratio of tumor/limb was (6.27 +/- 0.24) which was much higher than that at 24 h after treatment with saline (2.36 +/- 0.18) and that at 1 h after cyclophosphamide treatment (4.00 +/- 0.38). At 24 h after cyclophosphamide treatment, TUNEL staining showed a significantly higher rate of apoptotic cells in the mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>99mTc-HYNIC-annexin V can be used as an apoptosis-imaging agent to detect and evaluate the early curative effect after chemotherapy. The effective detection of apoptotic response in tumor with 99mTc-HYNIC-annexin V requires a 24 h interval after chemotherapy. SPECT images can be obtained at 60 min after injection of the imaging agent. It suggests that 99mTc-HYNIC-annexin V may become a promising agent for apoptosis-imaging in clinical application.</p>