This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 38/2/367    most recent 01.STR.0000254463.24655.14v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Shyu, W.-C. Articles by Li, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Shyu, W.-C. Articles by Li, H. Related Collections Behavioral Changes and Stroke Emergency treatment of Stroke Pathology of Stroke Rehabilitation, Stroke

(Stroke. 2007;38:367.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Efficient Tracking of Non-Iron-Labeled Mesenchymal Stem Cells With Serial MRI in Chronic Stroke Rats

From Department of Neurology (W.-C.S., S.-Z.L.), Neuro-Medical Scientific Center, Tzu-Chi Buddhist General Hospital, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.-P.C.), Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine (Y.-J.L.), Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Molecular Biology (H.L.), Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research (H.L.), Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Correspondence to Hung Li, PhD, Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. E-mail: hungli{at}ccvax.sinica.edu.tw

Background and Purpose— Although stem cell-based treatments for neurodegenerative diseases have advanced rapidly, there is currently no clinically available method to monitor the fate of transplanted cells in the brain.

Methods— To use magnetic resonance imaging for tracking transplanted stem cells in the ischemic rat brain, we used the cellular labeling substance Effectene to transfect a standard contrast agent (Gd-DTPA) into immortalized human bone marrow stromal cells.

Results— The transfection efficiency of this method was up to 90%, which is substantially better than pure spontaneous endocytosis or other transfection agents. In addition, cellular uptake of Gd-DTPA in vitro was maintained for >28 days. Therefore, we could follow transplanted stem cell migration and homing into the penumbric area. Using double immunofluorescence, the transplanted cells were seen to differentiate into glial cells, neurons and vascular endothelial cells. Cortical neurochemical activity as evaluated by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS) also increased considerably after immortalized human bone marrow stromal cell transplantation.

Conclusion— This method of tracking immortalized human bone marrow stromal cells is highly efficient and allows for nontoxic labeling of cells.

Key Words: Effectene • Gd-DTPA • immortalized human bone marrow stromal cells • in vivo monitoring • magnetic resonance imaging