Journal Article

Identification of the reporter gene combination that shows high contrast for cellular level MRI

Kishi, Noriyuki, Oshiro, Hinako, Yoshimaru, Daisuke, Haga, Yawara, Oku, Ayano, Hayashi, Naoya, Yoshida, Tetsu, Hata, Junichi, Shirakawa, Takako, Okano, Hideyuki

2024

Overview

Currently, we can label the certain cells by transducing specific genes, called reporter genes, and distinguish them from other cells. For example, fluorescent protein such as green fluorescence protein (GFP) is commonly used for cell labeling. However, fluorescent protein is difficult to observe in living animals. We can observe the reporter signals of the luciferin-luciferase system from the outside of living animals using in vivo imaging systems, although the resolution of this system is low. Therefore, in this study, we examined the reporter genes, which allowed the MRI-mediated observation of labeled cells in living animals. As a preliminary stage of animal study, we transduced some groups of plasmids that coded the protein that could take and store metal ions to the cell culture, added metal ions solutions, and measured their T1 or T2 relaxation values. Finally, we specified the best reporter gene combination for MRI, which was the combination of transferrin receptor, DMT1, and Ferritin-M6A for T1WI, and Ferritin-M6A for T2WI.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Analysis / Animals / Biology and Life Sciences / Cell Line, Tumor / Composition / Ferritin / Ferritins - genetics / Fluorescence / Gene expression / Genes / Genes, Reporter / Genetic research / Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics / Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism / Ions - metabolism / Magnetic resonance imaging / Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods / Medicine and Health Sciences / Methyltransferases / Research and analysis methods / Transferrin