Premium
lacZ as a genetic reporter for real‐time MRI
Author(s) -
Bengtsson Niclas E.,
Brown Gary,
Scott Edward W.,
Walter Glenn A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
magnetic resonance in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.696
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1522-2594
pISSN - 0740-3194
DOI - 10.1002/mrm.22235
Subject(s) - in vivo , lac operon , imaging phantom , transgene , in vitro , reporter gene , magnetic resonance imaging , microbiology and biotechnology , microsphere , genetically modified mouse , gene , chemistry , nuclear magnetic resonance , biology , nuclear medicine , gene expression , genetics , medicine , physics , radiology , chemical engineering , engineering
Molecular imaging based on MRI is currently hampered by the lack of genetic reporters for in vivo imaging. We determined that the commercially available substrate S‐Gal™ can be used to detect genetically engineered β‐galactosidase expressing cells by MRI. The effect and specificity of the reaction between β‐galactosidase and S‐Gal™ on MRI contrast were determined both in vitro and in vivo. β‐galactosidase activity in the presence of S‐Gal™ resulted in enhanced T 2 and T * 2 MR‐contrast, which was amplified with increasing magnetic field strengths (4.7‐17.6 T) in phantom studies. Using both lacZ + transgenic animals and lacZ + tissue transplants, we were able to detect labeled cells in live animals in real time. Similar to phantom studies, detection of the labeled cells/tissues in vivo was enhanced at high magnetic fields. These results demonstrate that the genetic reporter, lacZ , can be used as an in vivo marker gene using high‐field‐strength MRI. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.