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Piccirillo SGM, Binda E, Fiocco R, Vescovi AL, Shah K. Brain cancer stem cells. J Mol Med (Berl) 2009; 87:1087-95. [PMID: 19784875 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-009-0535-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2009] [Accepted: 08/18/2009] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cancers comprise heterogeneous cells, ranging from highly proliferative immature precursors to more differentiated cell lineages. In the last decade, several groups have demonstrated the existence of cancer stem cells in both nonsolid solid tumors, including some of the brain: glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), medulloblastoma, and ependymoma. These cells, like their normal counterpart in homologous tissues, are multipotent, undifferentiated, self-sustaining, yet transformed cells. In particular, glioblastoma-stem like cells (GBSCs) self-renew under clonal conditions and differentiate into neuron- and glia-like cells, with aberrant, mixed neuronal/astroglial phenotypes. Remarkably, upon subcutaneous and intracerebral transplantation in immunosuppressed mice, GBSCs are able to form secondary tumors that closely resemble the human pathology, a property retained also throughout serial transplantation. The search is up for the identification of the markers and the molecular mechanisms that underpin the tumorigenic potential of these cells. This is critical if we aim at defining new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of malignant brain tumors. Lately, it has been shown that some key regulatory system that plays pivotal roles in neural stem cell physiology can also regulate the tumorigenic ability of cancer stem cells in GBMs. This suggests that the study of cancer stem cells in brain tumors might help to identify new and more specific therapeutic molecular effectors, with the cancer stem cells themselves representing one of the main targets, in fact the Holy Grail, in cancer cell therapy. This review includes a summary review on brain cancer cells and their usefulness as emerging targets in cancer cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara G M Piccirillo
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, University of Milan Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Building U3, 20126 Milan, Italy
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52
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Menon LG, Kelly K, Yang HW, Kim SK, Black PM, Carroll RS. Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Expressing S-TRAIL as a Cellular Delivery Vehicle for Human Glioma Therapy. Stem Cells 2009; 27:2320-30. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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53
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Shah K. Imaging neural stem cell fate in mouse model of glioma. CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN STEM CELL BIOLOGY 2009; Chapter 5:Unit 5A.1. [PMID: 19306259 DOI: 10.1002/9780470151808.sc05a01s8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This unit describes a protocol for following the fate of stem cells in real time in a mouse model of glioma. Stem cells and tumor cells can be transduced with lentiviral vectors bearing two different luciferases, firefly luciferase (Fluc) and Renilla (Rluc) luciferase, respectively. With the cells labeled in this manner, bioluminescence imaging can be used to study the fate of stem cells in glioma-bearing brains in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Shah
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
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54
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Assessment of therapeutic efficacy and fate of engineered human mesenchymal stem cells for cancer therapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:4822-7. [PMID: 19264968 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0806647106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 343] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The poor prognosis of patients with aggressive and invasive cancers combined with toxic effects and short half-life of currently available treatments necessitate development of more effective tumor selective therapies. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as novel cell-based delivery agents; however, a thorough investigation addressing their therapeutic potential and fate in different cancer models is lacking. In this study, we explored the engineering potential, fate, and therapeutic efficacy of human MSCs in a highly malignant and invasive model of glioblastoma. We show that engineered MSC retain their "stem-like" properties, survive longer in mice with gliomas than in the normal brain, and migrate extensively toward gliomas. We also show that MSCs are resistant to the cytokine tumor necrosis factor apoptosis ligand (TRAIL) and, when engineered to express secreted recombinant TRAIL, induce caspase-mediated apoptosis in established glioma cell lines as well as CD133-positive primary glioma cells in vitro. Using highly malignant and invasive human glioma models and employing real-time imaging with correlative neuropathology, we demonstrate that MSC-delivered recombinant TRAIL has profound anti-tumor effects in vivo. This study demonstrates the efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic MSC in preclinical glioma models and forms the basis for developing stem cell-based therapies for different cancers.
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55
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Hingtgen S, Ren X, Terwilliger E, Classon M, Weissleder R, Shah K. Targeting multiple pathways in gliomas with stem cell and viral delivered S-TRAIL and Temozolomide. Mol Cancer Ther 2008; 7:3575-85. [PMID: 19001440 PMCID: PMC2748233 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-08-0640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) selectively kills tumor cells. However, its short half-life, poor delivery, and TRAIL-resistant tumor cells have diminished its clinical efficacy. In this study, we explored whether novel delivery methods will represent new and effective ways to treat gliomas and if adjuvant therapy with the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide would enhance the cytotoxic properties of TRAIL in glioma lines resistant to TRAIL monotherapy. We have engineered adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors encoding recombinant secreted TRAIL (S-TRAIL) and bioluminescent-fluorescent marker fusion proteins and show that AAV-delivered S-TRAIL leads to varying degrees of killing in multiple glioma lines, which correspond with caspase-3/7 activation. In vivo, dual bioluminescent imaging revealed efficient delivery of therapeutic AAV vectors directly into the tumor mass, which induced marked attenuation of tumor progression. Treatment of glioma cells with the chemotherapeutic agent temozolomide alone lead to a significant accumulation of cells in G(2)-M phase, activated the cell cycle checkpoint protein Chk1, and increased death receptor expression in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, combined treatment with AAV-S-TRAIL or neural stem cell-S-TRAIL and temozolomide induced cell killing and markedly up-regulated proapoptotic proteins in glioma cells least sensitive to TRAIL. This study elucidates novel means of delivering S-TRAIL to gliomas and suggests combination of clinically relevant temozolomide and S-TRAIL may represent a new therapeutic option with increased potency for glioblastoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Hingtgen
- Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Laboratory, CMIR, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Xianghui Ren
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Ernie Terwilliger
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Harvard Institutes of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Marie Classon
- MGH Cancer Center and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts
| | - Ralph Weissleder
- Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Laboratory, CMIR, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
- Center for Systems Biology Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of System Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114 USA
| | - Khalid Shah
- Molecular Neurotherapy and Imaging Laboratory, CMIR, Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
- Department of Neurology Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
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56
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Sutton EJ, Henning TD, Pichler BJ, Bremer C, Daldrup-Link HE. Cell tracking with optical imaging. Eur Radiol 2008; 18:2021-32. [PMID: 18506449 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-008-0984-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2006] [Revised: 12/18/2007] [Accepted: 01/17/2008] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Adaptability, sensitivity, resolution and non-invasiveness are the attributes that have contributed to the longstanding use of light as an investigational tool and form the basis of optical imaging (OI). OI, which encompasses numerous techniques and methods, is rapid (<5 min), inexpensive, noninvasive, nontoxic (no radiation) and has molecular (single-cell) sensitivity, which is equal to that of conventional nuclear imaging and several orders of magnitude greater than MRI. This article provides a comprehensive overview of emerging applications of OI-based techniques for in vivo monitoring of new stem cell-based therapies. Different fluorochromes for cell labeling, labeling methods and OI-based cell-tracking techniques will be reviewed with respect to their technical principles, current applications and aims for clinical translation. Advantages and limitations of these new OI-based cell-tracking techniques will be discussed. Non-invasive mapping of cells labeled with fluorochromes or OI marker genes has the potential to evolve further within the clinical realm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Sutton
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0628, USA
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57
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Corsten MF, Shah K. Therapeutic stem-cells for cancer treatment: hopes and hurdles in tactical warfare. Lancet Oncol 2008; 9:376-84. [PMID: 18374291 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(08)70099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
As our understanding of stem-cell behaviour rapidly increases, more and more reports suggest that use of stem-cell therapy will extend well beyond regenerative medicine in the near future. Due to their inherent tumoritropic migratory properties, stem cells can serve as vehicles for the delivery of effective, targeted treatment to isolated tumours and to metastatic disease. In vitro, stem cells can readily be engineered by inserting specifically tailored transgenes with antitumour effects to create tumour-seeking therapeutic vehicles. Transgene effects include direct tumour-cell killing, promotion of local immune responses, oncolytic virus production, and prodrug activation schemes. Many of these strategies have been validated in a wide range of studies assessing treatment feasibility or efficacy and establishing methods for real-time monitoring of stem-cell migration and fate in vivo. New insights into avenues for stem-cell sourcing have shortened the probable time to realisation of such treatments for patients. In this Review, we provide an outline of the rationale and status of stem-cell-based treatments for tumours, and we discuss prospects for clinical implementation and the factors crucial for maintaining momentum towards this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten F Corsten
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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58
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Corsten MF, Miranda R, Kasmieh R, Krichevsky AM, Weissleder R, Shah K. MicroRNA-21 knockdown disrupts glioma growth in vivo and displays synergistic cytotoxicity with neural precursor cell delivered S-TRAIL in human gliomas. Cancer Res 2007; 67:8994-9000. [PMID: 17908999 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-1045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 292] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the development of new glioma therapies that allow for tumor-targeted in situ delivery of cytotoxic drugs, tumor resistance to apoptosis remains a key impediment to effective treatment. Mounting evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNA) might play a fundamental role in tumorigenesis, controlling cell proliferation and apoptosis. In gliomas, microRNA-21 (miR-21) levels have been reported to be elevated and their knockdown is associated with increased apoptotic activity. We hypothesized that suppression of miR-21 might sensitize gliomas for cytotoxic tumor therapy. With the use of locked nucleic acid (LNA)-antimiR-21 oligonucleotides, bimodal imaging vectors, and neural precursor cells (NPC) expressing a secretable variant of the cytotoxic agent tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (S-TRAIL), we show that the combined suppression of miR-21 and NPC-S-TRAIL leads to a synergistic increase in caspase activity and significantly decreased cell viability in human glioma cells in vitro. This phenomenon persists in vivo, as we observed complete eradication of LNA-antimiR-21-treated gliomas subjected to the presence of NPC-S-TRAIL in the murine brain. Our results reveal the efficacy of miR-21 antagonism in murine glioma models and implicate miR-21 as a target for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, our findings provide the basis for developing combination therapies using miRNA modulation and cytotoxic tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten F Corsten
- Center for Molecular Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02129, USA
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59
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Kock N, Kasmieh R, Weissleder R, Shah K. Tumor therapy mediated by lentiviral expression of shBcl-2 and S-TRAIL. Neoplasia 2007; 9:435-42. [PMID: 17534449 PMCID: PMC1877976 DOI: 10.1593/neo.07223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2007] [Revised: 03/30/2007] [Accepted: 04/02/2007] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) can selectively kill tumor cells and, in combination with other agents, could enhance tumor therapy. We explored the combined therapeutic effects of a secretable form of (S) TRAIL-induced apoptosis and the downregulation of Bcl-2 in human gliomas. We constructed a lentiviral delivery system: 1) for the expression of short hairpin (sh) RNA to downregulate Bcl-2 and for the expression of S-TRAIL to induce apoptosis in glioma cells; and 2) to follow delivery in vitro and the fate of tumors in real time in vivo. We demonstrate that lentiviral-mediated simultaneous downregulation of Bcl-2 and S-TRAIL-induced apoptosis leads to an increased expression of activated caspase-3 and caspase-7, thus resulting in accelerated S-TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in glioma cells in vitro. Using a highly malignant human glioma model expressing EGFRvIII and firefly luciferase, we show that the combined effect of Bcl-2 downregulation and S-TRAIL-induced apoptosis results in complete eradication of gliomas compared to S-TRAIL monotherapy. These results show that simultaneous triggering of TRAIL-mediated death receptor pathway and downregulation of Bcl-2 by shRNA leads to enhanced eradication of gliomas and serves as a template in developing and monitoring combination therapies for the treatment of drug-resistant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norman Kock
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research (CMIR), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Randa Kasmieh
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research (CMIR), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Ralph Weissleder
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research (CMIR), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Khalid Shah
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research (CMIR), Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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60
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SHAH KHALID. NEURAL STEM CELLS AND ARMED DERIVATIVES: FATE AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL IN THE BRAIN. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1142/s1568558607000071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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61
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Lamfers MLM, Fulci G, Gianni D, Tang Y, Kurozumi K, Kaur B, Moeniralm S, Saeki Y, Carette JE, Weissleder R, Vandertop WP, van Beusechem VW, Dirven CMF, Chiocca EA. Cyclophosphamide increases transgene expression mediated by an oncolytic adenovirus in glioma-bearing mice monitored by bioluminescence imaging. Mol Ther 2006; 14:779-88. [PMID: 16996314 PMCID: PMC2819149 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2006.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2005] [Revised: 08/07/2006] [Accepted: 08/17/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Approaches to improve the oncolytic potency of replication-competent adenoviruses include the insertion of therapeutic transgenes into the viral genome. Little is known about the levels and duration of in vivo transgene expression by cells infected with such "armed" viruses. Using a tumor-selective adenovirus encoding firefly luciferase (AdDelta24CMV-Luc) we investigated these questions in an intracranial mouse model for malignant glioma. Luciferase expression was detected by bioluminescence imaging, and the effect of the immunosuppressive agent cyclophosphamide (CPA) on transgene expression was assessed. Intratumoral AdDelta24CMV-Luc injection led to a localized dose-dependent expression of luciferase. Surprisingly, this expression decreased rapidly during the course of 14 days. In contrast, mice injected with nonreplicating Ad.CMV-Luc demonstrated stable transgene expression. Treatment of mice with CPA in combination with AdDelta24CMV-Luc retarded the loss of transgene expression. Staining of mouse brains for inflammatory cells demonstrated decreased tumor infiltration by immune cells in CPA-treated mice. Moreover, in immunodeficient NOD/SCID mice loss of transgene expression was less rapid and not prevented by CPA treatment. Together, our data demonstrate that transgene expression and viral replication decrease rapidly after intratumoral injection of oncolytic adenovirus in mouse brains and that treatment with the immunomodulator CPA prolongs viral-mediated gene expression.
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MESH Headings
- Adenoviridae/genetics
- Animals
- Antigens, CD/analysis
- Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic/analysis
- Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/administration & dosage
- Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating/pharmacology
- Cell Line
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cyclophosphamide/administration & dosage
- Cyclophosphamide/pharmacology
- Female
- Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Glioma/genetics
- Glioma/metabolism
- Glioma/pathology
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Leukocyte Common Antigens/analysis
- Luciferases/genetics
- Luciferases/metabolism
- Luminescent Measurements/methods
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, SCID
- Mice, Transgenic
- Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics
- Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Oncolytic Viruses/genetics
- Transgenes/genetics
- Transplantation, Heterologous
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine L M Lamfers
- Department of Neurosurgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam 1007 MB, The Netherlands.
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62
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Shah K, Weissleder R. Molecular optical imaging: applications leading to the development of present day therapeutics. NeuroRx 2005; 2:215-25. [PMID: 15897946 PMCID: PMC1064987 DOI: 10.1602/neurorx.2.2.215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
A number of advances in the molecular imaging field have led to the sensing of specific molecular targets and pathways in living animals. In the optical imaging field, these include the designing of biocompatible near-infrared fluorochromes, development of targeted and activatable "smart" imaging probes, and engineering of activatable fluorescent and bioluminescent proteins. The current advances in molecular optical imaging will help in early disease diagnoses, functioning of a number of pathways and finally help speed drug discovery. In this review, we will describe the near infrared fluorescent and bioluminescence imaging modalities and how these techniques have been employed in current research. Furthermore, we will also shed some light on the use of these imaging modalities in neurotherapeutics, for example imaging different parameters of vector-mediated gene expression in glioma tumors and stem cell tracking in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Shah
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, MA 02129, USA.
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63
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Molecular optical imaging: applications leading to the development of present day therapeutics. NeuroRx 2005. [PMID: 15897946 DOI: 10.1007/bf03206667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/29/2022]
Abstract
A number of advances in the molecular imaging field have led to the sensing of specific molecular targets and pathways in living animals. In the optical imaging field, these include the designing of biocompatible near-infrared fluorochromes, development of targeted and activatable "smart" imaging probes, and engineering of activatable fluorescent and bioluminescent proteins. The current advances in molecular optical imaging will help in early disease diagnoses, functioning of a number of pathways and finally help speed drug discovery. In this review, we will describe the near infrared fluorescent and bioluminescence imaging modalities and how these techniques have been employed in current research. Furthermore, we will also shed some light on the use of these imaging modalities in neurotherapeutics, for example imaging different parameters of vector-mediated gene expression in glioma tumors and stem cell tracking in vivo.
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64
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Abstract
Recently, many novel peptide-based near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent molecular probes have been developed for in vivo biomedical imaging. To report specific information of biological targets, the probes were individually designed according to the unique property or functions of their targets. These peptide-based probes can be classified into targeting, crosslinking, and enzyme-activatable probes. Several of them have been tested in various in vitro and in vivo models, and the obtained imaging information has been applied to disease detection, medical diagnosis, and drug evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Hsuan Tung
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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65
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Shah K, Tung CH, Breakefield XO, Weissleder R. In vivo imaging of S-TRAIL-mediated tumor regression and apoptosis. Mol Ther 2005; 11:926-31. [PMID: 15922963 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2005.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2004] [Revised: 01/21/2005] [Accepted: 01/24/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic proteins with specific effector functions play an increasingly important role in drug therapy. For example, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) predominantly kills cancer cells, while sparing normal cells. Here, we report the use of a secreted version of TRAIL as a therapeutic protein that induces apoptosis and kills surrounding cells in vivo, thus resulting in the dramatic reduction of glioma burden in mouse tumor models. Using a caspase-3-activatable aminoluciferin, we were able to show the induction of apoptosis specifically in S-TRAIL vector-infected gliomas. We also show that S-TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and resulting changes in tumor burden can be imaged in the same animal by dual-substrate bioluminescence imaging. The use of S-TRAIL as a therapeutic protein and the ability to image noninvasively both apoptosis and any other cellular events in real time have important clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Shah
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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66
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Shah K, Bureau E, Kim DE, Yang K, Tang Y, Weissleder R, Breakefield XO. Glioma therapy and real-time imaging of neural precursor cell migration and tumor regression. Ann Neurol 2005; 57:34-41. [PMID: 15622535 DOI: 10.1002/ana.20306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Despite many refinements in current therapeutic strategies, the overall prognosis for a patient with glioblastoma is dismal. Neural precursor cells (NPCs) are capable of tracking glioma tumors and thus could be used to deliver therapeutic molecules. We have engineered mouse NPCs to deliver a secreted form of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (S-TRAIL); S-TRAIL is optimized to selectively kill neoplastic cells. Furthermore, we have developed means to simultaneously monitor both the migration of NSCs toward gliomas and the changes in glioma burden in real time. Using a highly malignant human glioma model expressing Renilla luciferase (Rluc), intracranially implanted NPC-FL-sTRAIL expressing both firefly luciferase (Fluc) and S-TRAIL was shown to migrate into the tumors and have profound antitumor effects. These studies demonstrate the potential of NPCs as therapeutically effective delivery vehicles for the treatment of gliomas and also provide important tools to evaluate the migration of NPCs and changes in glioma burden in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Shah
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital-East, Harvard Medical School, 13th Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
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67
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Law B, Hsiao JK, Bugge TH, Weissleder R, Tung CH. Optical zymography for specific detection of urokinase plasminogen activator activity in biological samples. Anal Biochem 2005; 338:151-8. [PMID: 15707946 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2004.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Zymography techniques are routinely used to quantify proteolytic activity. In the current study, we describe an optical zymographic procedure that specifically detects urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) activity in biological samples. The method employs a synthetic polymeric uPA fluorescent probe, which is copolymerized in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel. Following electrophoresis and renaturation, enzymatic digestions of the substrate in 50 mM of Tris buffer at pH 7.4 generates fluorescence emission at 695 nm. The enzymatic activities can be analyzed directly by conventional gel imaging systems with a detection limit of 40 pg. This protocol is fast (hours) and does not require staining and destaining steps. The procedure is independent of plasminogen and, therefore, can efficiently distinguish the active two-chain uPA from its proenzyme. Densitometry analysis demonstrated a highly correlative relationship (r2=0.999) between the amount of uPA (over the range of 0.1-8.0 ng) and the average intensity of the fluorescent band. We were able to directly measure uPA activities in different cancer cell lines. This newly developed technique could be expanded to nearly all proteases, including the ones that cannot be analyzed by traditional zymography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedict Law
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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