1
|
Nuschke A, Sobey-Skelton C, Dawod B, Kelly B, Tremblay ML, Davis C, Rioux JA, Brewer K. Use of Magnetotactic Bacteria as an MRI Contrast Agent for In Vivo Tracking of Adoptively Transferred Immune Cells. Mol Imaging Biol 2023; 25:844-856. [PMID: 37715090 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-023-01849-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE In vivo immune cell tracking using MRI can be a valuable tool for studying the mechanisms underlying successful cancer therapies. Current cell labeling methods using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) lack the persistence to track the fate and location of transplanted cells long-term. Magnetospirillum magneticum is a commercially available, iron-producing bacterium that can be taken up by and live harmoniously within mammalian cells as magneto-endosymbionts (MEs). MEs have shown promise as labeling agents for in vivo stem and cancer cell tracking but have yet to be evaluated in immune cells. This pilot study examined ME labeling in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and dendritic cells (DCs) and its effects on cell purity, function, and MRI contrast. PROCEDURES MDSCs, CTLs, and DCs were incubated with MEs at various ME labeling ratios (MLR), and various biological metrics and iron uptake were assessed. For in vivo imaging, MDSCs were labeled overnight with either MEs or SPIO (Molday ION Rhodamine B) and injected into C3 tumor-bearing mice via tail vein injection 24 days post-implant and scanned daily with MRI for 1 week to assess cellular quantification. RESULTS Following incubations, MDSCs contained > 0.6 pg Fe/cell. CTLs achieved Fe loading of < 0.5 pg/cell, and DCs achieved Fe loading of ~ 1.4 pg/cell. The suppressive functionality of MDSCs at 1000 MLR was not affected by ME labeling but was affected at 2000 MLR. Markers of CTL dysfunction were not markedly affected by ME labeling nor were DC markers. In vivo data demonstrated that the MDSCs labeled with MEs generated sufficient contrast to be detectable using TurboSPI, similar to SPIO-labeled cells. CONCLUSIONS Cells can be labeled with sufficient numbers of MEs to be detectable with MRI without compromising cell viability. Care must be taken at higher concentrations of MEs, which may affect some cell types' functional activity and/or morphology. Immune cells with minimal phagocytic behavior have much lower iron content per cell after incubation with MEs vs SPIO; however, MEs can successfully be used as a contrast agent for phagocytic immune cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Nuschke
- Biomedical MRI Research Laboratory, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Caitrin Sobey-Skelton
- Biomedical MRI Research Laboratory, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Bassel Dawod
- Biomedical MRI Research Laboratory, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Brianna Kelly
- Biomedical MRI Research Laboratory, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Marie-Laurence Tremblay
- Biomedical MRI Research Laboratory, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Christa Davis
- Biomedical MRI Research Laboratory, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - James A Rioux
- Biomedical MRI Research Laboratory, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Physics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Biomedical Translational Imaging Centre (BIOTIC), Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Kimberly Brewer
- Biomedical MRI Research Laboratory, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- Department of Physics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Makela AV, Schott MA, Madsen CS, Greeson EM, Contag CH. Magnetic Particle Imaging of Magnetotactic Bacteria as Living Contrast Agents Is Improved by Altering Magnetosome Arrangement. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:4630-4639. [PMID: 35686930 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c05042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) can be used as imaging agents to differentiate between normal and diseased tissue or track cell movement. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) detects the magnetic properties of SPIONs, providing quantitative and sensitive image data. MPI performance depends on the size, structure, and composition of nanoparticles. Magnetotactic bacteria produce magnetosomes with properties similar to those of synthetic nanoparticles, and these can be modified by mutating biosynthetic genes. The use of Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense, MSR-1 with a mamJ deletion, containing clustered magnetosomes instead of typical linear chains, resulted in improved MPI signal and resolution. Bioluminescent MSR-1 with the mamJ deletion were administered into tumor-bearing and healthy mice. In vivo bioluminescence imaging revealed the viability of MSR-1, and MPI detected signals in livers and tumors. The development of living contrast agents offers opportunities for imaging and therapy with multimodality imaging guiding development of these agents by tracking the location, viability, and resulting biological effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley V Makela
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Melissa A Schott
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Cody S Madsen
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Emily M Greeson
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Christopher H Contag
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
McGinley LM, Willsey MS, Kashlan ON, Chen KS, Hayes JM, Bergin IL, Mason SN, Stebbins AW, Kwentus JF, Pacut C, Kollmer J, Sakowski SA, Bell CB, Chestek CA, Murphy GG, Patil PG, Feldman EL. Magnetic resonance imaging of human neural stem cells in rodent and primate brain. Stem Cells Transl Med 2020; 10:83-97. [PMID: 32841522 PMCID: PMC7780819 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.20-0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell transplantation therapies are currently under investigation for central nervous system disorders. Although preclinical models show benefit, clinical translation is somewhat limited by the absence of reliable noninvasive methods to confirm targeting and monitor transplanted cells in vivo. Here, we assess a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent derived from magnetotactic bacteria, magneto‐endosymbionts (MEs), as a translatable methodology for in vivo tracking of stem cells after intracranial transplantation. We show that ME labeling provides robust MRI contrast without impairment of cell viability or other important therapeutic features. Labeled cells were visualized immediately post‐transplantation and over time by serial MRI in nonhuman primate and mouse brain. Postmortem tissue analysis confirmed on‐target grft location, and linear correlations were observed between MRI signal, cell engraftment, and tissue ME levels, suggesting that MEs may be useful for determining graft survival or rejection. Overall, these findings indicate that MEs are an effective tool for in vivo tracking and monitoring of cell transplantation therapies with potential relevance to many cellular therapy applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M McGinley
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Matthew S Willsey
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Osama N Kashlan
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Kevin S Chen
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - John M Hayes
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ingrid L Bergin
- Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Shayna N Mason
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Aaron W Stebbins
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Crystal Pacut
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jennifer Kollmer
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stacey A Sakowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Caleb B Bell
- Bell Biosystems, San Francisco, California, USA.,G4S Capital & Ikigai Accelerator, Santa Clara, California, USA
| | - Cynthia A Chestek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Neuroscience and Robotics Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Geoffrey G Murphy
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Parag G Patil
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang P, Kim T, Harada M, Contag C, Huang X, Smith BR. Nano-immunoimaging. NANOSCALE HORIZONS 2020; 5:628-653. [PMID: 32226975 DOI: 10.1039/c9nh00514e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Immunoimaging is a rapidly growing field stoked in large part by the intriguing triumphs of immunotherapy. On the heels of immunotherapy's successes, there exists a growing need to evaluate tumor response to therapy particularly immunotherapy, stratify patients into responders vs. non-responders, identify inflammation, and better understand the fundamental roles of immune system components to improve both immunoimaging and immunotherapy. Innovative nanomaterials have begun to provide novel opportunities for immunoimaging, in part due to their sensitivity, modularity, capacity for many potentially varied ligands (high avidity), and potential for multifunctionality/multimodality imaging. This review strives to comprehensively summarize the integration of nanotechnology and immunoimaging, and the field's potential for clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Wang
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, Room #1118, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA. and Precision Health Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA
| | - Taeho Kim
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, Room #1118, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA
| | - Masako Harada
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, Room #1118, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA
| | - Christopher Contag
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, Room #1118, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA. and Precision Health Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA and Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA
| | - Xuefei Huang
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, Room #1118, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA and Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA
| | - Bryan Ronain Smith
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, 775 Woodlot Drive, Room #1118, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA. and Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 488824, USA and Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94306, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Brewer KD, Spitler R, Lee KR, Chan AC, Barrozo JC, Wakeel A, Foote CS, Machtaler S, Rioux J, Willmann JK, Chakraborty P, Rice BW, Contag CH, Bell CB, Rutt BK. Characterization of Magneto-Endosymbionts as MRI Cell Labeling and Tracking Agents. Mol Imaging Biol 2018; 20:65-73. [PMID: 28616842 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-017-1093-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Magneto-endosymbionts (MEs) show promise as living magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents for in vivo cell tracking. Here we characterize the biomedical imaging properties of ME contrast agents, in vitro and in vivo. PROCEDURES By adapting and engineering magnetotactic bacteria to the intracellular niche, we are creating magneto-endosymbionts (MEs) that offer advantages relative to passive iron-based contrast agents (superparamagnetic iron oxides, SPIOs) for cell tracking. This work presents a biomedical imaging characterization of MEs including: MRI transverse relaxivity (r 2) for MEs and ME-labeled cells (compared to a commercially available iron oxide nanoparticle); microscopic validation of labeling efficiency and subcellular locations; and in vivo imaging of a MDA-MB-231BR (231BR) human breast cancer cells in a mouse brain. RESULTS At 7T, r 2 relaxivity of bare MEs was higher (250 s-1 mM-1) than that of conventional SPIO (178 s-1 mM-1). Optimized in vitro loading of MEs into 231BR cells yielded 1-4 pg iron/cell (compared to 5-10 pg iron/cell for conventional SPIO). r 2 relaxivity dropped by a factor of ~3 upon loading into cells, and was on the same order of magnitude for ME-loaded cells compared to SPIO-loaded cells. In vivo, ME-labeled cells exhibited strong MR contrast, allowing as few as 100 cells to be detected in mice using an optimized 3D SPGR gradient-echo sequence. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate the potential of magneto-endosymbionts as living MR contrast agents. They have r 2 relaxivity values comparable to traditional iron oxide nanoparticle contrast agents, and provide strong MR contrast when loaded into cells and implanted in tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly D Brewer
- Biomedical Translational Imaging Centre (BIOTIC), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Radiology Department and Molecular Imaging Program (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Spitler
- Radiology Department and Molecular Imaging Program (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Steven Machtaler
- Radiology Department and Molecular Imaging Program (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - James Rioux
- Biomedical Translational Imaging Centre (BIOTIC), Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Radiology Department and Molecular Imaging Program (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Juergen K Willmann
- Radiology Department and Molecular Imaging Program (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Christopher H Contag
- Radiology Department and Molecular Imaging Program (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Brian K Rutt
- Radiology Department and Molecular Imaging Program (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Richard M. Lucas Center for Imaging, Stanford University School of Medicine, The Lucas Expansion, Room PS-064, 1201 Welch Road, Stanford, CA, 94305-5488, USA.
| |
Collapse
|