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Cawthorne CJ, Volpe A, Fruhwirth GO. The Basics of Visualizing, Analyzing, and Reporting Preclinical PET/CT Imaging Data. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2729:195-220. [PMID: 38006498 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3499-8_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) has transformed medical imaging, and while first developed and applied to the human setting, it has found widespread application at the preclinical level over the past two decades. Its strength is that it offers noninvasive 3D tomographic imaging in a quantitative manner at very high sensitivity. Paired with the right molecular probes, invaluable insights into physiology and pathophysiology have been accessible and therapeutic development has been enhanced through preclinical PET imaging. PET imaging is now often routinely combined with either computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide additional anatomical context. All these developments were accompanied by the provision of ever more complex and powerful analysis software enabling users to visualize and quantify signals from PET imaging data. Aside from experimental complexities, there are also various pitfalls in PET image data analysis, which can negatively impact on reporting and reproducibility.Here, we provide a protocol intended to guide the inexperienced user through PET/CT data analysis. We describe the general principles and workflows required for PET/CT image data visualization and quantitative analysis using various software packages popular in the field. Moreover, we present recommendations for reporting of preclinical PET/CT data including examples of good and poor practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Cawthorne
- Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Alessia Volpe
- Molecular Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
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2
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Grimsdell B, Saleem A, Volpe A, Fruhwirth GO. Genetic Engineering of Therapeutic Cells with the Sodium Iodide Symporter (NIS) to Enable Noninvasive In Vivo Therapy Tracking. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2729:303-330. [PMID: 38006504 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3499-8_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Noninvasive long-term imaging of therapeutic cells in preclinical models can be achieved through introducing a reporter gene into the cells of interest. Despite important recent developments such as gene editing, cell engineering based on lentiviruses remains a mainstream tool for gene transfer applicable to a variety of different cell types.In this chapter, we describe how to use lentivirus-based genetic engineering to render different candidate cell therapies in vivo traceable by radionuclide imaging. We illustrate this reporter gene technology using the sodium iodide symporter (NIS), which is compatible with both positron emission tomography (PET) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). For preclinical experimentation, we fused NIS with a suitable fluorescent protein such as monomeric GFP or RFP to streamline cell line generation and downstream analyses of ex vivo tissue samples. We present protocols for reporter gene engineering of human cardiac progenitor cells, regulatory T cells, and effector T cells as well as for the characterization experiments required to validate NIS-fluorescent protein reporter function in these candidate therapeutic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Grimsdell
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Adeel Saleem
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alessia Volpe
- Molecular Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
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3
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Xu Z, Yang J, Xin X, Liu C, Li L, Mei X, Li M. Merits and challenges of iPSC-derived organoids for clinical applications. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1188905. [PMID: 37305682 PMCID: PMC10250752 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1188905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have entered an unprecedented state of development since they were first generated. They have played a critical role in disease modeling, drug discovery, and cell replacement therapy, and have contributed to the evolution of disciplines such as cell biology, pathophysiology of diseases, and regenerative medicine. Organoids, the stem cell-derived 3D culture systems that mimic the structure and function of organs in vitro, have been widely used in developmental research, disease modeling, and drug screening. Recent advances in combining iPSCs with 3D organoids are facilitating further applications of iPSCs in disease research. Organoids derived from embryonic stem cells, iPSCs, and multi-tissue stem/progenitor cells can replicate the processes of developmental differentiation, homeostatic self-renewal, and regeneration due to tissue damage, offering the potential to unravel the regulatory mechanisms of development and regeneration, and elucidate the pathophysiological processes involved in disease mechanisms. Herein, we have summarized the latest research on the production scheme of organ-specific iPSC-derived organoids, the contribution of these organoids in the treatment of various organ-related diseases, in particular their contribution to COVID-19 treatment, and have discussed the unresolved challenges and shortcomings of these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziran Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Jiaxu Yang
- Department of Neonatology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xianyi Xin
- Department of Pediatric Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chengrun Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Lisha Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xianglin Mei
- Department of pathology, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Meiying Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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Ashmore-Harris C, Fruhwirth GO. Generation of In Vivo Traceable Hepatocyte-Like Cells from Human iPSCs. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2544:15-49. [PMID: 36125708 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2557-6_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this chapter, we describe a protocol for differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs) and their transduction with a lentivirus for gene transfer. Here, we engineer them to express the human sodium iodide symporter, which can be exploited as a radionuclide reporter gene, thereby enabling these cells to be tracked in vivo by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Differentiation of HLCs from iPSCs involves three steps: induction of iPSCs to definitive endoderm, differentiation to a hepatic progenitor cell population, and maturation of immature HLCs. Once proliferation of hepatic progenitors has ceased and an immature HLC population is generated, lentiviral transduction can be performed. The immature hepatic gene expression profile/morphology at the stage of transduction will be compatible with further maturation following transgene expression either in vitro or in vivo, with expression of the transgene retained. We detail how transgenic cells can be imaged in vivo. While we provide a protocol for the NIS reporter gene, the cell engineering aspects of this protocol are transferable for use with other (reporter) genes if desired.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Ashmore-Harris
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Cancer Centre, London, UK
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Cancer Centre, London, UK.
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Chang M, Bogacheva MS, Lou YR. Challenges for the Applications of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Liver Organoids. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:748576. [PMID: 34660606 PMCID: PMC8517247 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.748576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The current organoid culture systems allow pluripotent and adult stem cells to self-organize to form three-dimensional (3D) structures that provide a faithful recapitulation of the architecture and function of in vivo organs. In particular, human pluripotent stem cell-derived liver organoids (PSC-LOs) can be used in regenerative medicine and preclinical applications, such as disease modeling and drug discovery. New bioengineering tools, such as microfluidics, biomaterial scaffolds, and 3D bioprinting, are combined with organoid technologies to increase the efficiency of hepatic differentiation and enhance the functional maturity of human PSC-LOs by precise control of cellular microenvironment. Long-term stabilization of hepatocellular functions of in vitro liver organoids requires the combination of hepatic endodermal, endothelial, and mesenchymal cells. To improve the biological function and scalability of human PSC-LOs, bioengineering methods have been used to identify diverse and zonal hepatocyte populations in liver organoids for capturing heterogeneous pathologies. Therefore, constructing engineered liver organoids generated from human PSCs will be an extremely versatile tool in in vitro disease models and regenerative medicine in future. In this review, we aim to discuss the recent advances in bioengineering technologies in liver organoid culture systems that provide a timely and necessary study to model disease pathology and support drug discovery in vitro and to generate cell therapy products for transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyang Chang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Administration, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mariia S. Bogacheva
- Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Yan-Ru Lou
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Administration, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Helfer BM, Ponomarev V, Patrick PS, Blower PJ, Feitel A, Fruhwirth GO, Jackman S, Pereira Mouriès L, Park MVDZ, Srinivas M, Stuckey DJ, Thu MS, van den Hoorn T, Herberts CA, Shingleton WD. Options for imaging cellular therapeutics in vivo: a multi-stakeholder perspective. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:757-773. [PMID: 33832818 PMCID: PMC9344904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2021.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies have been making great advances toward clinical reality. Despite the increase in trial activity, few therapies have successfully navigated late-phase clinical trials and received market authorization. One possible explanation for this is that additional tools and technologies to enable their development have only recently become available. To support the safety evaluation of cell therapies, the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Cell Therapy-Tracking, Circulation and Safety Committee, a multisector collaborative committee, polled the attendees of the 2017 International Society for Cell & Gene Therapy conference in London, UK, to understand the gaps and needs that cell therapy developers have encountered regarding safety evaluations in vivo. The goal of the survey was to collect information to inform stakeholders of areas of interest that can help ensure the safe use of cellular therapeutics in the clinic. This review is a response to the cellular imaging interests of those respondents. The authors offer a brief overview of available technologies and then highlight the areas of interest from the survey by describing how imaging technologies can meet those needs. The areas of interest include imaging of cells over time, sensitivity of imaging modalities, ability to quantify cells, imaging cellular survival and differentiation and safety concerns around adding imaging agents to cellular therapy protocols. The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute Cell Therapy-Tracking, Circulation and Safety Committee believes that the ability to understand therapeutic cell fate is vital for determining and understanding cell therapy efficacy and safety and offers this review to aid in those needs. An aim of this article is to share the available imaging technologies with the cell therapy community to demonstrate how these technologies can accomplish unmet needs throughout the translational process and strengthen the understanding of cellular therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vladimir Ponomarev
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - P Stephen Patrick
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Philip J Blower
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alexandra Feitel
- Formerly, Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Shawna Jackman
- Charles River Laboratories, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Margriet V D Z Park
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Mangala Srinivas
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Cenya Imaging BV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel J Stuckey
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mya S Thu
- Visicell Medical Inc, La Jolla, California, USA
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Kharbikar BN, Zhong JX, Cuylear DL, Perez CA, Desai TA. Theranostic biomaterials for tissue engineering. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2021; 19. [PMID: 35529078 PMCID: PMC9075690 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2021.100299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tissue engineering strategies, notably biomaterials, can be modularly designed and tuned to match specific patient needs. Although many challenges within tissue engineering remain, the incorporation of diagnostic strategies to create theranostic (combined therapy and diagnostic) biomaterials presents a unique platform to provide dual monitoring and treatment capabilities and advance the field toward personalized technologies. In this review, we summarize recent developments in this young field of regenerative theranostics and discuss the clinical potential and outlook of these systems from a tissue engineering perspective. As the need for precision and personalized medicines continues to increase to address diseases in all tissues in a patient-specific manner, we envision that such theranostic platforms can serve these needs.
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Maiques O, Fanshawe B, Crosas-Molist E, Rodriguez-Hernandez I, Volpe A, Cantelli G, Boehme L, Orgaz JL, Mardakheh FK, Sanz-Moreno V, Fruhwirth GO. A preclinical pipeline to evaluate migrastatics as therapeutic agents in metastatic melanoma. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:699-713. [PMID: 34172930 PMCID: PMC8405734 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01442-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metastasis is a hallmark of cancer and responsible for most cancer deaths. Migrastatics were defined as drugs interfering with all modes of cancer cell invasion and thus cancers' ability to metastasise. First anti-metastatic treatments have recently been approved. METHODS We used bioinformatic analyses of publicly available melanoma databases. Experimentally, we performed in vitro target validation (including 2.5D cell morphology analysis and mass spectrometric analysis of RhoA binding partners), developed a new traceable spontaneously metastasising murine melanoma model for in vivo validation, and employed histology (haematoxylin/eosin and phospho-myosin II staining) to confirm drug action in harvested tumour tissues. RESULTS Unbiased and targeted bioinformatic analyses identified the Rho kinase (ROCK)-myosin II pathway and its various components as potentially relevant targets in melanoma. In vitro validation demonstrated redundancy of several RhoGEFs upstream of RhoA and confirmed ROCK as a druggable target downstream of RhoA. The anti-metastatic effects of two ROCK inhibitors were demonstrated through in vivo melanoma metastasis tracking and inhibitor effects also confirmed ex vivo by digital pathology. CONCLUSIONS We proposed a migrastatic drug development pipeline. As part of the pipeline, we provide a new traceable spontaneous melanoma metastasis model for in vivo quantification of metastasis and anti-metastatic effects by non-invasive imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Maiques
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square Campus, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK
| | - Bruce Fanshawe
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Studies, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, UK
| | - Eva Crosas-Molist
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square Campus, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK
| | - Irene Rodriguez-Hernandez
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square Campus, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK
| | - Alessia Volpe
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Studies, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, UK
- Molecular Imaging Group, Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gaia Cantelli
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK
| | - Lena Boehme
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK
| | - Jose L Orgaz
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square Campus, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas 'Alberto Sols', CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Faraz K Mardakheh
- Centre for Cancer Cell & Molecular Biology at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square Campus, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK
| | - Victoria Sanz-Moreno
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment at Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square Campus, John Vane Science Centre, London, UK.
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, Guy's Campus, London, UK.
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Studies, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, UK.
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
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Jacob J, Nadkarni S, Volpe A, Peng Q, Tung SL, Hannen RF, Mohseni YR, Scotta C, Marelli-Berg FM, Lechler RI, Smyth LA, Fruhwirth GO, Lombardi G. Spatiotemporal in vivo tracking of polyclonal human regulatory T cells (Tregs) reveals a role for innate immune cells in Treg transplant recruitment. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 20:324-336. [PMID: 33511246 PMCID: PMC7811063 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are emerging as a new cell-based therapy in solid organ transplantation. Adoptive transfer of Tregs has been shown preclinically to protect from graft rejection, and the safety of Treg therapy has been demonstrated in clinical trials. Despite these successes, the in vivo distribution and persistence of adoptively transferred Tregs remained elusive, which hampers clinical translation. Here we isolated human Tregs using a GMP-compatible protocol and lentivirally transduced them with the human sodium iodide symporter to render them traceable in vivo by radionuclide imaging. Engineered human Tregs were characterized for phenotype, survival, suppressive capacity, and reporter function. To study their trafficking behavior, they were subsequently administered to humanized mice with human skin transplants. Traceable Tregs were quantified in skin grafts by non-invasive nano-single-photon emission computed tomography (nanoSPECT)/computed tomography (CT) for up to 40 days, and the results were validated ex vivo. Using this approach, we demonstrated that Treg trafficking to skin grafts was regulated by the presence of recipient Gr-1+ innate immune cells. We demonstrated the utility of radionuclide reporter gene-afforded quantitative Treg in vivo tracking, addressing a fundamental need in Treg therapy development and offering a clinically compatible methodology for future Treg therapy imaging in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta Jacob
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Science, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Suchita Nadkarni
- Centre for Cell Biology & Cutaneous Research, The Blizard Institute, Bart’s and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Alessia Volpe
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Qi Peng
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Science, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Sim L. Tung
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Science, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Rosalind F. Hannen
- Centre for Cell Biology & Cutaneous Research, The Blizard Institute, Bart’s and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Yasmin R. Mohseni
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Science, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Cristiano Scotta
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Science, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Federica M. Marelli-Berg
- William Harvey Research Institute, Bart’s and The London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Robert I. Lechler
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Science, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Lesley A. Smyth
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Science, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
- School of Health, Sport and Bioscience, Stratford Campus, University of East London, London E16 2RD, UK
| | - Gilbert O. Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Giovanna Lombardi
- MRC Centre for Transplantation, Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Science, King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
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Volpe A, Pillarsetty NVK, Lewis JS, Ponomarev V. Applications of nuclear-based imaging in gene and cell therapy: probe considerations. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2021; 20:447-458. [PMID: 33718593 PMCID: PMC7907215 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Several types of gene- and cell-based therapeutics are now emerging in the cancer immunotherapy, transplantation, and regenerative medicine landscapes. Radionuclear-based imaging can be used as a molecular imaging tool for repetitive and non-invasive visualization as well as in vivo monitoring of therapy success. In this review, we discuss the principles of nuclear-based imaging and provide a comprehensive overview of its application in gene and cell therapy. This review aims to inform investigators in the biomedical field as well as clinicians on the state of the art of nuclear imaging, from probe design to available radiopharmaceuticals and advances of direct (probe-based) and indirect (transgene-based) strategies in both preclinical and clinical settings. Notably, as the nuclear-based imaging toolbox is continuously expanding, it will be increasingly incorporated into the clinical setting where the distribution, targeting, and persistence of a new generation of therapeutics can be imaged and ultimately guide therapeutic decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Volpe
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Naga Vara Kishore Pillarsetty
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason S Lewis
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vladimir Ponomarev
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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11
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Volpe A, Lang C, Lim L, Man F, Kurtys E, Ashmore-Harris C, Johnson P, Skourti E, de Rosales RTM, Fruhwirth GO. Spatiotemporal PET Imaging Reveals Differences in CAR-T Tumor Retention in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Models. Mol Ther 2020; 28:2271-2285. [PMID: 32645298 PMCID: PMC7544977 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T) has been rolled out as a new treatment for hematological malignancies. For solid tumor treatment, CAR-T has been disappointing so far. Challenges include the quantification of CAR-T trafficking, expansion and retention in tumors, activity at target sites, toxicities, and long-term CAR-T survival. Non-invasive serial in vivo imaging of CAR-T using reporter genes can address several of these challenges. For clinical use, a non-immunogenic reporter that is detectable with exquisite sensitivity by positron emission tomography (PET) using a clinically available non-toxic radiotracer would be beneficial. Here, we employed the human sodium iodide symporter to non-invasively quantify tumor retention of pan-ErbB family targeted CAR-T by PET. We generated and characterized traceable CAR T cells and examined potential negative effects of radionuclide reporter use. We applied our platform to two different triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models and unexpectedly observed pronounced differences in CAR-T tumor retention by PET/CT (computed tomography) and confirmed data ex vivo. CAR-T tumor retention inversely correlated with immune checkpoint expression in the TNBC models. Our platform enables highly sensitive non-invasive PET tracking of CAR-T thereby addressing a fundamental unmet need in CAR-T development and offering to provide missing information needed for future clinical CAR-T imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Volpe
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Cameron Lang
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Lindsay Lim
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Francis Man
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ewelina Kurtys
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Candice Ashmore-Harris
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Preeth Johnson
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elena Skourti
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rafael T M de Rosales
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapies and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
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Ashmore-Harris C, Iafrate M, Saleem A, Fruhwirth GO. Non-invasive Reporter Gene Imaging of Cell Therapies, including T Cells and Stem Cells. Mol Ther 2020; 28:1392-1416. [PMID: 32243834 PMCID: PMC7264441 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapies represent a rapidly emerging class of new therapeutics. They are intended and developed for the treatment of some of the most prevalent human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and for regenerative medicine. Currently, they are largely developed without precise assessment of their in vivo distribution, efficacy, or survival either clinically or preclinically. However, it would be highly beneficial for both preclinical cell therapy development and subsequent clinical use to assess these parameters in situ to enable enhancements in efficacy, applicability, and safety. Molecular imaging can be exploited to track cells non-invasively on the whole-body level and can enable monitoring for prolonged periods in a manner compatible with rapidly expanding cell types. In this review, we explain how in vivo imaging can aid the development and clinical translation of cell-based therapeutics. We describe the underlying principles governing non-invasive in vivo long-term cell tracking in the preclinical and clinical settings, including available imaging technologies, reporter genes, and imaging agents as well as pitfalls related to experimental design. Our emphasis is on adoptively transferred T cell and stem cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candice Ashmore-Harris
- Imaging Therapy and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK; Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Madeleine Iafrate
- Imaging Therapy and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Adeel Saleem
- Imaging Therapy and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK; Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK; Department of Haematological Medicine, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapy and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK.
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Iafrate M, Fruhwirth GO. How Non-invasive in vivo Cell Tracking Supports the Development and Translation of Cancer Immunotherapies. Front Physiol 2020; 11:154. [PMID: 32327996 PMCID: PMC7152671 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a relatively new treatment regimen for cancer, and it is based on the modulation of the immune system to battle cancer. Immunotherapies can be classified as either molecular or cell-based immunotherapies, and both types have demonstrated promising results in a growing number of cancers. Indeed, several immunotherapies representing both classes are already approved for clinical use in oncology. While spectacular treatment successes have been reported, particularly for so-called immune checkpoint inhibitors and certain cell-based immunotherapies, they have also been accompanied by a variety of severe, sometimes life-threatening side effects. Furthermore, not all patients respond to immunotherapy. Hence, there is the need for more research to render these promising therapeutics more efficacious, more widely applicable, and safer to use. Whole-body in vivo imaging technologies that can interrogate cancers and/or immunotherapies are highly beneficial tools for immunotherapy development and translation to the clinic. In this review, we explain how in vivo imaging can aid the development of molecular and cell-based anti-cancer immunotherapies. We describe the principles of imaging host T-cells and adoptively transferred therapeutic T-cells as well as the value of traceable cancer cell models in immunotherapy development. Our emphasis is on in vivo cell tracking methodology, including important aspects and caveats specific to immunotherapies. We discuss a variety of associated experimental design aspects including parameters such as cell type, observation times/intervals, and detection sensitivity. The focus is on non-invasive 3D cell tracking on the whole-body level including aspects relevant for both preclinical experimentation and clinical translatability of the underlying methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gilbert O. Fruhwirth
- Imaging Therapy and Cancer Group, Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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