1
|
Tanniche I, Behkam B. Engineered live bacteria as disease detection and diagnosis tools. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:65. [PMID: 37875910 PMCID: PMC10598922 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00379-z] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Sensitive and minimally invasive medical diagnostics are essential to the early detection of diseases, monitoring their progression and response to treatment. Engineered bacteria as live sensors are being developed as a new class of biosensors for sensitive, robust, noninvasive, and in situ detection of disease onset at low cost. Akin to microrobotic systems, a combination of simple genetic rules, basic logic gates, and complex synthetic bioengineering principles are used to program bacterial vectors as living machines for detecting biomarkers of diseases, some of which cannot be detected with other sensing technologies. Bacterial whole-cell biosensors (BWCBs) can have wide-ranging functions from detection only, to detection and recording, to closed-loop detection-regulated treatment. In this review article, we first summarize the unique benefits of bacteria as living sensors. We then describe the different bacteria-based diagnosis approaches and provide examples of diagnosing various diseases and disorders. We also discuss the use of bacteria as imaging vectors for disease detection and image-guided surgery. We conclude by highlighting current challenges and opportunities for further exploration toward clinical translation of these bacteria-based systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Imen Tanniche
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Bahareh Behkam
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- School of Biomedical Engineered and Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
- Center for Engineered Health, Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chandy M, Wu JC. Molecular Imaging of Stem Cell Therapy in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy. Mol Imaging 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816386-3.00065-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
|
3
|
Transplantation of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Expressing the Human Preproenkephalin Gene Can Relieve Pain in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain. Neurochem Res 2020; 45:2065-2071. [PMID: 32529390 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-020-03068-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic therapy for central neuralgia faces the problems of low expression and weak targeting and affects superficial but not deep neurons. In this study, we generated a lentivirus vector with human preproenkephalin gene (hPPE) expression driven by the transcriptional amplification strategy system (TAS) and established a primary bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (BMSC) line stably expressing hPPE for transplantation into a rat model of neuropathic pain rat. The paw thermal withdrawal latency assay and paw mechanical withdrawal threshold assay showed that unlike control BMSCs and BMSCs with hPPE overexpression driven by the CMV or Synapsin 1 (SYN1) promoter, TAS-hPPE BMSCs had a robust and lasting analgesic effect. The TAS-hPPE BMSC-treated group exhibited higher expression of TAS-driven hPPE and a higher ratio of BMSCs in the midbrain, spinal cord and cortex then the CMV-hPPE BMSC- and SYN1-hPPE BMSC-treated groups. Moreover, we also observed that TAS-hPPE BMSCs displayed a greater tendency to differentiate into neurons and exhibit neuronal-like distribution than CMV-hPPE or SYN1-hPPE BMSCs. In conclusion, our study shows that the TAS improves BMSC transgenic therapy for neuropathic pain treatment.
Collapse
|
4
|
Abstract
Regenerative medicine with the use of stem cells has appeared as a potential therapeutic alternative for many disease states. Despite initial enthusiasm, there has been relatively slow transition to clinical trials. In large part, numerous questions remain regarding the viability, biology and efficacy of transplanted stem cells in the living subject. The critical issues highlighted the importance of developing tools to assess these questions. Advances in molecular biology and imaging have allowed the successful non-invasive monitoring of transplanted stem cells in the living subject. Over the years these methodologies have been updated to assess not only the viability but also the biology of transplanted stem cells. In this review, different imaging strategies to study the viability and biology of transplanted stem cells are presented. Use of these strategies will be critical as the different regenerative therapies are being tested for clinical use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fakhar Abbas
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Joseph C. Wu
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sanjiv Sam Gambhir
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Bio-Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Buckley SMK, Delhove JMKM, Perocheau DP, Karda R, Rahim AA, Howe SJ, Ward NJ, Birrell MA, Belvisi MG, Arbuthnot P, Johnson MR, Waddington SN, McKay TR. In vivo bioimaging with tissue-specific transcription factor activated luciferase reporters. Sci Rep 2015; 5:11842. [PMID: 26138224 PMCID: PMC4490336 DOI: 10.1038/srep11842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of transcription factor activated luciferase reporter cassettes in vitro is widespread but potential for in vivo application has not yet been realized. Bioluminescence imaging enables non-invasive tracking of gene expression in transfected tissues of living rodents. However the mature immune response limits luciferase expression when delivered in adulthood. We present a novel approach of tissue-targeted delivery of transcription factor activated luciferase reporter lentiviruses to neonatal rodents as an alternative to the existing technology of generating germline transgenic light producing rodents. At this age, neonates acquire immune tolerance to the conditionally responsive luciferase reporter. This simple and transferrable procedure permits surrogate quantitation of transcription factor activity over the lifetime of the animal. We show principal efficacy by temporally quantifying NFκB activity in the brain, liver and lungs of somatotransgenic reporter mice subjected to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation. This response is ablated in Tlr4(-/-) mice or when co-administered with the anti-inflammatory glucocorticoid analogue dexamethasone. Furthermore, we show the malleability of this technology by quantifying NFκB-mediated luciferase expression in outbred rats. Finally, we use somatotransgenic bioimaging to longitudinally quantify LPS- and ActivinA-induced upregulation of liver specific glucocorticoid receptor and Smad2/3 reporter constructs in somatotransgenic mice, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. K. Buckley
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Juliette M. K. M. Delhove
- Stem Cell Group, Cardiovascular & Cell Sciences Research Institute, St. George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Dany P. Perocheau
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Rajvinder Karda
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Ahad A. Rahim
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Steven J. Howe
- Wolfson Institute for Gene Therapy, Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Natalie J. Ward
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Mark A. Birrell
- Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Maria G. Belvisi
- Faculty of Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Patrick Arbuthnot
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mark R. Johnson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Simon N. Waddington
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, 86–96 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Tristan R. McKay
- Stem Cell Group, Cardiovascular & Cell Sciences Research Institute, St. George’s University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Brodarac A, Šarić T, Oberwallner B, Mahmoodzadeh S, Neef K, Albrecht J, Burkert K, Oliverio M, Nguemo F, Choi YH, Neiss WF, Morano I, Hescheler J, Stamm C. Susceptibility of murine induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to hypoxia and nutrient deprivation. Stem Cell Res Ther 2015; 6:83. [PMID: 25900017 PMCID: PMC4445302 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-015-0057-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Revised: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPS-CMs) may be suitable for myocardial repair. While their functional and structural properties have been extensively investigated, their response to ischemia-like conditions has not yet been clearly defined. Methods iPS-CMs were differentiated and enriched from murine induced pluripotent stem cells expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) and puromycin resistance genes under the control of an α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) promoter. iPS-CMs maturity and function were characterized by microscopy, real-time PCR, calcium transient recordings, electrophysiology, and mitochondrial function assays, and compared to those from neonatal murine cardiomyocytes. iPS-CMs as well as neonatal murine cardiomyocytes were exposed for 3 hours to hypoxia (1% O2) and glucose/serum deprivation, and viability, apoptosis markers, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular stress signaling cascades were investigated. Then, the iPS-CMs response to mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned medium was determined. Results iPS-CMs displayed key morphological and functional properties that were comparable to those of neonatal cardiomyocytes, but several parameters indicated an earlier iPS-CMs maturation stage. During hypoxia and glucose/serum deprivation, iPS-CMs exhibited a significantly higher proportion of poly-caspase-active, 7-aminoactinomycin D-positive and TUNEL-positive cells than neonatal cardiomyocytes. The average mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced in “ischemic” iPS-CMs but remained unchanged in neonatal cardiomyocytes; reactive oxygen species production was only increased in “ischemic” iPS-CMs, and oxidoreductase activity in iPS-CMs dropped more rapidly than in neonatal cardiomyocytes. In iPS-CMs, hypoxia and glucose/serum deprivation led to upregulation of Hsp70 transcripts and decreased STAT3 phosphorylation and total PKCε protein expression. Treatment with mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned medium preserved oxidoreductase activity and restored pSTAT3 and PKCε levels. Conclusion iPS-CMs appear to be particularly sensitive to hypoxia and nutrient deprivation. Counteracting the ischemic susceptibility of iPS-CMs with mesenchymal stromal cell-conditioned medium may help enhance their survival and efficacy in cell-based approaches for myocardial repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreja Brodarac
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Föhrer Str.15, Berlin, 13353, Germany.
| | - Tomo Šarić
- Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Barbara Oberwallner
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Föhrer Str.15, Berlin, 13353, Germany.
| | | | - Klaus Neef
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Julie Albrecht
- Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Karsten Burkert
- Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Matteo Oliverio
- Max-Planck-Institute for Metabolism Research, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Filomain Nguemo
- Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Yeong-Hoon Choi
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Wolfram F Neiss
- Department of Anatomy I, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Ingo Morano
- Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Hescheler
- Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Christof Stamm
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Föhrer Str.15, Berlin, 13353, Germany. .,Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen IY, Paulmurugan R, Nielsen CH, Wang DS, Chow V, Robbins RC, Gambhir SS. A titratable two-step transcriptional amplification strategy for targeted gene therapy based on ligand-induced intramolecular folding of a mutant human estrogen receptor. Mol Imaging Biol 2014; 16:224-34. [PMID: 23955099 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-013-0673-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The efficacy and safety of cardiac gene therapy depend critically on the level and the distribution of therapeutic gene expression following vector administration. We aimed to develop a titratable two-step transcriptional amplification (tTSTA) vector strategy, which allows modulation of transcriptionally targeted gene expression in the myocardium. PROCEDURES We constructed a tTSTA plasmid vector (pcTnT-tTSTA-fluc), which uses the cardiac troponin T (cTnT) promoter to drive the expression of the recombinant transcriptional activator GAL4-mER(LBD)-VP2, whose ability to transactivate the downstream firefly luciferase reporter gene (fluc) depends on the binding of its mutant estrogen receptor (ER(G521T)) ligand binding domain (LBD) to an ER ligand such as raloxifene. Mice underwent either intramyocardial or hydrodynamic tail vein (HTV) injection of pcTnT-tTSTA-fluc, followed by differential modulation of fluc expression with varying doses of intraperitoneal raloxifene prior to bioluminescence imaging to assess the kinetics of myocardial or hepatic fluc expression. RESULTS Intramyocardial injection of pcTnT-tTSTA-fluc followed by titration with intraperitoneal raloxifene led to up to tenfold induction of myocardial fluc expression. HTV injection of pcTnT-tTSTA-fluc led to negligible long-term hepatic fluc expression, regardless of the raloxifene dose given. CONCLUSIONS The tTSTA vector strategy can effectively modulate transgene expression in a tissue-specific manner. Further refinement of this strategy should help maximize the benefit-to-risk ratio of cardiac gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Y Chen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Oberwallner B, Brodarac A, Anić P, Šarić T, Wassilew K, Neef K, Choi YH, Stamm C. Human cardiac extracellular matrix supports myocardial lineage commitment of pluripotent stem cells. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2014; 47:416-25; discussion 425. [PMID: 24778452 DOI: 10.1093/ejcts/ezu163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cross-talk between organ-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) and stem cells is often assumed but has not been directly demonstrated. We developed a protocol for the preparation of human cardiac ECM (cECM) and studied whether cECM has effects on pluripotent stem cell differentiation that may be useful for future cardiac regeneration strategies in patients with end-stage heart failure. METHODS Of note, 0.3 mm-thick cECM slices were prepared from samples of myocardium from patients with end-stage non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy, using a three-step protocol involving hypotonic lysis buffer, sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and foetal bovine serum (FBS). Murine embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were seeded and grown in standard culture, on cECM or on non-specific ECM preparations (Matrigel® or Geltrex®). Cell attachment, apoptosis induction (Caspase 3/7 activity) and metabolic activity (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium conversion) were followed. Transcriptional activation of genes involved in pluripotency; early and late myocardial development; and endothelial, ectodermal or endodermal commitment were monitored by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR). Protein expression of selected markers was confirmed by immunohistology. RESULTS cECM supported the proliferation of ESCs and iPSCs, and Caspase 3/7 activity was significantly lower compared with standard culture. Cardiac lineage commitment was favoured when ESCs or iPSCs were grown on cECM, as evidenced by the significantly increased mRNA expression of cardiac alpha myosin heavy polypeptide 6 (Myh6), cardiac troponin T2 (Tnnt2) and NK2 homeobox 5 (Nkx2.5) as well as positive immunohistology for cardiac troponin T and heavy-chain cardiac myosin protein. In contrast, Matrigel or Geltrex did not induce cardiac-specific markers. MSCs showed no evidence of cardiomyocyte differentiation. CONCLUSIONS Human cardiac ECM seems to direct differentiation of pluripotent stem cells towards a cardiomyocyte phenotype. This phenomenon supports the use of cardiac ECM preparations for guided stem cell differentiation and myocardial repair, and may ultimately increase the therapeutic efficacy of cell therapy in heart failure patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Oberwallner
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreja Brodarac
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Anić
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tomo Šarić
- Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute for Neurophysiology, Medical Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Neef
- Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Yeong-Hoon Choi
- Department of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery, Heart Center, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christof Stamm
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin (DHZB), Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chen IY, Gheysens O, Li Z, Rasooly JA, Wang Q, Paulmurugan R, Rosenberg J, Rodriguez-Porcel M, Willmann JK, Wang DS, Contag CH, Robbins RC, Wu JC, Gambhir SS. Noninvasive imaging of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α gene therapy for myocardial ischemia. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2014; 24:279-88. [PMID: 23937265 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2013.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) gene therapy holds great promise for the treatment of myocardial ischemia. Both preclinical and clinical evaluations of this therapy are underway and can benefit from a vector strategy that allows noninvasive assessment of HIF-1α expression as an objective measure of gene delivery. We have developed a novel bidirectional plasmid vector (pcTnT-HIF-1α-VP2-TSTA-fluc), which employs the cardiac troponin T (cTnT) promoter in conjunction with a two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system to drive the linked expression of a recombinant HIF-1α gene (HIF-1α-VP2) and the firefly luciferase gene (fluc). The firefly luciferase (FLuc) activity serves as a surrogate for HIF-1α-VP2 expression, and can be noninvasively assessed in mice using bioluminescence imaging after vector delivery. Transfection of cultured HL-1 cardiomyocytes with pcTnT-HIF-1α-VP2-TSTA-fluc led to a strong correlation between FLuc and HIF-1α-dependent vascular endothelial growth factor expression (r(2)=0.88). Intramyocardial delivery of pcTnT-HIF-1α-VP2-TSTA-fluc into infarcted mouse myocardium led to persistent HIF-1α-VP2 expression for 4 weeks, even though it improved neither CD31+ microvessel density nor echocardiographically determined left ventricular systolic function. These results lend support to recent findings of suboptimal efficacy associated with plasmid-mediated HIF-1α therapy. The imaging techniques developed herein should be useful for further optimizing HIF-1α-VP2 therapy in preclinical models of myocardial ischemia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Y Chen
- 1 Departments of Radiology, Bioengineering, and Material Science & Engineering, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University , Stanford, CA 94305
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Psaltis PJ, Peterson KM, Xu R, Franchi F, Witt T, Chen IY, Lerman A, Simari RD, Gambhir SS, Rodriguez-Porcel M. Noninvasive monitoring of oxidative stress in transplanted mesenchymal stromal cells. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2013; 6:795-802. [PMID: 23643284 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2012.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2012] [Revised: 11/01/2012] [Accepted: 11/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to validate a pathway-specific reporter gene that could be used to noninvasively image the oxidative status of progenitor cells. BACKGROUND In cell therapy studies, reporter gene imaging plays a valuable role in the assessment of cell fate in living subjects. After myocardial injury, noxious stimuli in the host tissue confer oxidative stress to transplanted cells that may influence their survival and reparative function. METHODS Rat mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were studied for phenotypic evidence of increased oxidative stress under in vitro stress. On the basis of their up-regulation of the pro-oxidant enzyme p67(phox) subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAD[P]H oxidase p67(phox)), an oxidative stress sensor was constructed, comprising the firefly luciferase (Fluc) reporter gene driven by the NAD(P)H p67(phox) promoter. MSCs cotransfected with NAD(P)H p67(phox)-Fluc and a cell viability reporter gene (cytomegalovirus-Renilla luciferase) were studied under in vitro and in vivo pro-oxidant conditions. RESULTS After in vitro validation of the sensor during low-serum culture, transfected MSCs were transplanted into a rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (IR) and monitored by using bioluminescence imaging. Compared with sham controls (no IR), cardiac Fluc intensity was significantly higher in IR rats (3.5-fold at 6 h, 2.6-fold at 24 h, 5.4-fold at 48 h; p < 0.01), indicating increased cellular oxidative stress. This finding was corroborated by ex vivo luminometry after correcting for Renilla luciferase activity as a measure of viable MSC number (Fluc:Renilla luciferase ratio 0.011 ± 0.003 for sham vs. 0.026 ± 0.004 for IR at 48 h; p < 0.05). Furthermore, in IR animals that received MSCs preconditioned with an antioxidant agent (tempol), Fluc signal was strongly attenuated, substantiating the specificity of the oxidative stress sensor. CONCLUSIONS Pathway-specific reporter gene imaging allows assessment of changes in the oxidative status of MSCs after delivery to ischemic myocardium, providing a template to monitor key biological interactions between transplanted cells and their host environment in living subjects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Psaltis
- Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bagó JR, Aguilar E, Alieva M, Soler-Botija C, Vila OF, Claros S, Andrades JA, Becerra J, Rubio N, Blanco J. In vivo bioluminescence imaging of cell differentiation in biomaterials: a platform for scaffold development. Tissue Eng Part A 2012; 19:593-603. [PMID: 23013334 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2012.0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In vivo testing is a mandatory last step in scaffold development. Agile longitudinal noninvasive real-time monitoring of stem cell behavior in biomaterials implanted in live animals should facilitate the development of scaffolds for tissue engineering. We report on a noninvasive bioluminescence imaging (BLI) procedure for simultaneous monitoring of changes in the expression of multiple genes to evaluate scaffold performance in vivo. Adipose tissue-derived stromal mensenchymal cells were dually labeled with Renilla red fluorescent protein and firefly green fluorescent protein chimeric reporters regulated by cytomegalovirus and tissue-specific promoters, respectively. Labeled cells were induced to differentiate in vitro and in vivo, by seeding in demineralized bone matrices (DBMs) and monitored by BLI. Imaging results were validated by RT-polymerase chain reaction and histological procedures. The proposed approach improves molecular imaging and measurement of changes in gene expression of cells implanted in live animals. This procedure, applicable to the simultaneous analysis of multiple genes from cells seeded in DBMs, should facilitate engineering of scaffolds for tissue repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juli R Bagó
- Cardiovascular Research Center CSIC-ICCC, CIBER-BBN, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Pouliot F, Sato M, Jiang ZK, Huyn S, Karanikolas BD, Wu L. A molecular imaging system based on both transcriptional and genomic amplification to detect prostate cancer cells in vivo. Mol Ther 2012; 21:554-60. [PMID: 23247102 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
An imaging modality that can accurately discern prostate cancer (PCa) foci would be useful to detect PCa early or guide treatment. We have engineered numerous adenoviral vectors (Ads) to carry out reporter gene-based imaging using specific promoters to express a potent transcriptional activator, which in turn activates the reporter gene in PCa. This two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) method can boost promoters' activity, while maintaining cell specificity. Here, we examined a dual TSTA (DTSTA) approach, which utilizes TSTA not only to express the imaging reporter, but also to direct viral genome replication of a conditionally replicating Ad (CRAd) to further augment the expression levels of the reporter gene by genomic amplification supported in trans by coadministered CRAd. In vitro studies showed up to 50-fold increase of the reporter genome by DTSTA. Compared with TSTA reporter alone, DTSTA application exhibited a 25-fold increase in imaging signal in PCa xenografts. DTSTA approach is also beneficial for a combination of two TSTA Ads with distinct promoters, although amplification is observed only when TSTA-CRAd can replicate. Consequently, the DTSTA approach is a hybrid method of transcriptional and genomic augmentation that can provide higher level reporter gene expression potentially with a lower dose of viral administration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Pouliot
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Rodriguez-Porcel M, Kronenberg MW, Henry TD, Traverse JH, Pepine CJ, Ellis SG, Willerson JT, Moyé LA, Simari RD. Cell tracking and the development of cell-based therapies: a view from the Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2012; 5:559-65. [PMID: 22595165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2011.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Revised: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 12/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies are being developed for myocardial infarction (MI) and its consequences (e.g., heart failure) as well as refractory angina and critical limb ischemia. The promising results obtained in preclinical studies led to the translation of this strategy to clinical studies. To date, the initial results have been mixed: some studies showed benefit, whereas in others, no benefit was observed. There is a growing consensus among the scientific community that a better understanding of the fate of transplanted cells (e.g., cell homing and viability over time) will be critical for the long-term success of these strategies and that future studies should include an assessment of cell homing, engraftment, and fate as an integral part of the trial design. In this review, different imaging methods and technologies are discussed within the framework of the physiological answers that the imaging strategies can provide, with a special focus on the inherent regulatory issues.
Collapse
|
14
|
Yaghoubi SS, Campbell DO, Radu CG, Czernin J. Positron emission tomography reporter genes and reporter probes: gene and cell therapy applications. Am J Cancer Res 2012; 2:374-91. [PMID: 22509201 PMCID: PMC3326723 DOI: 10.7150/thno.3677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2011] [Accepted: 02/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging reporter genes (IRGs) and PET reporter probes (PRPs) are amongst the most valuable tools for gene and cell therapy. PET IRGs/PRPs can be used to non-invasively monitor all aspects of the kinetics of therapeutic transgenes and cells in all types of living mammals. This technology is generalizable and can allow long-term kinetics monitoring. In gene therapy, PET IRGs/PRPs can be used for whole-body imaging of therapeutic transgene expression, monitoring variations in the magnitude of transgene expression over time. In cell or cellular gene therapy, PET IRGs/PRPs can be used for whole-body monitoring of therapeutic cell locations, quantity at all locations, survival and proliferation over time and also possibly changes in characteristics or function over time. In this review, we have classified PET IRGs/PRPs into two groups based on the source from which they were derived: human or non-human. This classification addresses the important concern of potential immunogenicity in humans, which is important for expansion of PET IRG imaging in clinical trials. We have then discussed the application of this technology in gene/cell therapy and described its use in these fields, including a summary of using PET IRGs/PRPs in gene and cell therapy clinical trials. This review concludes with a discussion of the future direction of PET IRGs/PRPs and recommends cell and gene therapists collaborate with molecular imaging experts early in their investigations to choose a PET IRG/PRP system suitable for progression into clinical trials.
Collapse
|
15
|
Non-invasive bioluminescence imaging of myoblast-mediated hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha gene transfer. Mol Imaging Biol 2012; 13:1124-32. [PMID: 21267661 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-011-0471-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We tested a novel imaging strategy, in which both the survival of transplanted myoblasts and their therapeutic transgene expression, a recombinant hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α-VP2), can be monitored using firefly luciferase (fluc) and Renilla luciferase (hrl) bioluminescence reporter genes, respectively. PROCEDURES The plasmid pUbi-hrl-pUbi-HIF-1α-VP2, which expresses both hrl and HIF-1α-VP2 using two ubiquitin promoters, was characterized in vitro. C2c12 myoblasts stably expressing fluc and transiently transfected with pUbi-hrl-pUbi-HIF-1α-VP2 were injected into the mouse hindlimb. Both hrl and fluc expression were monitored using bioluminescence imaging (BLI). RESULTS Strong correlations existed between the expression of hRL and each of HIF-1α-VP2, VEGF, and PlGF (r(2) > 0.83, r(2) > 0.82, and r(2) > 0.97, respectively). In vivo, both transplanted cells and HIF-1α-VP2 transgene expression were successfully imaged using BLI. CONCLUSIONS An objective evaluation of myoblast-mediated gene transfer in living mice can be performed by monitoring both the survival and the transgene expression of transplanted myoblasts using the techniques developed herein.
Collapse
|
16
|
Hwang DW, Lee DS. Optical imaging for stem cell differentiation to neuronal lineage. Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2012; 46:1-9. [PMID: 24900026 DOI: 10.1007/s13139-011-0122-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2011] [Revised: 11/22/2011] [Accepted: 11/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
In regenerative medicine, the prospect of stem cell therapy holds great promise for the recovery of injured tissues and effective treatment of intractable diseases. Tracking stem cell fate provides critical information to understand and evaluate the success of stem cell therapy. The recent emergence of in vivo noninvasive molecular imaging has enabled assessment of the behavior of grafted stem cells in living subjects. In this review, we provide an overview of current optical imaging strategies based on cell- or tissue-specific reporter gene expression and of in vivo methods to monitor stem cell differentiation into neuronal lineages. These methods use optical reporters either regulated by neuron-specific promoters or containing neuron-specific microRNA binding sites. Both systems revealed dramatic changes in optical reporter imaging signals in cells differentiating into a neuronal lineage. The detection limit of weak promoters or reporter genes can be greatly enhanced by adopting a yeast GAL4 amplification system or an engineering-enhanced luciferase reporter gene. Furthermore, we propose an advanced imaging system to monitor neuronal differentiation during neurogenesis that uses in vivo multiplexed imaging techniques capable of detecting several targets simultaneously.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Do Won Hwang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 28 Yongon-Dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744 Korea ; Institute of Radiation Medicine, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dong Soo Lee
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 28 Yongon-Dong, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 110-744 Korea ; WCU, Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Science, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Badr CE, Tannous BA. Bioluminescence imaging: progress and applications. Trends Biotechnol 2011; 29:624-33. [PMID: 21788092 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2011.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 06/06/2011] [Accepted: 06/15/2011] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Application of bioluminescence imaging has increased tremendously in the past decade and has significantly contributed to core conceptual advances in biomedical research. This technology provides valuable means for monitoring of different biological processes in immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In this review, we discuss current trends in bioluminescence and its application in different fields with an emphasis on cancer research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian E Badr
- Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chen L, Hann B, Wu L. Experimental models to study lymphatic and blood vascular metastasis. J Surg Oncol 2011; 103:475-83. [PMID: 21480239 DOI: 10.1002/jso.21794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
As a model system for the understanding of human cancer, the mouse has proved immensely valuable. Indeed, studies of mouse models have helped to define the nature of cancer as a genetic disease and demonstrated the causal role of genetic events found in tumors. As an experimental platform, they have provided critical insight into the process of tumor metastasis in the lymphovascular system. Once viewed with skepticism, mouse models are now an integral arm of basic and clinical cancer research. The use of a genetically tractable organism that shares organ systems and an immense degree of genetic similarity to humans provides a means to examine multiple features of human disease. Mouse models enable development and testing of new approaches to disease prevention and treatment, identification of early diagnostic markers and novel therapeutic targets, and an understanding of the in vivo biology and genetics of tumor initiation, promotion, progression, and metastasis. This review summarizes recent mouse models for lymphangiogenesis and the process of lymphovascular metastasis, focusing on the use of the cornea as an experimental platform for lymphangiogenesis in inflammation and immunity, and on the use of molecular and viral vector mediated imaging and to identify and monitor lymph node metastases of prostate cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lu Chen
- Center for Eye Disease & Development, Program in Vision Science and School of Optometry, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Y Chen
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5111, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Pouliot F, Karanikolas BDW, Johnson M, Sato M, Priceman SJ, Stout D, Sohn J, Satyamurthy N, deKernion JB, Wu L. In vivo imaging of intraprostatic-specific gene transcription by PET. J Nucl Med 2011; 52:784-91. [PMID: 21498525 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.110.084582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Better intraprostatic cancer imaging techniques are needed to guide clinicians in prostate cancer treatment decisions. Because many genes are specifically overexpressed in cancer cells, one strategy to improve prostate cancer detection is to image intraprostatic cancer-specific transcriptional activity. Because of the obstacles of weak cancer- or tissue-specific promoter activity and bladder clearance of many PET tracers, intraprostatic PET of gene transcriptional activity has not been previously reported. METHODS The two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system that amplifies the prostate-specific antigen promoter activity was used for PET imaging of the reporter gene herpes simplex virus type-1 sr39 thymidine kinase (HSV1-sr39tk). The TSTA-sr39tk system was injected directly into prostates or prostatic tumors as a replication-incompetent adenovirus (AdTSTA-sr39tk) and imaged using PET. RESULTS AdTSTA-sr39tk was able to image prostate-specific antigen promoter transcriptional activity by 9-(4-(18)F-fluoro-3-[hydroxymethyl]butyl)guanine PET, in both mouse and canine prostates in vivo. Ex vivo small-animal PET images, scintigraphic counts, and sr39tk expression analysis confirmed the specificity of the observed signal. CONCLUSION Here, by combining the TSTA-amplified signal with a protocol for tracer administration, we show that in vivo PET detection of transcriptional activity is possible in both mouse and immunocompetent canine prostates. These results suggest that imaging applications using transcription-based tumor-specific promoters should be pursued to better visualize cancer foci that escape detection by conventional biopsies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Pouliot
- Institute of Urologic Oncology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Abstract
Optimization of the specific affinity of cardiac delivery vector could significantly improve the efficiency of gene/protein delivery, yet no cardiac vectors to date have sufficient target specificity for myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we explored bacterial tropism for infarcted myocardium based on our previous observations that certain bacteria are capable of targeting the hypoxic regions in solid tumors. Out of several Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium strains, the S. typhimurium defective in the synthesis of ppGpp (ΔppGpp S. typhimurium) revealed accumulation and selective proliferation in the infarcted myocardium without spillover to noncardiac tissue. The Salmonellae that were engineered to express a variant of Renilla luciferase gene (RLuc8), under the control of the E. coli arabinose operon promoter (P(BAD)), selectively targeted and delivered RLuc8 in the infarcted myocardium only upon injection of L-arabinose. An examination of the infarct size before and after infection, and estimations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin indicated that intravenous injection of ΔppGpp S. typhimurium did not induce serious local or systemic immune reactions. This current proof-of-principle study demonstrates for the first time the capacity of Salmonellae to target infarcted myocardium and to serve as a vehicle for the selective delivery of therapeutic agents in MI.
Collapse
|
22
|
Patel MR, Chang YF, Chen IY, Bachmann MH, Yan X, Contag CH, Gambhir SS. Longitudinal, noninvasive imaging of T-cell effector function and proliferation in living subjects. Cancer Res 2011; 70:10141-9. [PMID: 21159636 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-1843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Adoptive immunotherapy is evolving to assume an increasing role in treating cancer. Most imaging studies in adoptive immunotherapy to date have focused primarily on locating tumor-specific T cells rather than understanding their effector functions. In this study, we report the development of a noninvasive imaging strategy to monitor T-cell activation in living subjects by linking a reporter gene to the Granzyme B promoter (pGB), whose transcriptional activity is known to increase during T-cell activation. Because pGB is relatively weak and does not lead to sufficient reporter gene expression for noninvasive imaging, we specifically employed 2 signal amplification strategies, namely the Two Step Transcription Amplification (TSTA) strategy and the cytomegalovirus enhancer (CMVe) strategy, to maximize firefly luciferase reporter gene expression. Although both amplification strategies were capable of increasing pGB activity in activated primary murine splenocytes, only the level of bioluminescence activity achieved with the CMVe strategy was adequate for noninvasive imaging in mice. Using T cells transduced with a reporter vector containing the hybrid pGB-CMVe promoter, we were able to optically image T-cell effector function longitudinally in response to tumor antigens in living mice. This methodology has the potential to accelerate the study of adoptive immunotherapy in preclinical cancer models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manishkumar R Patel
- Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|