Tracking cells implanted into cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) using MRI

Yasuyo Ito-Fujishiro, Hiroshi Koie, Hiroaki Shibata, Sachi Okabayashi, Yuko Katakai, Chieko Ohno, Kiichi Kanayama, Yasuhiro Yasutomi, Naohide Ageyama

Regenerative therapy with stem cell transplantation is used to treat various diseases  such as coronary syndrome and Buerger’s disease. For instance, stem-cell transplantation into the infarcted myocardium is an innovative and promising strategy for treating heart failure due to ischemic heart disease. Basic studies using small animals have shown that transplanted cells improve blood flow in the infarcted region. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can noninvasively identify and track transplanted cells labeled with          superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). Although clinical regenerative therapies have been clinically applied to patients, the fate of implanted cells remains unknown. In addition, follow-up studies have shown that some adverse events can occur after recovery. Therefore, the present study evaluated the ability of MRI using a 3T scanner to track implanted peripheral blood mononuclear cells labeled with SPIO on days 0 and 7 after intramuscular (i.m.) and intravenous (i.v.) injection into a cynomolgus monkey. Labeled cells were visualized at the liver and triceps surae muscle on MR images using T1- and T2-weighted         sequences and histologically localized by Prussian blue staining. The transplanted cells were tracked without abnormal clinical manifestations throughout this study. Hence, MRI of cynomolgus monkey transplanted SPIO-labeled cells is a safe and efficient method of tracking labeled cells that could help to determine the mechanisms involved in regenerative therapy.

Experimental Animals

Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science

第65巻

第3号

311

318

1341-1357

10.1538/expanim.15-0125