Overexpression of the MRI Reporter Genes Ferritin and Transferrin Receptor Affect Iron Homeostasis and Produce Limited Contrast in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Sofia M. Pereira¹  Diana Moss¹  Steve R. Williams²  Patricia Murray¹  Arthur Taylor¹ 

[1] Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK; E-Mails:;Centre for Imaging Sciences, Oxford Road, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; E-Mail:

关键词: reporter genes;    magnetic resonance;    biogenic nanoparticles;    cell tracking;    chick embryo;    ferritin;    transferrin receptor;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms160715481

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Imaging technologies that allow the non-invasive monitoring of stem cells in vivo play a vital role in cell-based regenerative therapies. Recently, much interest has been generated in reporter genes that enable simultaneous monitoring of the anatomical location and viability of cells using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we investigate the efficacy of ferritin heavy chain-1 (Fth1) and transferrin receptor-1 (TfR1) as reporters for tracking mesenchymal stem cells. The overexpression of TfR1 was well tolerated by the cells but Fth1 was found to affect the cell’s iron homeostasis, leading to phenotypic changes in the absence of iron supplementation and an upregulation in transcript and protein levels of the cell’s endogenous transferrin receptor. Neither the sole overexpression of Fth1 nor TfR1 resulted in significant increases in intracellular iron content, although significant differences were seen when the two reporter genes were used in combination, in the presence of high concentrations of iron. The supplementation of the culture medium with iron sources was a more efficient means to obtain contrast than the use of reporter genes, where high levels of intracellular iron were reflected in transverse (T₂) relaxation. The feasibility of imaging iron-supplemented cells by MRI is shown using a 3R-compliant chick embryo model.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.