Abstract #0519

Enhanced Cerebral Targeting of Magnetically Labeled Glial Precursor Cells Using the VLA-4/VCAM-1 Adhesion Pathway

Piotr Walczak^1,2, Michael Levy^2,3, Michael Gorelik^2,3, Douglas A. Kerr^2,3, Jeff W.M Bulte^1,2

¹Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; ²Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; ³Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

Global cerebral targeting and homing of therapeutic stem cells is of key importance for neurodegenerative disorders having multiple lesions. For cell therapy using intra-arterial injections, it is critical to achieve a high level of initial cellular adhesion to cerebral endothelium before cells can enter the brain parenchyma. We have exploited the use of the VLA-4/VCAM-1 endothelial adhesion pathway to enhance initial endothelial binding by means of transfecting glial restricted precursors (GRPs) with VLA-4. In an LPS-induced inflammatory brain model, Feridex-labeled and VLA-4 over-expressing GRPs showed a dramatically enhanced global cerebral retention as compared to those injected in normal brain.