Abstract #0932

Using Ferritin as a Transgenic MRI Reporter for Monitoring of Embryonic Stem Cell Graft in Vivo

Hui Mao^1,2, Jun Liu^2,3, Eric C. Cheng², Rober C. Long⁴, Shang Hsun Yang², Liya Wang⁴, Pei Hsun Cheng², Jin jing Yang², Anthony W.S. Chan²

¹Department of Radiology, Emory Unversity School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; ²Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; ³Neuroscience program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; ⁴Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

MRI reporters based on endogenous gene expression for MRI contrast offers advantages in longitudinal cell monitoring. Engineering stem cells with an MRI reporter may enable long term in vivo tracking implanted cells with MRI. We report a study on introducing a MRI reporter gene (ferrotin) into mouse ES (mES) cells and successful monitoring of transgenic mES cell grafts in mice. Transgenic mES cell lines carrying human ferritin heavy chain were established and T2 weighted MRI and multiple-TE T2 relaxometry of mice carrying mES cell grafts showed T2 contrast and significantly decreased T2 relaxation time in transgenic mES graft overexpressing ferritin.