Philip K.
Liu1, Christina H. Liu1
1Radiology,
Recruitment
of specific cells is associated with tissue repair. Cell typing especially at
the level of the DNA or RNA, has long depended on tissue biopsy of affected
organs or postmortem investigation.
The ability to evaluate therapies that might overcome such
perturbations by using genes or cells (gene or stem cell therapies) in a host
has been significantly limited. We have developed probes for specific cell
type detection using mRNA targeting antisense DNA and contrast-enhanced MRI
in live animals. Examples of detecting neural progenitor cells during brain
repair after cerebral ischemia using targeted MRI in vivo will be presented.