Abstract #0680

Cell Motility of Neural Stem Cells Is Reduced After SPIO-Labeling Which Is Mitigated After Exocytosis

Stacey M. Cromer Berman¹, Kshitiz Gupta², C. Joanne Wang², Inema Orukari¹, Andre Levchenko², Piotr Walczak¹, Jeff W.M. Bulte¹

¹Dept. of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States; ²Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States

Time-lapse microscopy of cell division and random cellular motility assays were performed on SPIO-labeled neural stem cells. Both the maximum and average speed of NSCs were reduced as compared to unlabeled controls. Following transplantation into mouse brain, rapid exocytosis of SPIO by live (as determined by BLI) cells was observed as early as 48 hours post-engraftment, with SPIO-depleted cells showing the farthest migration distance. As label dilution is negligible at this early time point, we conclude that MRI underestimation of cell migration can occur as a result of reduced cell motility, which is mitigated following SPIO exocytosis.