Single reporter for targeted multimodal in vivo imaging.

Abstract

We have developed a multifaceted, highly specific reporter for multimodal in vivo imaging and applied it for detection of brain tumors. A metabolically biotinylated, membrane-bound form of Gaussia luciferase was synthesized, termed mbGluc-biotin. We engineered glioma cells to express this reporter and showed that brain tumor formation can be temporally imaged by bioluminescence following systemic administration of coelenterazine. Brain tumors expressing this reporter had high sensitivity for detection by magnetic resonance and fluorescence tomographic imaging upon injection of streptavidin conjugated to magnetic nanoparticles or fluorophore, respectively. Moreover, single photon emission computed tomography showed enhanced imaging of these tumors upon injection with streptavidin complexed to (111)In-DTPA-biotin. This work shows for the first time a single small reporter (∼40 kDa) which can be monitored with most available molecular imaging modalities and can be extended for single cell imaging using intravital microscopy, allowing real-time tracking of any cell expressing it in vivo.

• Authors: Johanna M Niers, John W Chen, Grant Lewandrowski, Mariam Kerami, Elisabeth Garanger, Greg Wojtkiewicz, Peter Waterman, Edmund Keliher, Ralph Weissleder, Bakhos A Tannous
• Journal: Journal of the American Chemical Society (J Am Chem Soc) Vol. 134 Issue 11 Pg. 5149-56 (Mar 21 2012) ISSN: 1520-5126 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22397453 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Biotin
• Luciferases

Topics

• Animals
• Biotin (chemistry, metabolism)
• Brain Neoplasms (diagnosis, genetics, metabolism)
• Genes, Reporter (genetics)
• Humans
• Luciferases (chemistry, metabolism)
• Luminescent Measurements
• Mice
• Mice, Nude
• Single-Cell Analysis (methods)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured