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Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Recently, 18F-tetrafluoroborate (TFB) was used as a substrate for the human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) reporter gene. This study evaluated the feasibility of performing molecular-genetic imaging by using the new radiotracer (18F-TFB) for the hNIS gene, to track dendritic cell (DC) migration in live mice. A murine dendritic cell line (DC2.4) co-expressing the hNIS and effluc genes (DC/NF) was established. To confirm the functional cellular expression of both effluc and NIS in the inoculated DC/NF cells by bio-medical imaging, combined bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and 18F-TFB positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging was performed after intramuscular injection with parental DCs and DC/NF cells. For DC-tracking, parental DCs or DC/NF cells were injected in the left or right mouse footpad, respectively, and 18F-TFB PET/CT and BLI were performed to monitor these cells in live mice.

RESULTS:
In vivo PET/CT and BLI showed a clear signal in DC/NF injection sites but not in parental DC injection sites. The signal intensity in DC/NF cells was correlated with time. In vivo 18F-TFB PET/CT imaging showed higher radiotracer activity in the draining popliteal lymphnodes (DPLNs) in DC/NF injection sites than those in DC injection sites on day 2. BLI also showed DC/NF cell migration to the DPLNs on day 2 after the injection.

CONCLUSIONS:
Migration of DCs to the lymph nodes was successfully monitored using 18F-TFB PET/CT imaging of the NIS gene and optical imaging of the effluc gene in live mice. These data support the feasibility of using 18F-TFB as a substrate for hNIS reporter gene imaging to track the migration of DCs to the lymph nodes in live animals. The use of 18F-TFB may facilitate enhanced PET imaging of the hNIS reporter gene in small animals and humans in future studies.

Author information

Lee SB1,2, Lee HW1, Lee H3, Jeon YH1,4, Lee SW1,3, Ahn BC1, Lee J1,5, Jeong SY6.
1
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea.
2
Leading-edge Research Center for Drug Discovery and Development for Diabetes and Metabolic Disease, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, 807 Hogukro, Buk-gu, Daegu, 41404, Republic of Korea.
3
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Dongnam Institution of Radiological and Medical Sciences, 40, Jwadong-gil, Jangan-eup, Gijang-gun, Busan, 46033, Republic of Korea.
4
Laboratory Animal Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 80 Cheombok-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41061, Republic of Korea.
5
Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 80 Cheombok-ro, Dong-gu, Daegu, 41061, Republic of Korea.
6
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine and Hospital, 130 Dongdeok-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu, 41944, Republic of Korea. syjeong@knu.ac.kr.