Perfluorocarbon Labeling of Human Glial-Restricted Progenitors for 19 F Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Jean Philippe Richard, Uzma Hussain, Sarah Gross, Arens Taga, Mehreen Kouser, Akshata Almad, James T. Campanelli, Jeff W.M. Bulte, Nicholas J. Maragakis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

One of the fundamental limitations in assessing potential efficacy in Central Nervous System (CNS) transplantation of stem cells is the capacity for monitoring cell survival and migration noninvasively and longitudinally. Human glial-restricted progenitor (hGRP) cells (Q-Cells) have been investigated for their utility in providing neuroprotection following transplantation into models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and have been granted a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Investigational New Drug (IND) for intraspinal transplantation in ALS patients. Furthermore, clinical development of these cells for therapeutic use will rely on the ability to track the cells using noninvasive imaging methodologies as well as the verification that the transplanted GRPs have disease-relevant activity. As a first step in development, we investigated the use of a perfluorocarbon (PFC) dual-modal ( 19 F magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and fluorescence) tracer agent to label Q-Cells in culture and following spinal cord transplantation. PFCs have a number of potential benefits that make them appealing for clinical use. They are quantitative, noninvasive, biologically inert, and highly specific. In this study, we developed optimized PFC labeling protocols for Q-Cells and demonstrate that PFCs do not significantly alter the glial identity of Q-Cells. We also show that PFCs do not interfere with the capacity for differentiation into astrocytes either in vitro or following transplantation into the ventral horn of the mouse spinal cord, and can be visualized in vivo by hot spot 19 F MRI. These studies provide a foundation for further preclinical development of PFCs within the context of evaluating Q-Cell transplantation in the brain and spinal cord of future ALS patients using 19 F MRI. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2019;8:355–365.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)355-365
Number of pages11
JournalStem Cells Translational Medicine
Volume8
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Cell tracking
  • F
  • Fluorine-19
  • MRI
  • Perfluorocarbon
  • Stem cell
  • Transplantation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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