Gamma camera and optical imaging with a fusion reporter gene using human sodium/iodide symporter and monomeric red fluorescent protein in mouse model

• Published in: International journal of radiation biology Vol. 87; no. 12; pp. 1182 - 1188
• Main Authors: Kim, Kwang Il, Park, Jae Jun, Lee, Yong Jin, Lee, Tae Sup, Woo, Kwang Sun, Song, Inho, Kim, Kyeong Min, Choi, Chang Woon, Lim, Sang Moo, Kang, Joo Hyun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.12.2011; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Blotting, Western; Cell Line, Tumor; Diagnostic Imaging - methods; Disease Models, Animal; dual-reporter gene; Gamma Cameras; Gene Fusion - genetics; Genes, Reporter; HT29 Cells; Humans; Luminescent Proteins - genetics; Luminescent Proteins - metabolism; mCherry; Mice; molecular imaging; Nuclear imaging; optical imaging; Red Fluorescent Protein; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; sodium/iodide symporter; Symporters - genetics; Symporters - metabolism
• ISSN: 0955-3002; 1362-3095; 1362-3095
• DOI: 10.3109/09553002.2011.630440

Abstract Purpose: Multimodality imaging contributes to the activation of translational research by compensating for its weak points. Herein, we developed a noninvasive dual-reporter gene system for nuclear and optical imaging. Materials and methods: We constructed a fusion reporter vector concurrently expressing the human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) and monomeric red fluorescent protein (mCherry), and evaluated the function of this fusion reporter system under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Results: The expression of hNIS/mCherry fusion gene was confirmed in transfected cells using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. As the numbers of cells increased, the fluorescence and 125I uptake increased in the hNIS/mCherry-transfected cells, and a high correlation between fluorescence intensity and radioactivity was noted. The fluorescence intensities and radioactivity signals were also well-correlated in HT-29-hNIS/mCherry tumors (R2 = 0.9304) in in vivo fluorescence and gamma camera imaging. Conclusions: The dual-reporter imaging method using hNIS and mCherry genes reflected tumor extent as well as viable cell numbers, and correlated well with one another. This suggests that the hNIS/mCherry dual-reporter system can be a useful tool for multi-modal imaging.