Multimodality reporter gene imaging: Construction strategies and application

• Published in: Theranostics Vol. 8; no. 11; pp. 2954 - 2973
• Main Authors: Li, Mengting, Wang, Yichun, Liu, Mei, Lan, Xiaoli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Ivyspring International Publisher 01.01.2018
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Tracking; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Genes, Reporter; Genetic Therapy; Mice; Molecular Imaging; Multimodal Imaging; Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Neoplasms - therapy; Review; multimodality imaging; cell tracing; gene directed therapy; molecular imaging; reporter gene; drug screening
• ISSN: 1838-7640; 1838-7640
• DOI: 10.7150/thno.24108

Molecular imaging has played an important role in the noninvasive exploration of multiple biological processes. Reporter gene imaging is a key part of molecular imaging. By combining with a reporter probe, a reporter protein can induce the accumulation of specific signals that are detectable by an imaging device to provide indirect information of reporter gene expression in living subjects. There are many types of reporter genes and each corresponding imaging technique has its own advantages and drawbacks. Fused reporter genes or single reporter genes with products detectable by multiple imaging modalities can compensate for the disadvantages and potentiate the advantages of each modality. Reporter gene multimodality imaging could be applied to trace implanted cells, monitor gene therapy, assess endogenous molecular events, screen drugs, etc. Although several types of multimodality imaging apparatus and multimodality reporter genes are available, more sophisticated detectors and multimodality reporter gene systems are needed.