Original Article
Copyright ©2010 Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 7, 2010; 16(29): 3674-3679
Published online Aug 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i29.3674
Magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells after autologous transplantation into acutely injured liver
Xiao-Lei Shi, Jin-Yang Gu, Bing Han, Hai-Yun Xu, Liang Fang, Yi-Tao Ding
Xiao-Lei Shi, Jin-Yang Gu, Hai-Yun Xu, Liang Fang, Yi-Tao Ding, Jiangsu Province’s Key Medical Center for Hepatobiliary Disease, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
Xiao-Lei Shi, Bing Han, Yi-Tao Ding, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated DrumTower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
Jin-Yang Gu, Hai-Yun Xu, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, DrumTower Clinical Medical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Shi XL designed the research; Gu JY, Han B, Xu HY and Fang L performed the research; Ding YT contributed new reagents/analytic tools; Shi XL, Gu JY and Ding YT analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Supported by (partly) the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, No. BK2007537; key program of Nanjing Municipal Bureau of Public Health, No. ZKX06015
Correspondence to: Yi-Tao Ding, Professor, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated DrumTower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu Province, China. yitaoding@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-25-83304616 Fax: +86-25-83317016
Received: February 5, 2010
Revised: April 1, 2010
Accepted: April 8, 2010
Published online: August 7, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate tracking of magnetically labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after intraportal transplantation.

METHODS: Mononuclear cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of pigs by density gradient centrifugation, cultured and expanded, after which, they were incubated with super paramagnetic iron oxide (SPIO). Prussian blue staining was performed to highlight intracellular iron. To establish swine models of acute liver injury, 0.5 g/kg D-galactosamine was administrated to 10 pigs, six of which were injected via their portal veins with SPIO-labeled MSCs, while the remaining four were injected with unlabeled cells. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed with a clinical 1.5T MR scanner immediately before transplantation and 6 h, 3 d, 7 d and 14 d after transplantation. Prussian blue staining was again performed with the tissue slices at the endpoint.

RESULTS: Prussian blue staining of SPIO-labeled MSCs had a labeling efficiency of almost 100%. Signal intensity loss in the liver by SPIO labeling on the FFE (T2*WI) sequence persisted until 14 d after transplantation. Histological analysis by Prussian blue staining confirmed homing of labeled MSCs in the liver after 14 d; primarily distributed in hepatic sinusoids and liver parenchyma.

CONCLUSION: MSCs were successfully labeled with SPIO in vitro. MRI can monitor magnetically labeled MSCs transplanted into the liver.

Keywords: Magnetic resonance imaging; Mesenchymal stem cells; Super paramagnetic iron oxide; Stem cell transplantation