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Tracking Mouse Bone Marrow Monocytes In Vivo
Published on: February 27, 2015
Noninvasive cell-tracking methods
Moritz F Kircher1, Sanjiv S Gambhir, Jan Grimm
1Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Abstract:
Cell-based therapies, such as adoptive immunotherapy and stem-cell therapy, have received considerable attention as novel therapeutics in oncological research and clinical practice. The development of effective therapeutic strategies using tumor-targeted cells requires the ability to determine in vivo the location, distribution, and long-term viability of the therapeutic cell populations as well as their biological fate with respect to cell activation and differentiation. In conjunction with various noninvasive imaging modalities, cell-labeling methods, such as exogenous labeling or transfection with a reporter gene, allow visualization of labeled cells in vivo in real time, as well as monitoring and quantifying cell accumulation and function. Such cell-tracking methods also have an important role in basic cancer research, where they serve to elucidate novel biological mechanisms. In this Review, we describe the basic principles of cell-tracking methods, explain various approaches to cell tracking, and highlight recent examples for the application of such methods in animals and humans.
Insights
Cell-tracking methods are crucial for monitoring cell-based cancer therapies. These techniques visualize therapeutic cells in vivo, aiding in treatment development and understanding biological mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Imaging
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cell-based therapies, including adoptive immunotherapy and stem-cell therapy, are promising cancer treatments.
- Effective therapeutic strategies require in vivo monitoring of cell location, distribution, viability, and fate.
- Noninvasive imaging combined with cell-labeling is essential for real-time visualization and quantification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the principles and approaches of cell-tracking methods.
- To highlight applications of cell tracking in cancer research and clinical practice.
- To emphasize the role of cell tracking in advancing cell-based cancer therapies.
Main Methods:
- Exogenous cell labeling
- Reporter gene transfection
- Noninvasive imaging modalities (e.g., MRI, PET, optical imaging)
Main Results:
- Cell-tracking enables real-time in vivo visualization of therapeutic cells.
- Methods allow monitoring of cell distribution, accumulation, and function.
- Tracking provides insights into cell fate, including activation and differentiation.
Conclusions:
- Cell-tracking is indispensable for developing and evaluating cell-based cancer therapies.
- These methods are vital for understanding tumor biology and treatment efficacy.
- Applications span from preclinical animal models to human clinical trials.
