Reporter gene approaches for mapping cell fate decisions by MRI: promises and pitfalls

The central dogma of molecular biology, namely the process by which information encoded in the DNA serves as the template for transcriptional activation of specific mRNA resulting in temporal and spatial control of the translation of specific proteins, stands at the basis of normal and pathological cellular processes. Serving as the primary mechanism linking genotype to phenotype, it is clearly of significant interest for in vivo imaging. While classically, imaging revolutionized the ability to phenotype the anatomical and physiological impact of induction of changes in gene expression, the preceding molecular events remained invisible. Reporter gene-based imaging techniques provide a window for in vivo visualization of such transcriptional activation events. In addition to the widespread use of fluorescent and bioluminescent reporter genes and development of a number of reporter genes for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, there has been significant progress in the development of reporter genes for MRI. With the development of strategies for cellular based therapies, such imaging tools could become central components for personalized patient monitoring.