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In Vivo MR Imaging of Dual MRI Reporter Genes and Deltex-1 Gene-modified Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Closed Penile Fracture

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of dual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporter genes, including ferritin heavy subunit (Fth) and transferrin receptor (TfR), which provide sufficient MRI contrast for in vivo MRI tracking, and the Deltex-1 (DTX1) gene, which promotes human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation to smooth muscle cells (SMCs), to treat closed penile fracture (CPF).

Methods

Multi-gene co-expressing hMSCs were generated. The expression of mRNA and proteins was assessed, and the original biological properties of hMSCs were determined and compared. The intracellular uptake of iron was evaluated, and the ability to differentiate into SMCs was detected. Fifty rabbits with CPF were randomly transplanted with PBS, hMSCs, Fth-TfR-hMSCs, DTX1-hMSCs, and Fth-TfR-DTX1-hMSCs. In vivo MRI was performed to detect the distribution and migration of the grafted cells and healing progress of CPF, and the results were correlated with histology.

Results

The mRNA and proteins of the multi-gene were highly expressed. The transgenes could not influence the original biological properties of hMSCs. The dual MRI reporter genes increased the iron accumulation capacity, and the DTX1 gene promoted hMSC differentiation into SMCs. The distribution and migration of the dual MRI reporter gene-modified hMSCs, and the healing state of CPF could be obviously detected by MRI and confirmed by histology.

Conclusion

The dual MRI reporter genes could provide sufficient MRI contrast, and the distribution and migration of MSCs could be detected in vivo. The DTX1 gene can promote MSC differentiation into SMCs for the treatment of CPF and effectively inhibit granulation tissue formation.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Ruomi Guo, Qingling Li, and Fei Yang contributed equally to the work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Ruomi Guo, Xiaojun Hu & Jin Wang

  2. Department of VIP Medical Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Qingling Li

  3. Department of Urology, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Fei Yang

  4. Department of Nuclear Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Ju Jiao & Yong Zhang

  5. Department of VIP Medical Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China

    Yu Guo

Authors
  1. Ruomi Guo
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  2. Qingling Li
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  3. Fei Yang
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  4. Xiaojun Hu
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  5. Ju Jiao
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  6. Yu Guo
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  7. Jin Wang
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  8. Yong Zhang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yong Zhang.

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The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.

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Cite this article

Guo, R., Li, Q., Yang, F. et al. In Vivo MR Imaging of Dual MRI Reporter Genes and Deltex-1 Gene-modified Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Closed Penile Fracture. Mol Imaging Biol 20, 417–427 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-017-1128-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-017-1128-0

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