DOCSLIB.ORG

In Vivo Imaging Using Bioluminescence: a Tool for Probing Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
In Vivo Imaging Using Bioluminescence: a Tool for Probing Graft-Versus-Host Disease PERSPECTIVES known as GVHD2,3. Severe GVHD limits the INNOVATION overall effectiveness of HCT and precludes the application of this life-saving therapy to In vivo imaging using other clinical settings, such as for the treat- ment of severe autoimmune disorders4 or for the induction of tolerance to organ transplan- bioluminescence: a tool for tation. The risks of GVHD are substantial, such that 20–60% of patients will develop probing graft-versus-host disease this complication following allogeneic HCT, depending on disease-related factors, such as Robert S. Negrin and Christopher H. Contag the stage of disease, the age of the recipient and the degree of genetic disparity between Abstract | Immunological reactions have a key role in health and disease and are the donor and recipient. The reasons why complex events characterized by coordinated cell trafficking to specific locations some patients develop severe GVHD after throughout the body. Clarification of these cell-trafficking events is crucial for HCT, whereas others do not, remain unclear. improving our understanding of how immune reactions are initiated, controlled Given the substantial risk of GVHD, applica- and recalled. As we discuss here, an emerging modality for revealing cell tion of current HCT procedures requires that the donor is a fully matched histocompatible trafficking is bioluminescence imaging, which harnesses the light-emitting sibling or unrelated donor. Unfortunately, properties of enzymes such as luciferase for quantification of cells and uses low- many patients that need HCT are unable to light imaging systems. This strategy could be useful for the study of a wide range secure a well-matched donor, resulting in of biological processes, such as the pathophysiology of graft-versus-host and lethal consequences for the patient due to graft-versus-leukaemia reactions. disease progression. Therefore, the study of GVHD and GVL reactions provides insight into both normal and pathological immune Normal immune function is crucial for as for genetic and acquired immune deficien- reactions and has significant implications for maintaining health in a hostile environ- cies1. HCT involves the transfer of the entire the development of new and more effective ment containing many potential pathogens. haematopoietic and immune systems from a strategies for clinical management of disease. To protect against pathogens, immune donor to a recipient. The procedure involves responses must be both rapid and sustained. pretreatment of the patient with high doses Experimental models of HCT In addition, effector cells of the immune of chemotherapy, with or without irradiation, HCT has been widely studied in both rodent system provide immune surveillance against to eliminate malignant or defective and canine models, and these studies have malignancy and promote tissue remodelling haemato poietic cells. This is followed by the been crucially important in developing the and repair. The importance of a normal transfer to the patient (recipient) of donor- theoretical basis of HCT. Initial studies in immune response is further exemplified derived haematopoietic cells, which home mice established the concept of allogeneic by the observation that patients with many to the bone marrow and re-establish immune responses and GVHD. Mouse diseases, including cancer and infectious and haematopoiesis. After HCT, all of the haema- studies have also been crucial for studying auto immune diseases, have dysfunctional topoietic cells in the recipient, including allorecognition, and for exploring effector-cell immune responses. Therefore, a greater professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) populations and mechanisms, owing to the understanding of normal and pathological and immune effector cells, are of donor defined genetics and availability of strains immune responses will not only provide origin. The functional consequences for the that lack key effector molecules. Early stud- insights into basic biological mechanisms but recipient of the new donor-derived immune ies in dogs showed that in some litter-mates also will aid in the development of effective system are dramatic and include the ability to long-term engraftment occurred, whereas treatments for a range of diseases. reject the underlying malignancy or replace in others GVHD developed. The outbred In this Innovation article, we discuss damaged haemato poietic-cell populations canine model has been useful in the develop- how bioluminescence imaging (BLI) can be with normal cells. For example, the damaged ment of preparative regimens for transplan- used to analyse aspects of complex immune red blood cells in patients with thalassaemia tation, which were translated to the clinic5,6, reactions in living animals. We use graft-versus- or sickle-cell disease can be replaced with and to study the use of drug prophylaxis leukaemia (GVL) reactions and graft-versus-host healthy cells. The rejection of malignancy is for both acute and chronic GVHD in large disease (GVHD) as examples of what BLI can known as the GVL effect. The antigens on animals. More recent studies have led to teach us about clinically relevant immune the tumour cells that are recognized by the the development of non-myeloablative HCT, responses. donor leukocytes are largely unknown but in which the intensity of the preparative they include major and minor histocompatibility regimen of the recipient is reduced and Haematopoietic-cell transplantation antigens (depending on the genetic disparity replaced with immuno suppressive Nowhere in clinical medicine is the impor- between the donor and the recipient) as well medications to prevent graft rejection. This tance of effective immune responses clearer as potential tumour-specific antigens. strategy of HCT is associated with reduced than after allogeneic haematopoietic-cell Despite its success in promoting the rejec- transplant-related morbidity and mortality7. transplantation (HCT). Over the past several tion of malignancy, allogeneic HCT carries Non-myeloablative HCT has been widely decades, HCT has emerged as an effective the significant risk that the donor-derived applied in the clinic; however, GVHD and often life-saving treatment for a broad immune cells will recognize and respond to remains a serious complication of the array of haematological malignancies, as well recipient tissues and result in a syndrome therapy with an associated mortality rate 484 | JUNE 2006 | VOLUME 6 www.nature.com/reviews/immunol © 2006 Nature Publishing Group PERSPECTIVES Box 1 | Molecular imaging in immunology: watching and waiting for an immune response small animals also has several advantages over other approaches: it can usually accommodate Imaging modalities. Two-photon intravital microscopy offers resolution of cells in vivo11, but it is constrained by small fields of view and motion artefacts. Non-invasive measures of immunological multiple animals in a single image at each processes in vivo have been accomplished using positron emission tomography (PET)49–51, single time point; it is user-friendly so dedicated photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)52, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)53, imaging technicians are not required; and bioluminescence imaging (BLI) and fluorescence imaging (FLI)49,54–56. Ultrasound and X-ray it is less expensive than the instrumenta- computed tomography (CT) provide anatomical information, and when used in combination with tion required for SPECT, MRI and PET. other modalities, this information improves localization of the signals obtained by PET, SPECT The use of two-photon intravital microscopy or optical imaging57. PET, SPECT, ultrasound MRI and CT have potential clinical uses, and therefore offers high-resolution images of cell–cell are useful in translational studies. interactions in tissues11, but is constrained Optical methods. BLI and FLI can be used to refine and accelerate studies of animal models, but by a limited field of view and can be severely they have limited clinical application. Imaging times for optical imaging methods are generally hampered by motion artefacts. As a result short, which facilitates the analysis of greater numbers of animals. Optical methods also allow a of these limitations and constraints, only range of image resolutions from microscopic to macroscopic, produce images without the use of certain tissues can be observed using this ionizing radiation, offer the choice of many reporters and dyes, and benefit from user-friendly and approach. 58 59,60 inexpensive instrumentation . Signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for BLI are excellent , enabling In the field of optical imaging, there are detection of subtle changes non-invasively, thereby obviating the need to remove overlying tissue. several approaches that have been used to Reporter genes. The use of dyes and contrast agents allows visualization of the early events, but generate whole-body images of biological they are diluted by cell division. To prevent loss of labels during cell division, genes that encode processes in rodents. These include the use reporter proteins can be integrated into the genome. Reporter genes are available for PET, SPECT, of light scatter, absorbance, fluorescence MRI and optical imaging49,57, each with strengths and weaknesses. The radiotracers used for PET and bioluminescence. In this Perspective and SPECT often produce signals from kidney, liver and bladder that can obscure the target tissue, and MRI is generally less sensitive than imaging of reporter-gene expression with PET or SPECT. article,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Review on Bioluminescence Imaging
    DOI: 10.37421/apn.2020.05.170 Review Article Journal of Volume 12:7, 2021 Nuclear Medicine & Radiation Therapy ISSN: 2155-9619 Open Access Review on Bioluminescence Imaging Cleodora Yen* Department of Radiology, Yale University, United States Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) is an innovation created over the previous decade The strategy expects luciferin to be added to the circulatory system, which conveys it that takes into consideration the noninvasive investigation of continuous organic cycles. to cells all through the body. At the point when luciferin arrives at cells that have been As of late, bioluminescence tomography (BLT) has become conceivable and a few adjusted to convey the firefly quality, those cells produce light [2]. frameworks have opened up. In 2011, PerkinElmer gained perhaps the most famous lines of optical imaging frameworks with bioluminescence from Caliper Life Sciences. The BLT opposite issue of 3D remaking of the dispersion of bioluminescent atoms Bioluminescence is the cycle of light outflow in living life forms. Bioluminescence imaging from information estimated on the creature surface is innately poorly presented. The uses local light outflow from one of a few organic entities which bioluminesce. The three main little creature study utilizing BLT was directed by scientists at the University of principle sources are the North American firefly, the ocean pansy (and related marine Southern California, Los Angeles, USA in 2005. Following this turn of events, many organic entities), and microbes like Photorhabdus luminescens and Vibrio fischeri. The exploration bunches in USA and China have fabricated frameworks that empower BLT. DNA encoding the iridescent protein is fused into the lab creature either by means of Mustard plants have had the quality that makes fireflies' tails shine added to them so the a viral vector or by making a transgenic creature.
    [Show full text]
  • Integration of Circadian and Phototransduction Pathways in the Network Controlling CAB Gene Transcription in Arabidopsis
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 93, pp. 15491–15496, December 1996 Plant Biology Integration of circadian and phototransduction pathways in the network controlling CAB gene transcription in Arabidopsis (firefly luciferaseyluminescence imagingycircadian rhythmygene expression) ANDREW J. MILLAR* AND STEVE A. KAY National Science Foundation Center for Biological Timing, Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903 Communicated by Winslow Briggs, Carnegie Institute of Washington, Stanford, CA, October 15, 1996 (received for review June 24, 1996) ABSTRACT The transcription of CAB genes, encoding the the circadian clock acts negatively on CAB expression, antag- chlorophyll ayb-binding proteins, is rapidly induced in dark- onizing the positive effects of phototransduction pathways grown Arabidopsis seedlings following a light pulse. The during the subjective night. transient induction is followed by several cycles of a circadian The transient induction of CAB expression immediately rhythm. Seedlings transferred to continuous light are known after plants are exposed to light is referred to as the ‘‘acute’’ to exhibit a robust circadian rhythm of CAB expression. The response to light (9, 11). Many circadian-regulated processes precise waveform of CAB expression in light–dark cycles, exhibit acute effects of light: the expression of clock-controlled however, reflects a regulatory network that integrates infor- genes (ccg)inNeurospora is induced by light (12), for example, mation from photoreceptors, from the circadian clock and and the production of melatonin in cultured avian pinealocytes possibly from a developmental program. We have used the is suppressed (13). Current evidence indicates that the circa- luciferase reporter system to investigate CAB expression with dian oscillator is not required for these acute responses: ccg high time resolution.
    [Show full text]
  • Determining the Depth Limit of Bioluminescent Sources in Scattering Media
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.21.044982; this version posted April 23, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Determining the Depth Limit of Bioluminescent Sources in Scattering Media. Ankit Raghuram1,*, Fan Ye1, Jesse K. Adams1,2, Nathan Shaner3, Jacob T. Robinson1,2,4,5, Ashok Veeraraghavan1,2,6 1 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA 2 Applied Physics Program, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA 3 Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA 4 Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA 5 Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA 6 Department of Computer Science, Rice University, Houston TX 77005, USA * [email protected] Abstract Bioluminescence has several potential advantages compared to fluorescence microscopy for in vivo biological imaging. Because bioluminescence does not require excitation light, imaging can be performed for extended periods of time without phototoxicity or photobleaching, and optical systems can be smaller, simpler, and lighter. Eliminating the need for excitation light may also affect how deeply one can image in scattering biological tissue, but the imaging depth limits for bioluminescence have yet to be reported. Here, we perform a theoretical study of the depth limits of bioluminescence microscopy and find that cellular resolution imaging should be possible at a depth of 5-10 mean free paths (MFPs). This limit is deeper than the depth limit for confocal microscopy and slightly lower than the imaging limit expected for two-photon microscopy under similar conditions.
    [Show full text]
  • Bioluminescence Imaging of DNA Synthetic Phase of Cell Cycle in Living Animals
    Bioluminescence Imaging of DNA Synthetic Phase of Cell Cycle in Living Animals Zhi-Hong Chen1,2, Rui-Jun Zhao1,3, Rong-Hui Li1,3, Cui-Ping Guo1,3, Guo-Jun Zhang1,3* 1 Breast Center, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People’s Republic of China, 2 Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, People’s Republic of China, 3 Cancer Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, People’s Republic of China Abstract Bioluminescence reporter proteins have been widely used in the development of tools for monitoring biological events in living cells. Currently, some assays like flow cytometry analysis are available for studying DNA synthetic phase (S-phase) targeted anti-cancer drug activity in vitro; however, techniques for imaging of in vivo models remain limited. Cyclin A2 is known to promote S-phase entry in mammals. Its expression levels are low during G1-phase, but they increase at the onset of S-phase. Cyclin A2 is degraded during prometaphase by ubiquitin-dependent, proteasome-mediated proteolysis. In this study, we have developed a cyclin A2-luciferase (CYCA-Luc) fusion protein targeted for ubiquitin-proteasome dependent degradation, and have evaluated its utility in screening S-phase targeted anti-cancer drugs. Similar to endogenous cyclin A2, CYCA-Luc accumulates during S-phase and is degraded during G2/M-phase. Using Cdc20 siRNA we have demonstrated that Cdc20 can mediate CYCA-Luc degradation. Moreover, using noninvasive bioluminescent imaging, we demonstrated accumulation of CYCA-Luc in response to 10-hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT), an S-phase targeted anti-cancer drug, in human tumor cells in vivo and in vitro.
    [Show full text]
  • Strongly Enhanced Bacterial Bioluminescence with the Ilux Operon for Single-Cell Imaging
    Strongly enhanced bacterial bioluminescence with the ilux operon for single-cell imaging Carola Gregora,1, Klaus C. Gwoscha, Steffen J. Sahla, and Stefan W. Hella,b,1 aDepartment of NanoBiophotonics, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; and bDepartment of Optical Nanoscopy, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany Contributed by Stefan W. Hell, December 8, 2017 (sent for review September 12, 2017; reviewed by David W. Piston and Alice Y. Ting) Bioluminescence imaging of single cells is often complicated by the filters are required, making the setup very simple. In addition, it is requirement of exogenous luciferins that can be poorly cell- possible to study processes where the intense excitation light re- permeable or produce high background signal. Bacterial biolumi- quired for fluorescence measurements would be disturbing, such + nescence is unique in that it uses reduced flavin mononucleotide as circadian rhythms or Ca2 activity in the retina (3, 4). Third, no as a luciferin, which is abundant in all cells, making this system phototoxicity or bleaching occurs, allowing image acquisition over purely genetically encodable by the lux operon. Unfortunately, the arbitrary timespans. Furthermore, bioluminescence is dependent use of bacterial bioluminescence has been limited by its low on metabolic energy, and hence, only metabolically active cells are brightness compared with other luciferases. Here, we report the visible, preventing artifacts due to the observation of severely generation of an improved lux operon named ilux with an approx- damaged or dead cells. imately sevenfold increased brightness when expressed in Escheri- In addition to the limitation by their low brightness, the lucif- chia coli; ilux can be used to image single E.
    [Show full text]
  • Optimization of Bacterial Bioluminescence (<I>Lux</I>)
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 12-2012 Optimization of Bacterial Bioluminescence (lux) Expression and Development of Autonomous lux-Based Reporters in Human Cell Lines Tingting Xu [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss Part of the Biotechnology Commons Recommended Citation Xu, Tingting, "Optimization of Bacterial Bioluminescence (lux) Expression and Development of Autonomous lux-Based Reporters in Human Cell Lines. " PhD diss., University of Tennessee, 2012. https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_graddiss/1574 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of TRACE: Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. To the Graduate Council: I am submitting herewith a dissertation written by Tingting Xu entitled "Optimization of Bacterial Bioluminescence (lux) Expression and Development of Autonomous lux-Based Reporters in Human Cell Lines." I have examined the final electronic copy of this dissertation for form and content and recommend that it be accepted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, with a major in Microbiology. Gary S. Sayler, Major Professor We have read this dissertation and recommend its acceptance: Alison Buchan, Timothy E. Sparer, Seung J. Baek, John P. Biggerstaff Accepted for the Council: Carolyn R. Hodges Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (Original signatures are on file with official studentecor r ds.) Optimization of Bacterial Bioluminescence (lux) Expression and Development of Autonomous lux- Based Reporters in Human Cell Lines A Dissertation Presented for the Doctor of Philosophy Degree The University of Tennessee, Knoxville Tingting Xu December 2012 Copyright © 2012 by Tingting Xu All rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • Visualizing Influenza Virus Infection in Living Mice
    ARTICLE Received 25 Apr 2013 | Accepted 29 Jul 2013 | Published 11 Sep 2013 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms3369 OPEN Visualizing influenza virus infection in living mice Weiqi Pan1,2,*, Zhenyuan Dong1,*, Feng Li1,w, Weixu Meng1,2, Liqiang Feng1, Xuefeng Niu2, Chufang Li2, Qinfang Luo2, Zhengfeng Li1, Caijun Sun1 & Ling Chen1,2 Preventing and treating influenza virus infection remain a challenge because of incomplete understanding of the host–pathogen interactions, limited therapeutics and lack of a universal vaccine. So far, methods for monitoring the course of infection with influenza virus in real time in living animals are lacking. Here we report the visualization of influenza viral infection in living mice using an engineered replication-competent influenza A virus carrying luciferase reporter gene. After intranasal inoculation, bioluminescence can be detected in the chest and nasopharyngeal passage of living mice. The intensity of bioluminescence in the chest correlates with the dosage of infection and the viral load in the lung. Bioluminescence in the chest of infected mice diminishes on antiviral treatment. This work provides a novel approach that enables real-time study of influenza virus infection and effects of antiviral therapeutics in living animals. 1 State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China. 2 The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510210, China. * These authors contributed equally to this work. w Present address: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to L.C. (email: [email protected]).
    [Show full text]
  • In Vivo Bioluminescence Imaging for Viable Human Neural Stem Cells Incorporated Within in Situ Gelatin Hydrogels
    Hwang et al. EJNMMI Research 2014, 4:61 http://www.ejnmmires.com/content/4/1/61 ORIGINAL RESEARCH Open Access In vivo bioluminescence imaging for viable human neural stem cells incorporated within in situ gelatin hydrogels Do Won Hwang1,2, Kyung Min Park3, Hye-kyung Shim1, Yeona Jin1, Hyun Jeong Oh1,2, So Won Oh1, Song Lee1, Hyewon Youn1,4,5, Yoon Ki Joung3, Hong J Lee6, Seung U Kim6,7, Ki Dong Park3* and Dong Soo Lee1,2* Abstract Background: Three-dimensional (3D) hydrogel-based stem cell therapies contribute to enhanced therapeutic efficacy in treating diseases, and determining the optimal mechanical strength of the hydrogel in vivo is important for therapeutic success. We evaluated the proliferation of human neural stem cells incorporated within in situ-forming hydrogels and compared the effect of hydrogels with different elastic properties in cell/hydrogel-xenografted mice. Methods: The gelatin-polyethylene glycol-tyramine (GPT) hydrogel was fabricated through enzyme-mediated cross-linking reaction using horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Results: The F3-effluc encapsulated within a soft 1,800 pascal (Pa) hydrogel and stiff 5,800 Pa hydrogel proliferated vigorously in a 24-well plate until day 8. In vitro and in vivo kinetics of luciferase activity showed a slow time-to-peak after D-luciferin administration in the stiff hydrogel. When in vivo proliferation of F3-effluc was observed up to day 21 in both the hydrogel group and cell-only group, F3-effluc within the soft hydrogel proliferated more vigorously, compared to the cells within the stiff hydrogel. Ki-67-specific immunostaining revealed highly proliferative F3-effluc with compactly distributed cell population inside the 1,800 Pa or 5,800 Pa hydrogel.
    [Show full text]
  • Enhanced Brightness of Bacterial Luciferase by Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Enhanced brightness of bacterial luciferase by bioluminescence resonance energy transfer Tomomi Kaku, Kazunori Sugiura, Tetsuyuki Entani, Kenji Osabe & Takeharu Nagai* Using the lux operon (luxCDABE) of bacterial bioluminescence system as an autonomous luminous reporter has been demonstrated in bacteria, plant and mammalian cells. However, applications of bacterial bioluminescence-based imaging have been limited because of its low brightness. Here, we engineered the bacterial luciferase (heterodimer of luxA and luxB) by fusion with Venus, a bright variant of yellow fuorescent protein, to induce bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). By using decanal as an externally added substrate, color change and ten-times enhancement of brightness was achieved in Escherichia coli when circularly permuted Venus was fused to the C-terminus of luxB. Expression of the Venus-fused luciferase in human embryonic kidney cell lines (HEK293T) or in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves together with the substrate biosynthesis-related genes (luxC, luxD and luxE) enhanced the autonomous bioluminescence. We believe the improved luciferase will forge the way towards the potential development of autobioluminescent reporter system allowing spatiotemporal imaging in live cells. Light production in luminous bacteria results from an enzymatic reaction of a substrate catalyzed by a bacterial 1–3 luciferase . Bacterial luciferase oxidizes reduced favin mononucleotide (FMNH 2) and a long-chain fatty alde- hyde (RCHO) to yield favin mononucleotide (FMN) and the corresponding long-chain fatty acid (RCOOH). Tis reaction concomitantly generates blue-green light with a peak wavelength around 490 nm. Te fundamental enzymes required for bacterial luminescence are encoded by a single operon, luxCDABE, which is found in all species of luminous bacteria 2,3.
    [Show full text]
  • Co-Registration of Bioluminescence Tomography and Anatomical Imaging Modalities for Cell Tracking and Source Quantification
    CO-REGISTRATION OF BIOLUMINESCENCE TOMOGRAPHY AND ANATOMICAL IMAGING MODALITIES FOR CELL TRACKING AND SOURCE QUANTIFICATION by Moussa Chehade A thesis submitted to Johns Hopkins University in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering Baltimore, Maryland May, 2014 © 2014 Moussa Chehade All Rights Reserved Abstract Bioluminescence tomography (BLT) is a molecular imaging tool that provides three-dimensional, quantitative reconstructions of bioluminescent sources in vivo. A main limitation of BLT to date, however, has been a lack of validation and demonstrated utility in preclinical research. An approach employing a fusion of BLT with other, well-established imaging modalities was used in this work to validate results obtained with BLT and improve the performance of source quantification. In the first chapter of this thesis, a method was developed to co-register BLT to magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) anatomical data for tracking cell transplants using a specialized animal holder. Using a luciferase- expressing tumor model in mice, MRI was shown to be superior at locating cells while BLT provided a more sensitive measure of cell proliferation. A multimodal approach incorporating BLT can therefore provide a better understanding of cell dynamics in vivo in preclinical research than with anatomical imaging alone. In the second chapter of this thesis, anatomical MRI and CT images were segmented to provide hard spatial priors to quantify the power of calibrated luminescent sources implanted in mice. To do this, a finite element (FEM) implementation of the diffusion approximation was used as a forward model for light propagation and validated through a phantom experiment.
    [Show full text]
  • [Frontiers in Bioscience 13, 1281-1293, January 1, 2008] 1281 Overview of Bioluminescence Tomography-A New Molecular Imaging Mo
    [Frontiers in Bioscience 13, 1281-1293, January 1, 2008] Overview of bioluminescence tomography-a new molecular imaging modality Ge Wang1, Wenxiang Cong1, Haiou Shen1, Xin Qian1, Michael Henry2, Yue Wang3 1Bioluminescence Tomography Laboratory, VT-WFU School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1880 Pratt Drive, Suite 2000, MC-0493, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA,2Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA,3Computational Bioinformatics and Bio-imaging Laboratory, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Arlington, VA 22203, USA TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. Bioluminescence tomography 3.1. Precursory work 3.2. Feasibility results 3.2.1. Phantom data 3.2.2. In vivo data 3.3. Multi-spectral extension 3.4. System design 3.4.1. Multi-view setup 3.4.2. Multi-spectral setup 3.4.3. Data acquisition 3.4.4. System calibration 3.4.5. Signal-to-noise ration analysis 3.5. Image reconstruction 3.5.1. Physical modeling 3.5.2. Geometric modeling 3.5.3. Attenuation maps 3.5.4. Source reconstruction 4. Temperature-modulation techniques 4.1. Temperature dependence of the bioluminescence signal 4.2. Control of the mouse body temperature 4.3. Temperature mapping with micro-MRI 4.4. Temperature-modulated reconstruction 5. Discussions and conclusion 6. Appendix A. image unmixing 7. Acknowledgment 8. References 1. ABSTRACT 2. INTRODUCTION According to the NIH roadmap (1), optical Molecular imaging is to study biological molecular imaging has an instrumental role in the processes in vivo at the cellular and molecular levels.
    [Show full text]
  • Non-Invasive Bioluminescence Imaging for Monitoring Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Hematogenous Infection
    Microbes and Infection 8 (2006) 1330e1338 www.elsevier.com/locate/micinf Original article Non-invasive bioluminescence imaging for monitoring herpes simplex virus type 1 hematogenous infection Javier S. Burgos a,*,1, Fernando Guzman-Sanchez a,1, Isabel Sastre a, Cristina Fillat b, Fernando Valdivieso a,* a Departamento de Biologı´a Molecular and Centro de Biologı´a Molecular Severo Ochoa (C.S.I.C.eU.A.M.), Universidad Auto´noma de Madrid, Spain b Programa Gens i Malaltia, Centre de Regulacio´ Geno`mica-CRG-UPF, Barcelona, Spain Received 16 November 2005; accepted 26 December 2005 Available online 24 March 2006 Abstract Traditional studies on viral neuroinvasiveness and pathogenesis have generally relied on murine models that require the sacrifice of infected animals to determine viral distributions and titers. The present paper reports the use of in vivo bioluminescence imaging to monitor the repli- cation and tropism of KOS strain HSV-1 viruses expressing the firefly luciferase reporter protein in hematogenously infected mice. Following intraperitoneal injection, a comparison was made between real-time PCR determinations of HSV-1 DNA concentrations (requiring the sacrifice of the experimental animals) and in vivo bioluminescence emissions in living animals. For further comparison, in vitro light emission was also measured in the ovaries and adrenal glands of sacrificed mice. After infection, HSV-1 spread preferentially to the ovaries and adrenal glands (these organs showed the highest virus levels). Both the PCR and bioluminescence methods detected low viral loads in the nervous system, where the virus was restricted to the spinal cord. The concentrations of viral DNA measured correlated with the magnitude of bioluminescence in vivo, and with the photon flux determined by the in vitro luciferase enzyme assay.
    [Show full text]