In Vivo Imaging of Lymph Node Migration of MNP- and 111In-Labeled Dendritic Cells in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Breast Cancer (MMTV-Ras)

• DOI: 10.1007/s11307-011-0496-0
• Publication Date: 2011-05-20T00:59:36Z
• Authors: Cristina Martelli; Manuela Borelli; Luisa Ottobrini; Veronica Rainone; Anna Degrassi; Micaela Russo; Umberto Gianelli; Silvano Bosari; Carlo Fiorini; Daria Trabattoni; Mario Clerici; Giovanni Lucignani
• Keywords: Diagnostic Imaging; 0301 basic medicine; Mammary Neoplasms, Animal; Mice, Transgenic; Cell Separation; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Cell Movement; dendritic cells ; MRI ; SPECT ; in vivo imaging ; vaccine protocol ; breast cancer; Animals; Magnetite Nanoparticles; Cells, Cultured; sezele; Staining and Labeling; Indium Radioisotopes; Dendritic Cells; Immunohistochemistry; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; 3. Good health; Disease Models, Animal; Genes, ras; Phenotype; Mammary Tumor Virus, Mouse; Female; Lymph Nodes

The authors present a protocol for the in vivo evaluation, using different imaging techniques, of lymph node (LN) homing of tumor-specific dendritic cells (DCs) in a murine breast cancer model.Bone marrow DCs were labeled with paramagnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) or (111)In-oxine. Antigen loading was performed using tumor lysate. Mature DCs were injected into the footpads of transgenic tumor-bearing mice (MMTV-Ras) and DC migration was tracked by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Ex vivo analyses were performed to validate the imaging data.DC labeling, both with MNPs and with (111)In-oxine, did not affect DC phenotype or functionality. MRI and SPECT allowed the detection of iron and (111)In in both axillary and popliteal LNs. Immunohistochemistry and γ-counting revealed the presence of DCs in LNs.MRI and SPECT imaging, by allowing in vivo dynamic monitoring of DC migration, could further the development and optimization of efficient anti-cancer vaccines.