Imaging hNET Reporter Gene Expression with 124I-MIBG

• DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.106.037812
• Publication Date: 2007-11-06T16:29:34Z
• Authors: M. A. Moroz; I. Serganova; P. Zanzonico; L. Ageyeva; T. Beresten; E. Dyomina; E. Burnazi; R. D. Finn; M. Doubrovin; R. G. Blasberg
• Keywords: Cell Sorting; Jurkat cells; Spect imaging

The norepinephrine transporter (NET) has recently been suggested as a useful reporter gene. We have extended this effort by constructing an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES)-linked hNET-green fluorescent protein (GFP) hybrid gene for both nuclear and optical imaging. <b>Methods:</b> A retroviral vector pQCXhNET-IRES-GFP was constructed used to generate several cell lines xenografts. Transduced cells were sorted fluorescence-activated sorting based on GFP expression in vitro vivo imaging studies. <b>Results:</b> transduced accumulated ¹²³I- or ¹²⁴I-labeled metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) high levels compared with the wild-type parent lines. Differences MIBG accumulation between primarily due differences influx (K₁) rather than efflux (k₂). estimated distribution volumes (V_d) Jurkat, C6, COS-7 572 ± 13, 754 25, 1,556 38 mL/g, respectively. correlation radiotracer fluorescence intensity also demonstrated. Sequential studies of mice bearing C6 xenografts demonstrated advantages ¹²⁴I-MIBG small-animal PET ¹²³I-MIBG γ-camera/SPECT. This longer half-life ¹²⁴I retention slow clearance (half-time, 63 6 h) from that 12 1 other organs 2.6–21 h). Very radioactivity ratios observed at later times; 73 h after injection, C6/hNET-IRES-GFP xenograft-to-muscle ratio 293 48 whereas 0.71 0.19. <b>Conclusion:</b> These demonstrate potential wider application hNET future translation patient using radiopharmaceuticals are currently available SPECT PET.