RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 MRI Reporter Genes
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine
JO J Nucl Med
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 1905
OP 1908
DO 10.2967/jnumed.108.053520
VO 49
IS 12
A1 Gilad, Assaf A.
A1 Ziv, Keren
A1 McMahon, Michael T.
A1 van Zijl, Peter C.M.
A1 Neeman, Michal
A1 Bulte, Jeff W.M.
YR 2008
UL http://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/49/12/1905.abstract
AB Noninvasive molecular imaging of dynamic processes has benefited tremendously from the use of reporter genes. These genes encode for proteins that emit light, bind radiolabeled probes, or, as covered in this review, modulate MRI contrast. Reporter genes play a pivotal role in monitoring cell trafficking, gene replacement therapy, protein–protein interactions, neuronal plasticity, and embryonic development. Several strategies exist for generating MRI contrast: using enzyme-catalyzed chemical modification of metal-based contrast agents or (phosphorus) metabolites, iron-binding and iron-storage proteins to accumulate iron as a contrast agent, and artificial proteins for imaging based on chemical exchange saturation transfer. MRI reporter genes have the advantage that the specific signal can be coregistered with soft-tissue anatomy and functional tissue information and have, therefore, become an active and growing area of scientific interest.