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Feasibility of sodium/iodide symporter gene as a new imaging reporter gene: comparison with HSV1-tk

  • Molecular Imaging
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European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging reporter genes, such as HSV1-tk and D2 receptor genes, make it possible to visualise gene expression non-invasively and repetitively in vivo. However, these systems require the synthesis of complicated substrates and the availability of expensive PET equipment. Expression of the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) gene can be easily monitored with radioiodines and technetium-99m using a gamma camera. To evaluate the possibility of using NIS as an imaging reporter gene, we compared its characteristics with those of the conventional HSV1-tk gene. The CM cell line was made by transfecting the HSV1-tk gene into CT-26 (mouse colon carcinoma cell line). The CTN and CMN cell lines were then made by transfecting the NIS gene into CT-26 and CM. We measured the uptake of iodine-125 iodovinyldeoxyuridine ([125I]IVDU) and 125I to evaluate the expression of the HSV1-tk and NIS genes, respectively. Each cell line was injected into four flank sites in Balb/c mice. The biodistribution study was performed after intravenously injecting [125I]IVDU and 131I, and 131I scintigraphy was performed for the evaluation of NIS expression. In vitro studies indicated that CTN and CMN had 40- to 79-fold and 150- to 256-fold higher uptake of 125I than CT-26 and CM, respectively. Furthermore, CM and CMN showed 57- to 69-fold higher uptake of [125I]IVDU than CT-26 and CTN. NIS gene expression and 125I accumulation were found to be directly correlated (R 2=0.923), as were HSV1-tk gene expression and [125I]IVDU accumulation (R 2=0.956). Calculated signal per unit NIS and HSV1-tk mRNA expression was 23,240±3,755 cpm and 34,039±5,346 cpm, respectively. In vivo study indicated that CTN and CMN had 2.3- and 5.8-fold higher uptake of 131I than CT-26 and CM, and 1.8- and 3.5-fold higher uptake of [125I]IVDU than CT-26 and CTN. Scintigraphy using 131I easily visualised CTN and CMN tumours. In conclusion, the NIS gene may be viewed as an imaging reporter gene with comparable performance to the HSV1-tk gene for monitoring target gene expression.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a research grant from the Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University (2002). J.H. Shin, J.H. Kang, Y.J. Lee and K.I. Kim were supported by the BK21 project for Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy (2002).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, 110-744, Chongno-gu, Seoul, Korea

    Jae Hoon Shin, June-Key Chung, Joo Hyun Kang, Yong Jin Lee, Kwang Il Kim, Jae Min Jeong, Dong Soo Lee & Myung Chul Lee

  2. Department of Pathology, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Chul Woo Kim

  3. Department of Tumor Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Jae Hoon Shin, June-Key Chung, Yong Jin Lee & Kwang Il Kim

  4. Laboratory of Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Jae Hoon Shin, June-Key Chung, Joo Hyun Kang, Yong Jin Lee, Kwang Il Kim, Jae Min Jeong & Dong Soo Lee

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  1. Jae Hoon Shin
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Shin, J.H., Chung, JK., Kang, J.H. et al. Feasibility of sodium/iodide symporter gene as a new imaging reporter gene: comparison with HSV1-tk . Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 31, 425–432 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-003-1394-8

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