Immune Netw.  2012 Dec;12(6):223-229. 10.4110/in.2012.12.6.223.

In Vivo Non Invasive Molecular Imaging for Immune Cell Tracking in Small Animals

• Youn H
• Hong KJ

• KMID: 2150753
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2012.12.6.223

Abstract

Clinical and preclinical in vivo immune cell imaging approaches have been used to study immune cell proliferation, apoptosis and interaction at the microscopic (intra-vital imaging) and macroscopic (whole-body imaging) level by use of ex vivo or in vivo labeling method. A series of imaging techniques ranging from non-radiation based techniques such as optical imaging, MRI, and ultrasound to radiation based CT/nuclear imaging can be used for in vivo immune cell tracking. These imaging modalities highlight the intrinsic behavior of different immune cell populations in physiological context. Fluorescent, radioactive or paramagnetic probes can be used in direct labeling protocols to monitor the specific cell population. Reporter genes can also be used for genetic, indirect labeling protocols to track the fate of a given cell subpopulation in vivo. In this review, we summarized several methods dealing with dendritic cell, macrophage, and T lymphocyte specifically labeled for different macroscopic wholebody imaging techniques both for the study of their physiological function and in the context of immunotherapy to exploit imaging-derived information and immune-based treatments.

Keyword

In vivo molecular imaging; Immune cell tracking; Imaging modality

MeSH Terms

Animals
Apoptosis
Cell Proliferation
Cell Tracking
Dendritic Cells
Genes, Reporter
Immunotherapy
Lymphocytes
Macrophages
Molecular Imaging
Optical Imaging
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Track and Field
Organothiophosphorus Compounds

Figure

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  Figure 1 Molecular imaging techniques for disease diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.

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  Figure 2 Ex vivo vs. In vivo labeling for immune cell tracking.

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  Figure 3 Direct vs. indirect cell labeling strategies.

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