MRI visualizes gene expression in real time

March 21, 2005 | Source: KurzweilAI

Carnegie Mellon University scientists have “programmed” cells to make their own MRI contrast agents, enabling unprecedented high-resolution, deep-tissue imaging of gene expression.

The results, appearing in the April issue of Nature Medicine, hold promise for conducting preclinical studies in the emerging field of molecular therapeutics and for monitoring the delivery of therapeutic genes in patients.

To trigger living cells into producing their own contrast agent, the researchers gave them a gene that produces a form of ferritin, a protein that normally stores iron in a non-toxic form. This “reporter” gene alters the magnetic field in its proximity, causing nearby protons to give off a distinctly different signal, revealing dark areas that indicate its presence.

“Our technology is adaptable to monitor gene expression in many tissue types. You could link this MRI reporter gene to any other gene of interest, including therapeutic genes for diseases like cancer and arthritis, to detect where and when they are being expressed,” said Eric Ahrens, assistant professor of biological sciences in the Mellon College of Science at Carnegie Mellon.

Carnegie Mellon University news release