Longitudinal Cell Tracking and Simultaneous Monitoring of Tissue Regeneration after Cell Treatment of Natural Tendon Disease by Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Abstract: Treatment of tendon disease with multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) is a promising option to improve tissue regeneration. To elucidate the mechanisms by which MSC support regeneration, longitudinal tracking of MSC labelled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could provide important insight. Nine equine patients suffering from tendon disease were treated with SPIO-labelled or nonlabelled allogeneic umbilical cord-derived MSC by local injection. Labelling of MSC was confirmed by microscopy and MRI. All animals were subjected to clinical, ultrasonographical, and low-field MRI examinations before and directly after MSC application as well as 2, 4, and 8 weeks after MSC application. Hypointense artefacts with characteristically low signal intensity were identified at the site of injection of SPIO-MSC in T1- and T2 (∗) -weighted gradient echo MRI sequences. They were visible in all 7 cases treated with SPIO-MSC directly after injection, but not in the control cases treated with nonlabelled MSC. Furthermore, hypointense artefacts remained traceable within the damaged tendon tissue during the whole follow-up period in 5 out of 7 cases. Tendon healing could be monitored at the same time. Clinical and ultrasonographical findings as well as T2-weighted MRI series indicated a gradual improvement of tendon function and structure.
Publication Date: 2016-01-10 PubMed ID: 26880932PubMed Central: PMC4736965DOI: 10.1155/2016/1207190Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The researchers long-term tracked the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC)—cells that can develop into multiple types of tissue cells—in treating tendon diseases in horses, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They found that this cell treatment showed consistent signs of improving tendon function and structure over time.
Methodology
- The research involved nine horses with tendon disease.
- The researchers treated the horses by locally injecting these diseases tendons with MSC derived from donated umbilical cords.
- For some horses, these cells were labelled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), which allowed them to be tracked using MRI.
- MRI, along with microscopy, was used to confirm the labelling of the MSC.
- All horses underwent clinical and ultrasound examinations, as well as low-field MRI examinations at various points—before treatment, right after treatment, and then again at 2, 4, and 8 weeks later.
Longitudinal Cell Tracking
- The MRI scans showed characteristic hypointense artefacts (areas of low signal intensity) at the injection sites right after treatment in the cases treated with SPIO-MSC. This effect wasn’t present in the control cases treated with nonlabelled MSC, confirming the successful tracking of the cell treatment.
- These artefacts were still present at the site of the damaged tendon tissue in 5 of the 7 cases treated with SPIO-MSC, even after 8 weeks of follow-up. This indicates a long-term presence of MSC in the treated areas.
Tissue Regeneration Monitoring
- Simultaneously with the cell tracking, tendon healing was also monitored using the MRI scans.
- Clinical and ultrasound findings, together with the T2-weighted MRI series, indicated a progressive improvement in tendon structure and function. This suggests MSC treatment is effective in enhancing tissue regeneration in tendon diseases.
In conclusion, this research provides valuable insights into the mechanisms by which stem cell treatment can facilitate tissue regeneration in tendon diseases. The use of SPIO-labelling and MRI scanning proves a useful approach to longitudinally track the presence and effect of such treatments in vivo.
Cite This Article
APA
Berner D, Brehm W, Gerlach K, Gittel C, Offhaus J, Paebst F, Scharner D, Burk J.
(2016).
Longitudinal Cell Tracking and Simultaneous Monitoring of Tissue Regeneration after Cell Treatment of Natural Tendon Disease by Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Stem Cells Int, 2016, 1207190.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/1207190 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 55, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
- Large Animal Clinic for Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 21, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Translational Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße 55, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 7, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
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Citations
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