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Massner, C. ; Pariani, G. ; Rolbieski, H. ; Sigmund, F. ; Westmeyer, G.G.

Genetically controlled uptake of ferritin as an MRI contrast agent.

Am. J. Hematol. 91, E119 (2016)
Open Access Green as soon as Postprint is submitted to ZB.
Throughout recent years our understanding of iron trafficking and storage on a cellular level has been growing immensely. This knowledge can be utilized for developing of genetically controlled MRI contrast agents for applications in noninvasive preclinical gene reporter imaging of entire organisms. We measured the T2 relaxation rates of HEK293T cells loaded with ferritin during overexpression of transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) as a control. The cell viability was determined by trypan blue staining and cell counting. The intracellular iron content was calculated based on a ferrozine assay1 and cell count. The elevated uptake of horse spleen ferritin (HSFt) in HEK293T overexpressing TfR1 resulted in 60% increased T2 relaxation rate after one or two days expression of the respective proteins without observable toxic effects. Our results show that genetic control over ferritin uptake through the overexpression of TfR1 results in elevated MRI contrast and cellular iron loading. As reported, this probably occurs via ferritin binding on the cell surface receptor and subsequent internalization. Since ferrihydrite can be exchanged by more magnetizable iron  pecies in the ferritin cavity3 and ferritin can cross the blood brain barrier4, this system has the potential to outperform superparamagnetic iron-oxide (SPIO) based imaging in brain research with respect to delivery and cell specific addressability.
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Publication type Article: Journal article
Document type Meeting abstract
Corresponding Author
ISSN (print) / ISBN 0361-8609
e-ISSN 1096-8652
Journal American Journal of Hematology
Quellenangaben Volume: 91, Issue: 3, Pages: E119 Article Number: , Supplement: ,
Publisher Wiley
Publishing Place Hoboken
Non-patent literature Publications
Reviewing status Peer reviewed
Institute(s) Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging (IBMI)
Institute of Developmental Genetics (IDG)