Noninvasive Imaging of Transgene Expression in Neurons Using Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI.

ABSTRACT: Advances in gene therapy, especially for brain diseases, have created new imaging demands for noninvasive monitoring of gene expression. While reporter gene imaging using co-expression of fluorescent protein-encoding gene has been widely developed, these conventional methods face significant limitations in longitudinal in vivo applications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) MRI, provides a robust noninvasive alternative that offers unlimited depth penetration, reliable spatial resolution, and specificity toward particular molecules. In this study, we explore the potential of CEST-MRI for monitoring gene expression in neurons. We designed a CEST polypeptide reporter expressing 150 arginine residues and evaluated its expression in the

SUBMITTER: Flament J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11831584 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature