Alain Luciani MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Alexandre Parouchev, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Pierre Smirnov, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Lyes Boudechiche, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gustavo Braga, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Aurore L Hermine-Coulomb, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Florence Gazeau, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ibrahim Dagher, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dominique Franco, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Alain Rahmouni MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Charles-Andre Cuenod MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michele Hadchouel, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Anne Weber, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Olivier Gerard Clement MD, PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To assess on a clinical 1.5T MR imaging device the tracking of intra-portally injected labeled hepatocytes for cellullar liver transplantation in mice.

Mice hepatocytes were retrieved from a total of 30 livers using a modified collagenase digestion technique. Hepatocytes were labeled following a 15 minute incubation protocol with a colloidal suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles (maghemite –FeO3). Cell viability was assessed using Orange-Acrinyl and Hoechst coloration. Cellular uptake of the iron oxide particle was quantified using magnetophoresis and electron spin resonance (ESR) for each suspension of labeled cells obtained after incubation at different iron concentrations (namely 0.5mM, 1mM, and 5mM). A total of 25 mice were imaged on a clinical 1.5T MR device at varying delays following labeled hepatocyes injection in the portal trunk using T2* gradient echo sequences and a quantitative T2 multiecho sequence designed to assess the T2 value of the liver. Following each imaging procedure, all livers, spleen and lungs were collected for pathological analysis. Testing for a difference in T2 measurements and relative intensity of the liver to muscle before and after injection of labeled hepatocytes were assessed using an ANOVA test followed by an a posteriori PLSD Fisher test. Significance level was set at 0.05.

There was no statistical differences in terms of viability between unlabeled and labeled cells. A saturable uptake of iron oxide particles was demonstrated on magnetophoresis and ESR. Following labeled hepatocytes injection, MR imaging showed a significant heterogeneous decrease in liver to muscle RI and liver T2 values (p=0.01). Livers following labeled cell transplantation showed well demarcated low intensity nodular foci consistant with clusters of Perls-blue staining cells. Perls-blue cells remained close to portal tracts but were not present within the vessels lumen. No significant iron deposit was demonstrated in spleen or lungs.

MR imaging even at 1.5T can assess the cell traficking of labeled hepatocytes injected via the protal trunk for liver cellular transplantation.

Luciani, A, Parouchev, A, Smirnov, P, Boudechiche, L, Braga, G, L Hermine-Coulomb, A, Gazeau, F, Dagher, I, Franco, D, Rahmouni, A, Cuenod, C, Hadchouel, M, Weber, A, Clement, O, et al, , In Vivo Cellular Imaging of Hepatocyte Transplantation with a 1.5T Clinical MRI System: Initial Experience in Mice.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4416736.html