Labelling of human adipose-derived stem cells for non-invasive in vivo cell tracking.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Human adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) can be expanded in an undifferentiated state or differentiated along the osteogenic, chondrogenic, adipogenic, myogenic, endothelial and neurogenic lineage. To test their in vivo and in situ regenerative potential, their fate needs to be traced after application in suitable defect models. Non-invasive imaging systems allow for real time tracking of labelled cells in the living animal. We have evaluated a bioluminescence cell tracking approach to visualise ASC labelled with luciferase in the living animal. Two procedures have been tested to efficiently label human stem cells with a reporter gene (luciferase, green fluorescent protein), namely lipofection with Lipofectamine 2000 and electroporation with a Nucleofector device. With both lipofection and nucleofection protocols, we have reached transfection efficiencies up to 60%. Reporter gene expression was detectable for 3 weeks in vitro and did not interfere with the phenotype and the stem cell properties of the cells. By means of a highly sensitive CCD camera, we were able to achieve real time imaging of cell fate for at least 20 days after application (intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous) in nude mice. Moreover, we were able to influence cell mobility by choosing different modes of application such as enclosure in fibrin matrix. The optical imaging system with transi

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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