In Vivo MR Imaging of Intravascularly Injected Magnetically Labeled Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Rat Kidney and Liver

PURPOSE: To evaluate in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with a conventional 1.5-T system for depiction and tracking of intravascularly injected superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)–labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in accordance with French law governing animal research and met guidelines for animal care and use. Rat MSCs were labeled with SPIO and transfection agent. Relaxation rates at 1.5 T, cell viability, proliferation, differentiation capacity, and labeling stability were assessed in vitro as a function of SPIO concentration. MSCs were injected into renal arteries of healthy rats (labeled cells in four, unlabeled cells in two) and portal veins of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride to induce centrolobular liver necrosis (labeled cells and unlabeled cells in two each). Follow-up serial T2*-weighted gradient-echo MR imaging and R2* mapping were performed. MR imaging findings were compared histologically. RESULTS: SPIO labeling caused a strong...