111In-labeled CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells in a rat myocardial infarction model.

Abstract

Radiolabeling with (111)In-oxine is a feasible in vivo method for monitoring transplanted HPCs in a rat myocardial infarction model. The potential to detect differences in myocardial homing between infarcted and normal hearts suggests that this method may provide a noninvasive imaging approach for clinical trials using transplanted HPCs in patients. Our findings, however, also demonstrated a negative effect of (111)In-oxine on cellular function, which resulted in complete impairment of HPC proliferation and differentiation. For future trials in stem cell imaging with (111)In-oxine, therefore, it will be mandatory to carefully check for radiation-induced cell damage.