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Molecular Imaging of Gene Expression and Cell Trafficking

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Book cover Molecular Imaging

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Abstract

This chapter provides a brief description of the principles of gene therapy and the direct and indirect gene imaging approaches. Gene therapy is based on delivering a therapeutic gene to a specific organ or tissue using a viral or non-viral vector. The gene expression involves transcription of a gene into a messenger RNA (mRNA), which involves translation into a specific gene product, a protein. Non-invasive imaging gene expression is important for monitoring the location(s), magnitude, and time-variation of gene expression, and in measuring the efficacy of gene therapy. In an indirect gene imaging approach, the gene expression at the level of mRNA can be targeted using a radiolabeled antisense oligonucleotide (RASON) probe containing a complimentary sequence of mRNA to be imaged. The indirect gene imaging approach involves coupling the therapeutic gene (TG) to a reporter gene (RG) and then targeting the RG expression using a PET or SPECT reporter probe (RP). The potential clinical utility of radiolabeled RPs based on different gene products, such as enzymes, receptors, and membrane transporters, are discussed using examples from clinical studies.

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© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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(2009). Molecular Imaging of Gene Expression and Cell Trafficking. In: Molecular Imaging. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76735-0_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76735-0_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-76734-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-76735-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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