Molecular Advances in Reporter Genes The Need to

Authors: Silvia Agostini Fabio A Recchia Vincenzo Lionetti

Publish Date: 2011/07/06

Volume: 8, Issue: 2, Pages: 503-512

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Abstract

Stem cells possess the ability to terminally differentiate in cell phenotypes belonging to several different lineages Over the last decade transplant of adult stem cells into the injuried myocardium has been widely studied as a revolutionary approach to promote the nonpharmacological improvement or replacement of the lost function In spite of the tantalizing perspectives and controversial results several questions about the viability and biology of transplanted stem cells in the beating heart still remain unanswered mostly because of the current technological limitations Recent advances in bio and nanotechnology are allowing the development of molecular probes for imaging thus providing a better understanding of stem cells physiology and fate in vivo Reporter gene based molecular imaging is a highthroughput and sensitive tool used to unscramble over time the mechanisms underlying cellinduced myocardial repair in vivo To date the employed reporter genes have been exogenous proteins which are expressed after gene engineering or endogenous detected by tracer substrates This review will highlight current and outstanding experimental investigations which are developing new probes to monitor the fate of stem cells transplanted in failing myocardium in vivoWe thank Dr Giovanni Aquaro for his helpful contribution This work was supported in part by the grant from the Ministero della SaluteBando Giovani Ricercatori RF2007 Italy VL and in part by intramural funds of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna Pisa Italy VL

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