Imaging TCR-dependent NFAT-mediated T-cell activation with positron emission tomography in vivo. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • A noninvasive method for molecular imaging of T-cell activity in vivo would be of considerable value. It would aid in understanding the role of specific genes and signal transduction pathways in the course of normal and pathologic immune responses, and could elucidate temporal dynamics and immune regulation at different stages of disease and following therapy. We developed and assessed a novel method for monitoring the T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)-mediated activation of T cells by optical fluorescence imaging (OFI) and positron emission tomography (PET). The herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase/green fluorescent protein [HSV1-tk/GFP (TKGFP)] dual reporter gene was used to monitor NFAT-mediated transcriptional activation in human Jurkat cells. A recombinant retrovirus bearing the NFAT-TKGFP reporter system was constructed in which the TKGFP reporter gene was placed under control of an artificial cis-acting NFAT-specific enhancer. Transduced Jurkat cells were used to establish subcutaneous infiltrates in nude rats. We demonstrated that noninvasive OFI and nuclear imaging of T-cell activation is feasible using the NFAT-TKGFP reporter system. PET imaging with [(124)I]FIAU using the NFAT-TKGFP reporter system is sufficiently sensitive to detect T-cell activation in vivo. PET images were confirmed by independent measurements of T-cell activation (e.g., CD69) and induction of GFP fluorescence. PET imaging of TCR-induced NFAT-dependent transcriptional activity may be useful in the assessment of T cell responses, T-cell-based adoptive therapies, vaccination strategies and immunosuppressive drugs.

publication date

  • November 1, 2001

Research

keywords

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Thymidine Kinase
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC1506564

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0035216077

PubMed ID

  • 11774030

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 3

issue

  • 6