Imaging in Stem Cell Transplant and Cell-based Therapy

129

8.6 Summary

Stem cell therapy in cardiac patients seems promising while many issues remain unan-
swered. There is a growing knowledge base of imaging techniques being used both in
preclinical and clinical settings. Direct tracking of stem cells can be performed using
radionuclides and super-paramagnetic agents while functional assessment can be per-
formed using MRI, nuclear imaging with PET and SPECT, and echocardiography.
Multiple studies have shown some degree of LV function and myocardial perfusion/
viability with a reduction in infarct size while the results from other studies remains
inconclusive. Further randomized, controlled trials with concurrent imaging tech-
niques are needed to confirm and determine beneficial effects of cell-based therapies.

References

1. Prockop DJ.  Marrow stromal cells as stem cells for nonhematopoietic tissues. Science.
   1997;276:71–4.


2. Friedenstein AJ, Gorskaja JF, Kulagina NN.  Fibroblast precursors in normal and irradiated
   mouse hematopoietic organs. Exp Hematol. 1976;4:267–74.


3. Ashton BA, Allen TD, Howlett CR, et al. Formation of bone and cartilage by marrow stromal
   cells in diffusion chambers in vivo. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1980;151:294–307.


4. Bab I, Ashton BA, Gazit D, et al. Kinetics and differentiation of marrow stromal cells in diffu-
   sion chambers in vivo. J Cell Sci. 1986;84:139–51.


5. Campagnoli C, Roberts IA, Kumar S, et  al. Identification of mesenchymal stem/progenitor
   cells in human first-trimester fetal blood, liver, and bone marrow. Blood. 2001;98:2396–402.


6. In't Anker PS, Scherjon SA, Kleijburg-van der Keur C, et al. Amniotic fluid as a novel source
   of mesenchymal stem cells for therapeutic transplantation. Blood. 2003;102:1548–9.


7. Nakahara H, Dennis JE, Bruder SP, et  al. In vitro differentiation of bone and hypertrophic
   cartilage from periosteal-derived cells. Exp Cell Res. 1991;195:492–503.


8. Zuk PA, Zhu M, Ashjian P, et al. Human adipose tissue is a source of multipotent stem cells.
   Mol Biol Cell. 2002;13:4279–95.


9. Javazon EH, Beggs KJ, Flake AW.  Mesenchymal stem cells: paradoxes of passaging. Exp
   Hematol. 2004;32:414–25.


10. Chamberlain G, Fox J, Ashton B, Middleton J. Concise review: mesenchymal stem cells: their
    phenotype, differentiation capacity, immunological features, and potential for homing. Stem
    Cells. 2007;25(11):2739–49.


11. Orlic D, Kajstura J, Chimenti S, et al. Bone marrow cells regenerate infarcted myocardium.
    Nature. 2001;410:701–5.


12. Orlic D, Kajstura J, Chimenti S, et al. Mobilized bone marrow cells repair the infarcted heart,
    improving function and survival. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001;98:10344–9.


13. Jackson KA, Majka SM, Wang H, et al. Regeneration of ischemic cardiac muscle and vascular
    endothelium by adult stem cells. J Clin Invest. 2001;107:1395–402.


14. Ferrari G, et al. Muscle regeneration by bone marrow-derived myogenic progenitors. Science.
    1998;279:1528–30.


15. Vogel G. Stem cells: new excitements, persistent questions. Science. 2000;290:1672–4.


16. Tomita S, et  al. Autologous transplantation of bone marrow cells improves damaged heart
    function. Circulation. 1999;100(Suppl. 2):247–56.


17. Oettgen P, Boyle AJ, Schulman SP, Hare JM. Cardiac stem cell therapy. need for optimization
    of efficacy and safety monitoring. Circulation. 2006 Jul 25;114(4):353–8.

8 Cardiac Imaging and Stem Cell Transplantation