Iron derivatives are common MRI ABT378 agents that decrease signal intensity on T2-weighted images as a result of the magnetic susceptibility effect [2]. Thus, localized accumulation of iron derivates are detected by MRI [3]. In fact, iron derivates such as ferumoxides and ferric ammonium citrate are useful in clinical diagnosis of liver neoplasm [4] and gastrointestinal tract [5], respectively. Recent studies suggest use of genes encoding iron-binding proteins as a potential candidate of MRI reporter for in vivo MRI detection of gene expression [6].
Ferritin, an endogenous iron storage metalloprotein, consists of 24 light and heavy polypeptide chains encapsulating an iron oxide core with up to 4500 iron atoms [7]. Heavy chain of ferritin mainly binds to iron oxide [8]. Ferritin further creates magnetic fields that affect relaxation time of water protons diffusing through the magnetic field [9]. This makes heavy chain of ferritin an ideal MRI reporter for in vivo gene expression in MRI studies.
View User's Journal
Expression pattern analysis of the putative
 |
