General Electric Company

June Klimash

Srabani Bhaumik

Eric Dustin Agdeppa

Jeannette Christine DePuy

Anton Beletskii

Provided herein are methods for imaging an optically labeled target cell implanted in vivo using a reporter construct that encodes an enzyme that is not endogenous to the target cell. The disclosed methods include the steps of: (a) introducing target cell transformed with non-endogenous enzyme into a mammalian subject; (b) contacting the transformed target cell with a cell-permeable soluble fluorescent dye; and (c) observing a fluorescent signal generated by the target cell present in the mammalian subject. In some embodiments, the non-endogenous enzyme comprises a nitroreductase. In some embodiments, the methods may also include the step of tracking the fluorescent target cells in the mammalian subject over time.

In vivo optical imaging

Provided herein are methods of monitoring inflammatory cell migration in a mammal. The methods include the steps of: providing a donor mammalian subject; introducing an inflammatory agent into the donor mammal to create a granuloma; isolating granuloma-derived nucleated cells from the granuloma of the donor mammalian subject; labeling the granuloma-derived nucleated cells with an optical agent; providing a recipient mammalian subject with inflamed tissue; introducing the granuloma-derived nucleated cells into a recipient mammalian subject at a site remote from site where the inflammatory agent was introduced; and imaging the recipient mammalian subject using an optical system. The methods may also include analysing the distribution of the labeled granuloma-derived cells in the recipient mammal.

Growing community of inventors

Niskayuna, NY, United States of America

June Klimash