Expression of clMagR/clCry4 protein in mBMSCs provides T-contrast enhancement of MRI.

Here, we propose for the first time the evaluation of magnetosensitive clMagR/clCry4 as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporter gene that imparts sensitivity to endogenous contrast in eukaryotic organisms. Using a lentiviral vector, we introduced clMagR/clCry4 into C57BL/6 mice-derived bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs), which could specifically bind with iron, significantly affected MRI transverse relaxation, and generated readily detectable contrast without adverse effects in vivo. Specifically, clMagR/clCry4 makes mBMSCs beneficial for enhancing the sensitivity of MRI-R for iron-bearing granules, in which cells recruit exogenous iron and convert these stores into an MRI-detectable contrast; this is not achievable with control cells.

Transfection of imparts MR-T imaging contrast properties to living organisms () in the presence of Fe by endogenous formation of iron oxide nanoparticles.

Rapid development of medical imaging, such as cellular tracking, has increased the demand for "live" contrast agents. This study provides the first experimental evidence demonstrating that transfection of the gene can impart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T-contrast properties to living prokaryotic () in the presence of Fe through the endogenous formation of iron oxide nanoparticles. The transfected gene markedly promoted uptake of exogenous iron by , achieving an intracellular co-precipitation condition and formation of iron oxide nanoparticles.