Genetically encoded iron-associated proteins as MRI reporters for molecular and cellular imaging.

All cell imaging applications rely on some form of specific cell labeling to achieve visualization of cells contributing to disease or cell therapy. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the published data on genetically encoded iron-based imaging reporters. The article overviews regulation of iron homeostasis as well as genetically encoded iron-associated molecular probes and their applications for noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of transplanted cells. Longitudinal repetitive MRI of therapeutic cells is extremely important for providing key functional endpoints and insight into mechanisms of action. Future directions in molecular imaging and techniques for improving sensitivity, specificity and safety of in vivo reporter gene imaging are discussed. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2018, 10:e1482. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1482 This article is categorized under: Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging.