You have accessJournal of UrologyImaging/Radiology: Uroradiology (II)1 Apr 20132196 BIOENGINEERED SKELETAL MUSCLE FOR THE TREATMENT OF SPHINCTER INSUFFICIENCY CHARACTERIZED BY MRI RELAXOMETRY Fahd Azzabi, Natalie Chuck, Andreas Boss, and Daniel Eberli Fahd AzzabiFahd Azzabi Zurich, Switzerland More articles by this author , Natalie ChuckNatalie Chuck Zurich, Switzerland More articles by this author , Andreas BossAndreas Boss Zurich, Switzerland More articles by this author , and Daniel EberliDaniel Eberli Zurich, Switzerland More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.2105AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Cell therapy is a promising medicinal technology that is based in injecting of precursor or stem cells in a damaged tissue. Muscle precursor cells (MPCs) have been efficiently regenerating sphincter muscle of dogs suffering from incontinence. However, for safety and efficacy reasons, non-invasive imagings modalities in-vivo are needed for translating experimental stem cell-based therapy into clinics. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) permits good soft tissue contrast without application of ionizing radiation. Advanced MRI techniques allow tissue characterization using methods of relaxometry and diffusion quantification. METHODS We developed methods to assess the differentiation process of human muscle precursor cells (MPCs) in vivo by applying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) relaxometry measurements. Cultured MPCs were mixed with collagen and injected subcutaneously into nude mice. Controls were injected with collagen only. MRI was conducted on a 4.7 T scanner between days 3 - 28 post-injection. Measurements comprised T1, T2 using multi-echo-spin-echo and saturation recovery sequences and T2* quantification with a multi-echo-gradient-echo-sequences. Relaxation times were additionally measured in the paraspinal muscles. Animals were harvested at different time-points and the engineered muscle tissue was assessed by histology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The engineered muscle tissue was visible during the entire study period. In control mice, collagen was resorbed in one week. Relaxometry measurements revealed a decrease of T1, T2 and T2* relaxation time during differentiation (initial measurement: T1 2172 ms +/− 141, T2 202 ms +/− 16, T2* 29 ms +/− 14, final measurement: T1 1240 ms +/− 17, T2 31.9 ms +/− 0.6, T2* 7.5 ms +/− 1.6), thereby approaching the physiological relaxation properties of muscular tissue. Cell differentiation and myofiber formation was confirmed by histology, immunohistochemistry, western blot and contractility confirmed by organ bath. CONCLUSIONS This novel method might offer the possibility to non-invasively assess the state of differentiation and effectiveness of cellular therapies for muscular disorders in near future. © 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 189Issue 4SApril 2013Page: e900 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2013 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Fahd Azzabi Zurich, Switzerland More articles by this author Natalie Chuck Zurich, Switzerland More articles by this author Andreas Boss Zurich, Switzerland More articles by this author Daniel Eberli Zurich, Switzerland More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...