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Bioluminescence Reporter Gene Imaging of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Survival, Proliferation, and Fate

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Bioluminescence

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 574))

Abstract

The discovery of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) has dramatically increased the tools available to medical scientists interested in regenerative medicine. However, direct injection of hESCs, and cells differentiated from hESCs, into living organisms has thus far been hampered by significant cell death, teratoma formation, and host immune rejection. Understanding the in vivo hESC behavior after transplantation requires novel imaging techniques to longitudinally monitor hESC localization, proliferation, and viability. Molecular imaging, and specifically bioluminescent reporter gene imaging, has given investigators a high-throughput, inexpensive, and sensitive means for tracking in vivo cell proliferation over days, weeks, and even months. This advancement has significantly increased the understanding of the spatiotemporal kinetics of hESC engraftment and proliferation in living subjects. In this chapter, the specific materials and methods needed for tracking stem cell proliferation with bioluminescence imaging will be described.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University; Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Kitchener D. Wilson & Mei Huang

  2. Department of Medicine, Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA

    Joseph C. Wu

  3. Division of Cardiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Joseph C. Wu

  4. Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Joseph C. Wu

Authors
  1. Kitchener D. Wilson
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  2. Mei Huang
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  3. Joseph C. Wu
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 27599-7228, U.S.A.

    Preston B. Rich

  2. Dept. Surgery, University of North Carolina, Manning Drive 90, Chapel Hill, 27599-7161, U.S.A.

    Christelle Douillet

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© 2009 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Wilson, K.D., Huang, M., Wu, J.C. (2009). Bioluminescence Reporter Gene Imaging of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Survival, Proliferation, and Fate. In: Rich, P., Douillet, C. (eds) Bioluminescence. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 574. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-321-3_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-321-3_8

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-320-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-321-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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