Bioluminescence imaging: a shining future for cardiac regeneration

Abstract

Advances in bioanalytical techniques have become crucial for both basic research and medical practice. One example, bioluminescence imaging (BLI), is based on the application of natural reactants with light-emitting capabilities (photoproteins and luciferases) isolated from a widespread group of organisms. The main challenges in cardiac regeneration remain unresolved, but a vast number of studies have harnessed BLI with the discovery of aequorin and green fluorescent proteins. First described in the luminous hydromedusan Aequorea victoria in the early 1960s, bioluminescent proteins have greatly contributed to the design and initiation of ongoing cell-based clinical trials on cardiovascular diseases. In conjunction with advances in reporter gene technology, BLI provides valuable information about the location and functional status of regenerative cells implanted into numerous animal models of disease. The purpose of this review was to present the great potential of BLI, among other existing imaging modalities, to refine effectiveness and underlying mechanisms of cardiac cell therapy. We recount the first discovery of natural primary compounds with light-emitting capabilities, and follow their applications to bioanalysis. We also illustrate insights and perspectives on BLI to illuminate current efforts in cardiac regeneration, where the future is bright.

Clinical imaging in regenerative medicine

“…We discuss imaging modalities that may have a role in clinical trials within a decade rather than early-stage, experimental technologies or approaches that are limited to animal research. We apologize to colleagues whose work is not included, and we refer interested readers to recent reviews 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 . We begin with a short primer on the capabilities of clinical imaging, which is subject to more constraints than the same technologies used in animal models.…”

Optical spectroscopic imaging for cell therapy and tissue engineering

“…In recent years, to cure acute or chronic myocardial infarction, medical therapy with skeletal myoblasts, bone marrow-derived cells, and cardiac resident stem cells has been widely investigated to regenerate the damaged cardiac tissue (28–31). Particularly, there is a growing body of evidence that the treatment by transplantation of stem cells and progenitor cells have direct or indirect therapeutic effects that prevent cell death, promote angiogenesis, and augment myocardial contractility (30). Since such cardiac stem cell therapy largely depends on the survival of transplanted cells, real-time tracking of the transplanted cells with a quantitative and qualitative method is crucial to improve clinical outcomes of patients with cardiac diseases.…”

Fibrin, the preferred scaffold for cell transplantation after myocardial infarction? An old molecule with a new life

“…Several systemic approaches are available to enhance transplanted cell survival, including heat shock, over‐expression of anti‐apoptotic proteins, administration of free radical scavengers, anti‐inflammatory therapy and co‐delivery of extracellular matrix molecules (Robey et al , ). In this setting, critical insights into cardiac cell transplantation biology have been gained from molecular imaging studies, including positron emission tomography and optical bioluminescence (Wu et al , ; Roura et al , ). Hence, it is generally accepted that all delivery approaches result in low cell engraftment rates.…”