The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) as an imaging reporter for gene, viral, and cell-based therapies

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

Preclinical and clinical tomographic imaging systems increasingly are being utilized for non-invasive imaging of reporter gene products to reveal the distribution of molecular therapeutics within living subjects. Reporter gene and probe combinations can be employed to monitor vectors for gene, viral, and cell-based therapies. There are several reporter systems available; however, those employing radionuclides for positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) offer the highest sensitivity and the greatest promise for deep tissue imaging in humans. Within the category of radionuclide reporters, the thyroidal sodium iodide symporter (NIS) has emerged as one of the most promising for preclinical and translational research. NIS has been incorporated into a remarkable variety of viral and non-viral vectors in which its functionality is conveniently determined by in vitro iodide uptake assays prior to live animal imaging. This review on the NIS reporter will focus on 1) differences between endogenous NIS and heterologously-expressed NIS, 2) qualitative or comparative use of NIS as an imaging reporter in preclinical and translational gene therapy, oncolytic viral therapy, and cell trafficking research, and 3) use of NIS as an absolute quantitative reporter.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)33-47
Number of pages15
JournalCurrent Gene Therapy
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012

Keywords

  • Gene therapy
  • Imaging
  • NIS
  • Oncolytic virus
  • PET
  • Reporter gene
  • SPECT
  • Sodium iodide symporter

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Drug Discovery
  • Genetics(clinical)

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