Non-invasive imaging of gene transfer

摘要

The subject invention provides a method of detecting gene transfer to and expression in a target tissue of a host subject comprising: (a) administering to the host subject a transfer vector containing a marker gene not naturally present in the host and nontoxic to the host, wherein the transfer vector transfects cells of the target tissue, under conditions such that the marker gene is expressed in transfected cells of the target tissue, thereby generating a marker gene product; (b) administering to the host subject a labelled marker substrate which is not metabolized by non-transfected cells, under conditions such that the marker substrate is metabolized by the marker gene product of step (a) to produce a labelled marker metabolite which is substantially retained in the transfected cells throughout a time-period sufficient for imaging the labelled marker metabolite; and (c) imaging the labelled marker metabolite, thereby detecting gene transfer to and expression in the target tissue. The subject invention provides a non-invasive, clinically applicable method for imaging gene transfer and expression which can be implemented using existing imaging techniques to monitor and evaluate in vivo gene therapy in human subjects.