Cell labeling and tracking method without distorted signals by phagocytosis of macrophages

Sun Woong Kang, Sangmin Lee, Jin Hee Na, Hwa In Yoon, Dong Eun Lee, Heebeom Koo, Yong Woo Cho, Sun Hwa Kim, Seo Young Jeong, Ick Chan Kwon, Kuiwon Choi, Kwangmeyung Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cell labeling and tracking are important processes in understanding biologic mechanisms and the therapeutic effect of inoculated cells in vivo. Numerous attempts have been made to label and track inoculated cells in vivo; however, these methods have limitations as a result of their biological effects, including secondary phagocytosis of macrophages and genetic modification. Here, we investigated a new cell labeling and tracking strategy based on metabolic glycoengineering and bioorthogonal click chemistry. We first treated cells with tetra-acetylated N-azidoacetyl-D-mannosamine to generate unnatural sialic acids with azide groups on the surface of the target cells. The azide-labeled cells were then transplanted to mouse liver, and dibenzyl cyclooctyne-conjugated Cy5 (DBCO-Cy5) was intravenously injected into mice to chemically bind with the azide groups on the surface of the target cells in vivo for target cell visualization. Unnatural sialic acids with azide groups could be artificially induced on the surface of target cells by glycoengineering. We then tracked the azide groups on the surface of the cells by DBCO-Cy5 in vivo using bioorthogonal click chemistry. Importantly, labeling efficacy was enhanced and false signals by phagocytosis of macrophages were reduced. This strategy will be highly useful for cell labeling and tracking.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)420-431
Number of pages12
JournalTheranostics
Volume4
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Cell labeling
  • Cell tracking
  • Chemical reporter
  • Click chemistry
  • Metabolic glycoengineering

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