摘要
The discovery of endogenous neural stem cells(e NSCs) in the adult mammalian brain with their ability to self-renew and differentiate into functional neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes has raised the hope for novel therapies of neurological diseases. Experimentally, those e NSCs can be mobilized in vivo, enhancing regeneration and accelerating functional recovery after, e.g., focal cerebral ischemia, thus constituting a most promising approach in stem cell research. In order to translate those current experimental approaches into a clinical setting in the future, non-invasive imaging methods are required to monitor e NSC activation in a longitudinal and intraindividual manner. As yet, imaging protocols to assess eNSC mobilization non-invasively in the live brain remain scarce, but considerable progress has been made in this field in recent years. This review summarizes and discusses the current imaging modalities suitable to monitor e NSCs in individual experimental animals over time, including optical imaging, magnetic resonance tomography and-spectroscopy, as well as positron emission tomography(PET). Special emphasis is put on the potential of each imaging method for a possible clinical translation, and on the specificity of the signal obtained. PET-imaging with the radiotracer 3'-deoxy-3'-[18F]fluoro-L-thymidine in particular constitutes a modality with excellent potential for clinical translation but low specificity; however, concomitant imaging of neuroinflammation is feasible and increases its specificity. The non-invasive imaging strategies presented here allow for the exploitation of novel treatment strategies based upon the regenerative potential of e NSCs, and will help to facilitate a translation into the clinical setting.
The discovery of endogenous neural stem cells （eNSCs） inthe adult mammalian brain with their ability to self-renewand differentiate into functional neurons, astrocytes andoligodendrocytes has raised the hope for novel therapiesof neurological diseases. Experimentally, those eNSCscan be mobilized in vivo , enhancing regeneration andaccelerating functional recovery after, e.g., focal cerebralischemia, thus constituting a most promising approachin stem cell research. In order to translate those currentexperimental approaches into a clinical setting in thefuture, non-invasive imaging methods are required tomonitor eNSC activation in a longitudinal and intraindividualmanner. As yet, imaging protocols to assesseNSC mobilization non-invasively in the live brain remainscarce, but considerable progress has been made inthis field in recent years. This review summarizes anddiscusses the current imaging modalities suitable tomonitor eNSCs in individual experimental animals overtime, including optical imaging, magnetic resonancetomography and-spectroscopy, as well as positronemission tomography （PET）. Special emphasis is puton the potential of each imaging method for a possibleclinical translation, and on the specificity of the signalobtained. PET-imaging with the radiotracer 3＇-deoxy-3＇-[18F]fluoro-L-thymidine in particular constitutes amodality with excellent potential for clinical translationbut low specificity; however, concomitant imaging ofneuroinflammation is feasible and increases its specificity.The non-invasive imaging strategies presented here allowfor the exploitation of novel treatment strategies basedupon the regenerative potential of eNSCs, and will helpto facilitate a translation into the clinical setting.
