SYSTEM FOR MONITORING GENE EXPRESSION BY MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING USING TARGETED CONTRAST AGENTS

摘要

The invention relates to a method of monitoring gene expression in a system comprising introducing to said system an MRI contrast agent linked to a targetting agent capable of binding to a cell surface antigen; and obtaining an MRI image from said system. The invention further relates to a method of monitoring gene expression in a system comprising introducing to said system nucleic acid comprising a promoter of interest operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence encoding a cell surface antigen; incubating said system for a time sufficient to allow gene expression to take place; introducing to said system an MRI contrast agent linked to a targetting agent capable of binding to said cell surface antigen; and obtaining an MRI image from said system. The targetting agent is preferably an antibody. The invention also relates to the use of superantibodies in MRI, in particular when linked to a contrast agent.