Bioluminescence Imaging of Adoptively Transferred Lymphocytes During Allogeneic Tumor Rejection

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to analyze the survival, spatial distribution and proliferation of adoptively transferred lymphocytes in allogeneic tumor rejection.

Materials and methods: Transgenic β-actin-luc mice that express luciferase were sensitized against SL2 tumors and were used as lymphocyte donors to study the anti-tumor effect in SL2 tumor-bearing lymphocyte-deficient RAG(-/-) mice. Whole-body bioluminescence images of recipient mice were obtained to track the adoptively transferred lymphocytes. Proliferation of lymphocytes was estimated by quantification of photon emission.

Results: T lymphocytes sensitized against allogeneic SL2 tumors cured the majority of SL2 tumor-bearing RAG(-/-) mice. Bioluminescence imaging showed that transferred T lymphocytes survived in the spleen and lymph nodes. Tumor rejection was associated with lymphocyte proliferation and migration to the tumor site.

Conclusion: Sensitized T lymphocytes from transgenic β-actin-luc mice reject allogeneic SL2 tumors in RAG(-/-) mice and can be tracked in vivo using bioluminescence imaging.

Keywords: T lymphocytes; adoptive transfer; bioluminescence imaging; murine tumor model.