Figure 7.

Long-term tracking transplanted human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). (A) Six weeks after injection of NIS-expressing human iPSC-CMs into the right inguinal subcutaneous adipose tissue of an immunodeficient rat, ^99mTcO₄⁻ SPECT/CT was performed to detect the injected cells (surrounded by a white dashed line). (B) ^99mTcO₄⁻ SPECT/CT image of the same rat shown in (A) 10 weeks after cell injection. Tracer uptake was observed in the right inguinal subcutaneous adipose tissue (surrounded by a white dashed line). (C) Sixteen weeks after injection of NIS-expressing iPSC-CMs into the cryoinjured heart of an immunodeficient rat, ^99mTcO₄⁻ SPECT/CT was performed to detect the injected cells (surrounded by a white dashed line). (D) Quantification of ^99mTc signals from transplanted cells over time. (E) Engraftment of NIS-expressing human iPSC-CMs was histologically confirmed by immunostaining of human Ku80, NIS, cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and MLC2v. Scale bars are 100 µm. (F) Engraftment of NIS-expressing human iPSC-CMs was histologically confirmed by immunostaining of human Ku80, NIS and cTnT. Scale bars are 100 µm.