Acoustically Targeted Measurement of Transgene Expression in the Brain

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2024 Aug 7

PMID 39110811

Authors

Joon Pyung Seo

James S Trippett

Zhimin Huang

Sangsin Lee

Shirin Nouraein

Ryan Z Wang

Jerzy O Szablowski

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Gene expression is a critical component of brain physiology, but monitoring this expression in the living brain represents a major challenge. Here, we introduce a new paradigm called recovery of markers through insonation (REMIS) for noninvasive measurement of gene expression in the brain with cell type, spatial, and temporal specificity. Our approach relies on engineered protein markers that are produced in neurons but exit into the brain's interstitium. When ultrasound is applied to targeted brain regions, it opens the blood-brain barrier and releases these markers into the bloodstream. Once in blood, the markers can be readily detected using biochemical techniques. REMIS can noninvasively confirm gene delivery and measure endogenous signaling in specific brain sites through a simple insonation and a subsequent blood test. REMIS is reliable and demonstrated consistent improvement in recovery of markers from the brain into the blood. Overall, this work establishes a noninvasive, spatially specific method of monitoring gene delivery and endogenous signaling in the brain.

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