Dual-reporter Imaging and its Potential Application in Tracking Studies

By tracking reporter molecules such as green fluorescent protein and luciferase, researchers can determine physiological status and follow processes both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe a dual-reporter imaging method, in which a fusion of eGFP and Luc2 is introduced into hosts using lentiviral particles based on HIV-1. The fusion molecule is both fluorescent and bioluminescent, and is therefore ideal as an optical marker in clinical and research applications. We characterized multiple technical indices of the molecule, including sensibility, biocompatibility, lifetime, and others. Lentiviral particles carrying the reporter were strongly infective in endothelial progenitor (EPC) and GL261 glioma cells, as well as in live mice. By transforming Luc2-eGFP into hosts, morphological and quantitative data can be collected not only from tissue specimens but also from live animal models.