The transfer of IL-10 genes into Tenacissoside-I hematopoietic SPCs prior to their transplantation to the body may allow for the simultaneous treatment of diffuse and multiple atherosclerotic lesions through the SPC-mediated, plaque-specific delivery of IL-10 genes. Recent efforts using magnetic resonance imaging to serially track cell transplantation have focused on labeling stem cells with Sennidin-B MRI-detectable contrast agents, such as superparamagnetic iron oxide agents. Once magnetically labeled, stem cells may carry MR contrast agents specifically to the targets and thus be visualized under MRI. The two concepts, that hematopoietic SPCs can be simultaneously transferred with therapeutic genes and MR contrast agents prior to their transplantation; and the dual-transferred hematopoietic SPCs can circulate through the body and thus function as vehicles to carry genes/contrast agents to the atherosclerotic plaques, motivated us to develop a plaque-specific MRI technique, to monitor SPC-mediated vascular gene therapy. The aim of this study was to confirm the possibility of using in vivo MRI to monitor IL-10 gene-transduced, MR contrast agent-labeled bone marrow cells that were recruited to atherosclerosis for preventing the progression of atherosclerotic disease. BMCs can differentiate into vascular cells that participate in the formation of different types of atherosclerotic plaques and transplant-associated vasculopathy. Intracellular MR contrast agents, such as Feridex or motexafin gadolinium, can be used to label different types of cells, so that the cells become MRdetectable. Recent development of a BMC-mediated, plaque-specific MRI technique enables monitoring of BMCs trafficking to atherosclerotic lesions. A more recent study demonstrated the possibility of co-transferring BMCs with a green fluorescent protein gene and an intracellular T1-MR contrast agent. To the best of our knowledge, the current study represents the first attempt to validate the feasibility of using in vivo MRI to track the recruitment of BMCs, which were cotransferred with a therapeutic gene and a T2 MR contrast agent, into the aortic walls to aid in the prevention of atherosclerosis.