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Wu B, Liu Y, Li H, Zhu L, Zeng L, Zhang Z, Peng W. Liver as a new target organ in Alzheimer's disease: insight from cholesterol metabolism and its role in amyloid-beta clearance. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:695-714. [PMID: 38886936 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.391305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, the primary cause of dementia, is characterized by neuropathologies, such as amyloid plaques, synaptic and neuronal degeneration, and neurofibrillary tangles. Although amyloid plaques are the primary characteristic of Alzheimer's disease in the central nervous system and peripheral organs, targeting amyloid-beta clearance in the central nervous system has shown limited clinical efficacy in Alzheimer's disease treatment. Metabolic abnormalities are commonly observed in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The liver is the primary peripheral organ involved in amyloid-beta metabolism, playing a crucial role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. Notably, impaired cholesterol metabolism in the liver may exacerbate the development of Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we explore the underlying causes of Alzheimer's disease and elucidate the role of the liver in amyloid-beta clearance and cholesterol metabolism. Furthermore, we propose that restoring normal cholesterol metabolism in the liver could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for addressing Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Wu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yuqing Liu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hongli Li
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Lemei Zhu
- Academician Workstation, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Lingfeng Zeng
- Academician Workstation, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- Yangsheng College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China
- Qinhuangdao Shanhaiguan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, China
| | - Weijun Peng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorder, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
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2
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Boyd ED, Kaur J, Ding G, Chopp M, Jiang Q. Clinical magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of glymphatic function. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2024; 37:e5132. [PMID: 38465514 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The glymphatic system is a system of specialized perivascular spaces in the brain that facilitates removal of toxic waste solutes from the brain. Evaluation of glymphatic system function by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has thus far been largely focused on rodents because of the limitations of intrathecal delivery of gadolinium-based contrast agents to humans. This review discusses MRI methods that can be employed clinically for glymphatic-related measurements intended for early diagnosis, prevention, and the treatment of various neurological conditions. Although glymphatic system-based MRI research is in its early stages, recent studies have identified promising noninvasive MRI markers associated with glymphatic system alterations in neurological diseases. However, further optimization in data acquisition, validation, and modeling are needed to investigate the glymphatic system within the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward D Boyd
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Jasleen Kaur
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA
| | - Guangliang Ding
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Michael Chopp
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA
| | - Quan Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
- Department of Physics, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA
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Vikner T, Garpebring A, Björnfot C, Nyberg L, Malm J, Eklund A, Wåhlin A. Blood-brain barrier integrity is linked to cognitive function, but not to cerebral arterial pulsatility, among elderly. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15338. [PMID: 38961135 PMCID: PMC11222381 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65944-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption may contribute to cognitive decline, but questions remain whether this association is more pronounced for certain brain regions, such as the hippocampus, or represents a whole-brain mechanism. Further, whether human BBB leakage is triggered by excessive vascular pulsatility, as suggested by animal studies, remains unknown. In a prospective cohort (N = 50; 68-84 years), we used contrast-enhanced MRI to estimate the permeability-surface area product (PS) and fractional plasma volume ( v p ), and 4D flow MRI to assess cerebral arterial pulsatility. Cognition was assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score. We hypothesized that high PS would be associated with high arterial pulsatility, and that links to cognition would be specific to hippocampal PS. For 15 brain regions, PS ranged from 0.38 to 0.85 (·10-3 min-1) and v p from 0.79 to 1.78%. Cognition was related to PS (·10-3 min-1) in hippocampus (β = - 2.9; p = 0.006), basal ganglia (β = - 2.3; p = 0.04), white matter (β = - 2.6; p = 0.04), whole-brain (β = - 2.7; p = 0.04) and borderline-related for cortex (β = - 2.7; p = 0.076). Pulsatility was unrelated to PS for all regions (p > 0.19). Our findings suggest PS-cognition links mainly reflect a whole-brain phenomenon with only slightly more pronounced links for the hippocampus, and provide no evidence of excessive pulsatility as a trigger of BBB disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Vikner
- Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden.
- Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden.
- Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53792, USA.
| | - Anders Garpebring
- Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Björnfot
- Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lars Nyberg
- Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Medical and Translational Biology, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Jan Malm
- Department of Clinical Science, Neurosciences, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anders Eklund
- Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anders Wåhlin
- Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden.
- Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden.
- Umeå Center for Functional Brain Imaging (UFBI), Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden.
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4
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Abdennadher M, Jacobellis S, Václavů L, Juttukonda M, Inati S, Goldstein L, van Osch MJP, Rosen B, Hua N, Theodore W. Water exchange across the blood-brain barrier and epilepsy: Review on pathophysiology and neuroimaging. Epilepsia Open 2024. [PMID: 38884502 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a barrier protecting the brain and a milieu of continuous exchanges between blood and brain. There is emerging evidence that the BBB plays a major role in epileptogenesis and drug-resistant epilepsy, through several mechanisms, such as water homeostasis dysregulation, overexpression of drug transporters, and inflammation. Studies have shown abnormal water homeostasis in epileptic tissue and altered aquaporin-4 water channel expression in animal epilepsy models. This review focuses on abnormal water exchange in epilepsy and describes recent non-invasive MRI methods of quantifying water exchange. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Abnormal exchange between blood and brain contribute to seizures and epilepsy. The authors describe why correct water balance is necessary for healthy brain functioning and how it is impacted in epilepsy. This review also presents recent MRI methods to measure water exchange in human brain. These measures would improve our understanding of factors leading to seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Abdennadher
- Neurology Department, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sara Jacobellis
- Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lena Václavů
- C.J. Gorter MRI Center, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Meher Juttukonda
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center of Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sara Inati
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lee Goldstein
- Psychiatry and Neurology Department, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthias J P van Osch
- C.J. Gorter MRI Center, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bruce Rosen
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center of Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ning Hua
- Radiology Department, Boston Medical Center, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - William Theodore
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Shao X, Shou Q, Felix K, Ojogho B, Jiang X, Gold BT, Herting MM, Goldwaser EL, Kochunov P, Hong LE, Pappas I, Braskie M, Kim H, Cen S, Jann K, Wang DJJ. Age-Related Decline in Blood-Brain Barrier Function is More Pronounced in Males than Females in Parietal and Temporal Regions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.12.575463. [PMID: 38293052 PMCID: PMC10827081 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.12.575463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a pivotal role in protecting the central nervous system (CNS), shielding it from potential harmful entities. A natural decline of BBB function with aging has been reported in both animal and human studies, which may contribute to cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disorders. Limited data also suggest that being female may be associated with protective effects on BBB function. Here we investigated age and sex-dependent trajectories of perfusion and BBB water exchange rate (kw) across the lifespan in 186 cognitively normal participants spanning the ages of 8 to 92 years old, using a non-invasive diffusion prepared pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (DP-pCASL) MRI technique. We found that the pattern of BBB kw decline with aging varies across brain regions. Moreover, results from our DP-pCASL technique revealed a remarkable decline in BBB kw beginning in the early 60s, which was more pronounced in males. In addition, we observed sex differences in parietal and temporal regions. Our findings provide in vivo results demonstrating sex differences in the decline of BBB function with aging, which may serve as a foundation for future investigations into perfusion and BBB function in neurodegenerative and other brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingfeng Shao
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Qinyang Shou
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Kimberly Felix
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Brandon Ojogho
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Xuejuan Jiang
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
- Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Brian T. Gold
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky
| | - Megan M Herting
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Eric L Goldwaser
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Interventional Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Louis A. Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - L. Elliot Hong
- Louis A. Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
| | - Ioannis Pappas
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Meredith Braskie
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Hosung Kim
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Steven Cen
- Department of Radiology and Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Kay Jann
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
| | - Danny JJ Wang
- USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
- Department of Radiology and Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
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6
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Ishida S, Fujiwara Y, Matta Y, Takei N, Kanamoto M, Kimura H, Tsujikawa T. Enhanced parameter estimation in multiparametric arterial spin labeling using artificial neural networks. Magn Reson Med 2024. [PMID: 38852172 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.30184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Multiparametric arterial spin labeling (MP-ASL) can quantify cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial cerebral blood volume (CBVa). However, its accuracy is compromised owing to its intrinsically low SNR, necessitating complex and time-consuming parameter estimation. Deep neural networks (DNNs) offer a solution to these limitations. Therefore, we aimed to develop simulation-based DNNs for MP-ASL and compared the performance of a supervised DNN (DNNSup), physics-informed unsupervised DNN (DNNUns), and the conventional lookup table method (LUT) using simulation and in vivo data. METHODS MP-ASL was performed twice during resting state and once during the breath-holding task. First, the accuracy and noise immunity were evaluated in the first resting state. Second, CBF and CBVa values were statistically compared between the first resting state and the breath-holding task using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Cliff's delta. Finally, reproducibility of the two resting states was assessed. RESULTS Simulation and first resting-state analyses demonstrated that DNNSup had higher accuracy, noise immunity, and a six-fold faster computation time than LUT. Furthermore, all methods detected task-induced CBF and CBVa elevations, with the effect size being larger with the DNNSup (CBF, p = 0.055, Δ = 0.286; CBVa, p = 0.008, Δ = 0.964) and DNNUns (CBF, p = 0.039, Δ = 0.286; CBVa, p = 0.008, Δ = 1.000) than that with LUT (CBF, p = 0.109, Δ = 0.214; CBVa, p = 0.008, Δ = 0.929). Moreover, all the methods exhibited comparable and satisfactory reproducibility. CONCLUSION DNNSup outperforms DNNUns and LUT with respect to estimation performance and computation time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Ishida
- Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyoto College of Medical Science, Nantan, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Fujiwara
- Department of Medical Image Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Matta
- Radiological Center, University of Fukui Hospital, Eiheiji, Japan
| | | | | | - Hirohiko Kimura
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
- Radiology Section, National Health Insurance Echizen-cho Ota Hospital, Echizen, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Tsujikawa
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
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Mouchtouris N, Ailes I, Chang K, Flanders A, Mohamed F, Tjoumakaris S, Gooch R, Jabbour P, Rosenwasser R, Alizadeh M. The impact of mechanical thrombectomy on the blood-brain barrier in patients with acute ischemic stroke: A non-contrast MR imaging study using DP-pCASL and NODDI. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 43:103629. [PMID: 38865844 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE While mechanical thrombectomy (MT) achieves restoration of cerebral blood flow to the area at risk in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), the influx of blood flow may exacerbate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and extravasation across the BBB, and it therefore remains unclear how reperfusion impacts the blood-brain barrier integrity. In this study, we use diffusion-prepared pseudocontinuous ASL (DP-pCASL) and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) sequence to measure the water exchange rate (kw) in patients who underwent either MT or medical management and determine its impact on the brain tissue microstructure in order to elucidate the impact of MT on BBB complex integrity. MATERIALS AND METHODS We prospectively enrolled 21 patients with AIS treated at our institution from 10/2021 to 6/2023 who underwent MR imaging at a 3.0-Tesla scanner. Patients underwent DP-pCASl and NODDI imaging in addition to the standard stroke protocol which generated cerebral blood flow (CBF), arterial transit time (ATT), water exchange rate (kw), orientation dispersion index (ODI), intracellular volume fraction (ICVF), and free water fraction (FWF) parametric maps. RESULTS Of the 21 patients, 11 underwent MT and 10 were treated non-operatively. The average age and NIHSS for the MT cohort and non-MT cohorts were 69.3 ± 16.6 years old and 15.0 (12.0-20.0), and 70.2 ± 10.7 (p = 0.882) and 6.0 (3.8-9.0, p = 0.003) respectively. The average CBF, ATT, and kw in the infarcted territory of the MT cohort were 38.2 (18.4-59.6), 1347.6 (1182.5-1842.3), and 107.8 (79.2-140.1) respectively. The average CBF, ATT, and kw in the stroke ROI were 16.0 (8.8-36.6, p = 0.036), 1090.8 (937.1-1258.9, p = 0.013), 89.7 (68.0-122.7, p = 0.314) respectively. Linear regression analysis showed increasing CBF (p = 0.008) and undergoing mechanical thrombectomy (p = 0.048) were significant predictors of increased kw. CONCLUSION Using our multimodal non-contrast MRI protocol, we demonstrate that increased CBF and mechanical thrombectomy increased kw, suggesting a better functioning BBB complex. Higher kw suggests less disruption of the BBB complex in the MT cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Mouchtouris
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Isaiah Ailes
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Ki Chang
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Adam Flanders
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Feroze Mohamed
- Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Stavropoula Tjoumakaris
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Reid Gooch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Pascal Jabbour
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Robert Rosenwasser
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mahdi Alizadeh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Pappas C, Bauer CE, Zachariou V, Maillard P, Caprihan A, Shao X, Wang DJ, Gold BT. MRI free water mediates the association between water exchange rate across the blood brain barrier and executive function among older adults. IMAGING NEUROSCIENCE (CAMBRIDGE, MASS.) 2024; 2:1-15. [PMID: 38947942 PMCID: PMC11211995 DOI: 10.1162/imag_a_00183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Vascular risk factors contribute to cognitive aging, with one such risk factor being dysfunction of the blood brain barrier (BBB). Studies using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, such as diffusion prepared arterial spin labeling (DP-ASL), can estimate BBB function by measuring water exchange rate (kw). DP-ASL kw has been associated with cognition, but the directionality and strength of the relationship is still under investigation. An additional variable that measures water in extracellular space and impacts cognition, MRI free water (FW), may help explain prior findings. A total of 94 older adults without dementia (Mean age = 74.17 years, 59.6% female) underwent MRI (DP-ASL, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)) and cognitive assessment. Mean kw was computed across the whole brain (WB), and mean white matter FW was computed across all white matter. The relationship between kw and three cognitive domains (executive function, processing speed, memory) was tested using multiple linear regression. FW was tested as a mediator of the kw-cognitive relationship using the PROCESS macro. A positive association was found between WB kw and executive function [F(4,85) = 7.81, p < .001, R2= 0.269; β = .245, p = .014]. Further, this effect was qualified by subsequent results showing that FW was a mediator of the WB kw-executive function relationship (indirect effect results: standardized effect = .060, bootstrap confidence interval = .0006 to .1411). Results suggest that lower water exchange rate (kw) may contribute to greater total white matter (WM) FW which, in turn, may disrupt executive function. Taken together, proper fluid clearance at the BBB contributes to higher-order cognitive abilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen Pappas
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Christopher E. Bauer
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Valentinos Zachariou
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Pauline Maillard
- Department of Neurology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- Center for Neurosciences, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Xingfeng Shao
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Danny J.J. Wang
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Brian T. Gold
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- Sanders Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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9
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Mouchtouris N, Ailes I, Gooch R, Raimondo C, Oghli YS, Tjoumakaris S, Jabbour P, Rosenwasser R, Alizadeh M. Quantifying blood-brain barrier permeability in patients with ischemic stroke using non-contrast MRI. Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 109:165-172. [PMID: 38513785 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2024.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Increased blood-brain barrier permeability (BBBP) after ischemic stroke predisposes patients to hemorrhagic conversion. While altered BBBP can impact patient recovery, it is not routinely assessed during the workup of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We study the effectiveness of the non-contrast MRI sequences diffusion-prepared pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (DP-pCASL) and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging (NODDI) in assessing BBBP and correlating to tissue microstructure after ischemic insult. Twelve patients with AIS were prospectively enrolled to undergo our multimodal MR imaging, which generated the DP-pCASL-derived cerebral blood flow (CBF), arterial transit time (ATT), and water exchange rate (kw) and the NODDI-derived b0, mean diffusivity (MD), orientation dispersion index (ODI), intracellular volume fraction (ICVF), and isotropic volume fraction (ISO) parametric maps. The mean age of the patients was 70.2 ± 14.8 with an average NIHSS of 13.0 (7.3-19.8). MR imaging was performed on average at 53.7 (27.8-93.3) hours from stroke symptom onset. The water exchange rate (kw) of the infarcted area and its contralateral territory were 89.7 min-1 (66.7-121.9) and 89.9 min-1 (65.9-106.0) respectively (p = 0.887). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that b0, ODI, ISO and mechanical thrombectomy were significant predictors of kw. DP-pCASL and NODDI are promising non-contrast sequences for the routine assessment of BBBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Mouchtouris
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Isaiah Ailes
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Reid Gooch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Christian Raimondo
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yazan Shamli Oghli
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Stavropoula Tjoumakaris
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Pascal Jabbour
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Robert Rosenwasser
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Mahdi Alizadeh
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Wen J, Antoniades M, Yang Z, Hwang G, Skampardoni I, Wang R, Davatzikos C. Dimensional Neuroimaging Endophenotypes: Neurobiological Representations of Disease Heterogeneity Through Machine Learning. Biol Psychiatry 2024:S0006-3223(24)01286-1. [PMID: 38718880 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Machine learning has been increasingly used to obtain individualized neuroimaging signatures for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and response to treatment in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, it has contributed to a better understanding of disease heterogeneity by identifying disease subtypes with different brain phenotypic measures. In this review, we first present a systematic literature overview of studies using machine learning and multimodal magnetic resonance imaging to unravel disease heterogeneity in various neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and multiple sclerosis, as well as their potential in a transdiagnostic framework, where neuroanatomical and neurobiological commonalities were assessed across diagnostic boundaries. Subsequently, we summarize relevant machine learning methodologies and their clinical interpretability. We discuss the potential clinical implications of the current findings and envision future research avenues. Finally, we discuss an emerging paradigm called dimensional neuroimaging endophenotypes. Dimensional neuroimaging endophenotypes dissects the neurobiological heterogeneity of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders into low-dimensional yet informative, quantitative brain phenotypic representations, serving as robust intermediate phenotypes (i.e., endophenotypes), presumably reflecting the interplay of underlying genetic, lifestyle, and environmental processes associated with disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Wen
- Laboratory of AI and Biomedical Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Mathilde Antoniades
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Zhijian Yang
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Gyujoon Hwang
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Ioanna Skampardoni
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rongguang Wang
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Christos Davatzikos
- Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging Laboratory, Center for AI and Data Science for Integrated Diagnostics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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11
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Ishida S, Isozaki M, Fujiwara Y, Takei N, Kanamoto M, Kimura H, Tsujikawa T. Effects of the Training Data Condition on Arterial Spin Labeling Parameter Estimation Using a Simulation-Based Supervised Deep Neural Network. J Comput Assist Tomogr 2024; 48:459-471. [PMID: 38149628 DOI: 10.1097/rct.0000000000001566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A simulation-based supervised deep neural network (DNN) can accurately estimate cerebral blood flow (CBF) and arterial transit time (ATT) from multidelay arterial spin labeling signals. However, the performance of deep learning depends on the characteristics of the training data set. We aimed to investigate the effects of the ground truth (GT) ranges of CBF and ATT on the performance of the DNN when training data were prepared using arterial spin labeling signal simulation. METHODS Deep neural networks were individually trained using 36 patterns of the training data sets. Simulation test data (1,000,000 points), 17 healthy volunteers, and 1 patient with moyamoya disease were included. The simulation test data were used to evaluate accuracy, precision, and noise immunity of the DNN. The best-performing DNN was determined by the normalized mean absolute error (NMAE), normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE), and normalized coefficient of variation over repeated training (CV Net ). Cerebral blood flow and ATT values and their histograms were compared between the GT and predicted values. For the in vivo data, the dependency of the predicted values on the GT ranges was visually evaluated by comparing CBF and ATT maps between the best-performing DNN and the other DNNs. Moreover, using the synthesized noisy images, noise immunity was compared between the best-performing DNN based on the simulation study and a conventional method. RESULTS The simulation study showed that a network trained by the GT of CBF and ATT in the ranges of 0 to 120 mL/100 g/min and 0 to 4500 milliseconds, respectively, had the highest performance (NMAE CBF , 0.150; NRMSE CBF , 0.231; CV NET CBF , 0.028; NMAE ATT , 0.158; NRMSE ATT , 0.257; and CV NET ATT , 0.028). Although the predicted CBF and ATT varied with the GT range of the training data sets, the appropriate settings preserved the accuracy, precision, and noise immunity of the DNN. In addition, the same results were observed in in vivo studies. CONCLUSIONS The GT ranges to prepare the training data affected the performance of the simulation-based supervised DNNs. The predicted CBF and ATT values depended on the GT range; inappropriate settings degraded the accuracy, whereas appropriate settings of the GT range provided accurate and precise estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shota Ishida
- From the Department of Radiological Technology, Faculty of medical sciences, Kyoto College of Medical Science, Kyoto
| | - Makoto Isozaki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui
| | - Yasuhiro Fujiwara
- Department of Medical Image Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto
| | | | | | | | - Tetsuya Tsujikawa
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
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12
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Padrela B, Mahroo A, Tee M, Sneve MH, Moyaert P, Geier O, Kuijer JPA, Beun S, Nordhøy W, Zhu YD, Buck MA, Hoinkiss DC, Konstandin S, Huber J, Wiersinga J, Rikken R, de Leeuw D, Grydeland H, Tippett L, Cawston EE, Ozturk-Isik E, Linn J, Brandt M, Tijms BM, van de Giessen EM, Muller M, Fjell A, Walhovd K, Bjørnerud A, Pålhaugen L, Selnes P, Clement P, Achten E, Anazodo U, Barkhof F, Hilal S, Fladby T, Eickel K, Morgan C, Thomas DL, Petr J, Günther M, Mutsaerts HJMM. Developing blood-brain barrier arterial spin labelling as a non-invasive early biomarker of Alzheimer's disease (DEBBIE-AD): a prospective observational multicohort study protocol. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e081635. [PMID: 38458785 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity is hypothesised to be one of the earliest microvascular signs of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Existing BBB integrity imaging methods involve contrast agents or ionising radiation, and pose limitations in terms of cost and logistics. Arterial spin labelling (ASL) perfusion MRI has been recently adapted to map the BBB permeability non-invasively. The DEveloping BBB-ASL as a non-Invasive Early biomarker (DEBBIE) consortium aims to develop this modified ASL-MRI technique for patient-specific and robust BBB permeability assessments. This article outlines the study design of the DEBBIE cohorts focused on investigating the potential of BBB-ASL as an early biomarker for AD (DEBBIE-AD). METHODS AND ANALYSIS DEBBIE-AD consists of a multicohort study enrolling participants with subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment and AD, as well as age-matched healthy controls, from 13 cohorts. The precision and accuracy of BBB-ASL will be evaluated in healthy participants. The clinical value of BBB-ASL will be evaluated by comparing results with both established and novel AD biomarkers. The DEBBIE-AD study aims to provide evidence of the ability of BBB-ASL to measure BBB permeability and demonstrate its utility in AD and AD-related pathologies. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics approval was obtained for 10 cohorts, and is pending for 3 cohorts. The results of the main trial and each of the secondary endpoints will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Padrela
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Amnah Mahroo
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mervin Tee
- National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Markus H Sneve
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Paulien Moyaert
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, Gent, Belgium
| | - Oliver Geier
- Department of Physics and Computational Radiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joost P A Kuijer
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Soetkin Beun
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, Gent, Belgium
| | - Wibeke Nordhøy
- Department of Physics and Computational Radiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Yufei David Zhu
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Mareike A Buck
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany
- University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | | | - Simon Konstandin
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Jörn Huber
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany
| | - Julia Wiersinga
- Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roos Rikken
- Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Håkon Grydeland
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lynette Tippett
- The University of Auckland School of Psychology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Erin E Cawston
- The University of Auckland Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Esin Ozturk-Isik
- Bogazici University Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Jennifer Linn
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Babylon, Iraq
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Moritz Brandt
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Babylon, Iraq
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Betty M Tijms
- Neurology, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Majon Muller
- Department of Internal Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anders Fjell
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristine Walhovd
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Atle Bjørnerud
- Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lene Pålhaugen
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway
- University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Per Selnes
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway
| | - Patricia Clement
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, Gent, Belgium
| | - Eric Achten
- Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University Hospital Ghent, Gent, Belgium
| | - Udunna Anazodo
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- University College London, London, UK
| | - Saima Hilal
- National University Health System, Singapore
- Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tormod Fladby
- Department of Neurology, Akershus University Hospital, Lorenskog, Norway
- University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Klaus Eickel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany
- University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Catherine Morgan
- The University of Auckland School of Psychology, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David L Thomas
- Department of Brain Repair and Rehabilitation, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jan Petr
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
| | - Matthias Günther
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, Bremen, Germany
- University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Henk J M M Mutsaerts
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Locatie VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Sarabi MS, Ma SJ, Jann K, Ringman JM, Wang DJJ, Shi Y. Vessel density mapping of small cerebral vessels on 3D high resolution black blood MRI. Neuroimage 2024; 286:120504. [PMID: 38216104 PMCID: PMC10834860 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Small cerebral blood vessels are largely inaccessible to existing clinical in vivo imaging technologies. This study aims to present a novel analysis pipeline for vessel density mapping of small cerebral blood vessels from high-resolution 3D black-blood MRI at 3T. Twenty-eight subjects (10 under 35 years old, 18 over 60 years old) were imaged with the T1-weighted turbo spin-echo with variable flip angles (T1w TSE-VFA) sequence optimized for black-blood small vessel imaging with iso-0.5 mm spatial resolution (interpolated from 0.51×0.51×0.64 mm3) at 3T. Hessian-based vessel segmentation methods (Jerman, Frangi and Sato filter) were evaluated by vessel landmarks and manual annotation of lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs). Using optimized vessel segmentation, large vessel pruning and non-linear registration, a semiautomatic pipeline was proposed for quantification of small vessel density across brain regions and further for localized detection of small vessel changes across populations. Voxel-level statistics was performed to compare vessel density between two age groups. Additionally, local vessel density of aged subjects was correlated with their corresponding gross cognitive and executive function (EF) scores using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and EF composite scores compiled with Item Response Theory (IRT). Jerman filter showed better performance for vessel segmentation than Frangi and Sato filter which was employed in our pipeline. Small cerebral blood vessels including small artery, arterioles, small veins, and venules on the order of a few hundred microns can be delineated using the proposed analysis pipeline on 3D black-blood MRI at 3T. The mean vessel density across brain regions was significantly higher in young subjects compared to aged subjects. In the aged subjects, localized vessel density was positively correlated with MoCA and IRT EF scores. The proposed pipeline is able to segment, quantify, and detect localized differences in vessel density of small cerebral blood vessels based on 3D high-resolution black-blood MRI. This framework may serve as a tool for localized detection of small vessel density changes in normal aging and cerebral small vessel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Sharifi Sarabi
- USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Samantha J Ma
- Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kay Jann
- USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - John M Ringman
- Department of Neurology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Danny J J Wang
- USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Yonggang Shi
- USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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14
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Voorter PHM, van Dinther M, Jansen WJ, Postma AA, Staals J, Jansen JFA, van Oostenbrugge RJ, van der Thiel MM, Backes WH. Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption and Perivascular Spaces in Small Vessel Disease and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review on MRI Methods and Insights. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024; 59:397-411. [PMID: 37658640 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Perivascular spaces (PVS) and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption are two key features of cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and neurodegenerative diseases that have been linked to cognitive impairment and are involved in the cerebral waste clearance system. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers the possibility to study these pathophysiological processes noninvasively in vivo. This educational review provides an overview of the MRI techniques used to assess PVS functionality and BBB disruption. MRI-visible PVS can be scored on structural images by either (subjectively) counting or (automatically) delineating the PVS. We highlight emerging (diffusion) techniques to measure proxies of perivascular fluid and its movement, which may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the role of PVS in diseases. For the measurement of BBB disruption, we explain the most commonly used MRI technique, dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI, as well as a more recently developed technique based on arterial spin labeling (ASL). DCE MRI and ASL are thought to measure complementary characteristics of the BBB. Furthermore, we describe clinical studies that have utilized these MRI techniques in cSVD and neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). These studies demonstrate the role of PVS and BBB dysfunction in these diseases and provide insight into the large overlap, but also into the differences between cSVD and AD. Overall, MRI techniques may provide valuable insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these diseases and have the potential to be used as markers for disease progression and treatment response. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulien H M Voorter
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Maud van Dinther
- School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Willemijn J Jansen
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Alida A Postma
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Julie Staals
- School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Robert J van Oostenbrugge
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Merel M van der Thiel
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Alzheimer Center Limburg, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Walter H Backes
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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15
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Zachariou V, Pappas C, Bauer CE, Shao X, Liu P, Lu H, Wang DJJ, Gold BT. Regional differences in the link between water exchange rate across the blood-brain barrier and cognitive performance in normal aging. GeroScience 2024; 46:265-282. [PMID: 37713089 PMCID: PMC10828276 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00930-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) undergoes functional changes with aging which may contribute to cognitive decline. A novel, diffusion prepared arterial spin labeling-based MRI technique can measure the rate of water exchange across the BBB (kw) and may thus be sensitive to age-related alterations in water exchange at the BBB. However, studies investigating relationships between kw and cognition have reported different directions of association. Here, we begin to investigate the direction of associations between kw and cognition in different brain regions, and their possible underpinnings, by evaluating links between kw, cognitive performance, and MRI markers of cerebrovascular dysfunction and/or damage. Forty-seven healthy older adults (age range 61-84) underwent neuroimaging to obtain whole-brain measures of kw, cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes. Additionally, participants completed uniform data set (Version 3) neuropsychological tests of executive function (EF) and episodic memory (MEM). Voxel-wise linear regressions were conducted to test associations between kw and cognitive performance, CVR, and WMH volumes. We found that kw in the frontoparietal brain regions was positively associated with cognitive performance but not with CVR or WMH volumes. Conversely, kw in the basal ganglia was negatively associated with cognitive performance and CVR and positively associated with regional, periventricular WMH volume. These regionally dependent associations may relate to different physiological underpinnings in the relationships between kw and cognition in neocortical versus subcortical brain regions in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentinos Zachariou
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
| | - Colleen Pappas
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Christopher E Bauer
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Xingfeng Shao
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Peiying Liu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hanzhang Lu
- Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Danny J J Wang
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Brian T Gold
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Sanders-Brown Center On Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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Rowsthorn E, Pham W, Nazem-Zadeh MR, Law M, Pase MP, Harding IH. Imaging the neurovascular unit in health and neurodegeneration: a scoping review of interdependencies between MRI measures. Fluids Barriers CNS 2023; 20:97. [PMID: 38129925 PMCID: PMC10734164 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00499-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a complex structure that facilitates nutrient delivery and metabolic waste clearance, forms the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and supports fluid homeostasis in the brain. The integrity of NVU subcomponents can be measured in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including quantification of enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS), BBB permeability, cerebral perfusion and extracellular free water. The breakdown of NVU subparts is individually associated with aging, pathology, and cognition. However, how these subcomponents interact as a system, and how interdependencies are impacted by pathology remains unclear. This systematic scoping review identified 26 studies that investigated the inter-relationships between multiple subcomponents of the NVU in nonclinical and neurodegenerative populations using MRI. A further 112 studies investigated associations between the NVU and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). We identify two putative clusters of NVU interdependencies: a 'vascular' cluster comprising BBB permeability, perfusion and basal ganglia ePVS; and a 'fluid' cluster comprising ePVS, free water and WMH. Emerging evidence suggests that subcomponent coupling within these clusters may be differentially related to aging, neurovascular injury or neurodegenerative pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella Rowsthorn
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health & School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - William Pham
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Mohammad-Reza Nazem-Zadeh
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Meng Law
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Radiology, Alfred Health, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
- Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Monash University, 14 Alliance Lane, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Matthew P Pase
- Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health & School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, 18 Innovation Walk, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ian H Harding
- Department of Neuroscience, Central Clinical School, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- Monash Biomedical Imaging, Monash University, 762-772 Blackburn Road, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.
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Sone JY, Koskimäki J, Girard R. Editorial for "The Consistence of Dynamic-Contrast-Enhanced MRI and Filter-Exchange Imaging in Measuring Water Exchange Across the Blood-Brain Barrier in High-Grade Glioma". J Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 58:1861-1862. [PMID: 37052208 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Je Yeong Sone
- Neurovascular Surgery Program, Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Janne Koskimäki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oulu University Hospital, Neurocenter, Oulu, Finland
| | - Romuald Girard
- Neurovascular Surgery Program, Department of Neurological Surgery, The University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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18
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Wang Z, Wang B, Li Z, Han G, Meng C, Jiao B, Guo K, Hsu YC, Sun Y, Liu Y, Bai R. The Consistence of Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI and Filter-Exchange Imaging in Measuring Water Exchange Across the Blood-Brain Barrier in High-Grade Glioma. J Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 58:1850-1860. [PMID: 37021659 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Water exchange across blood-brain barrier (BBB) (WEXBBB ) is an emerging biomarker of BBB dysfunction with potential applications in many brain diseases. Several MRI methods have been proposed to measure WEXBBB , but evidence remains scarce whether different methods can produce comparable WEXBBB . PURPOSE To explore whether dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI and vascular water exchange imaging (VEXI) could produce comparable WEXBBB in high-grade glioma (HGG) patients. STUDY TYPE Prospective cross-sectional. SUBJECTS 13 HGG patients (58.4 ± 9.4 years, 9 females, 4 WHO III and 9 WHO IV). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE A 3 T, spoiled gradient-recalled-echo DCE-MRI and VEXI containing two pulsed-gradient spin-echo blocks separated by a mixing block. ASSESSMENTS The enhanced tumor and contralateral normal-appearing white matter (cNAWM) volume-of-interests (VOIs) were drew by two neuroradiologists. And whole-brain NAWM and normal-appearing gray matter (NAGM) without tumor-affected regions were segmented by automated segmentation algorithm in FSL. STATISTICAL TESTS Student's t-test was used to evaluate parameters difference between cNAWM and tumor, NAGM and NAWM, respectively. The correlation between vascular water efflux rate constant (kbo ) from DCE-MRI and apparent exchange rate across BBB (AXRBBB ) from VEXI was evaluated by Pearson correlation. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Compared with cNAWM, both kbo and AXRBBB were significantly reduced in tumor (kbo = 3.50 ± 1.18 sec-1 vs. 1.03 ± 0.75 sec-1 ; AXRBBB = 3.54 ± 1.11 sec-1 vs. 1.94 ± 1.04 sec-1 ). Both kbo and AXRBBB showed significantly higher values in NAWM than NAGM (kbo = 3.50 ± 0.59 sec-1 vs. 2.10 ± 0.56 sec-1 ; AXRBBB = 3.35 ± 0.77 sec-1 vs. 2.07 ± 0.52 sec-1 ). The VOI-averaged kbo and AXRBBB were also linearly correlated in tumor, NAWM, and NAGM (r = 0.59). DATA CONCLUSION DCE-MRI and VEXI showed comparable and correlated WEXBBB in HGG patients, suggesting that the consistence and reliability of these two MRI methods in measuring WEXBBB . EVIDENCE LEVEL 2. TECHNICAL EFFICACY Stage 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zejun Wang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bao Wang
- Department of Radiology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhaoqing Li
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guangxu Han
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Cheng Meng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Bingjie Jiao
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kaiyue Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yi-Cheng Hsu
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Sun
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingchao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Ruiliang Bai
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital and Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Jiang D, Gou Y, Wei Z, Hou X, Yedavalli V, Lu H. Quantification of T 1 and T 2 of subarachnoid CSF: Implications for water exchange between CSF and brain tissues. Magn Reson Med 2023; 90:2411-2419. [PMID: 37582262 PMCID: PMC10696635 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To quantify the T1 and T2 values of CSF in the subarachnoid space (SAS) at 3 T and interpret them in the context of water exchange between CSF and brain tissues. METHODS CSF T1 was measured using inversion recovery, and CSF T2 was assessed using T2 -preparation. T1 and T2 values in the SAS were compared with those in the frontal horns of lateral ventricles, which have less brain-CSF exchange. Phantom experiments were performed to examine whether there were spatial variations in T1 and T2 that were unrelated to brain-CSF exchange. Simulations were conducted to investigate the relationship between the brain-CSF exchange rate and the apparent T1 and T2 values of SAS CSF. RESULTS The CSF T1 and T2 values were 4308.7 ± 146.9 ms and 1885.5 ± 67.9 ms, respectively, in the SAS and were 4454.0 ± 187.9 ms and 2372.9 ± 72.0 ms in the frontal horns. The SAS CSF had shorter T1 (p = 0.006) and T2 (p < 0.0001) than CSF in the frontal horns. Phantom experiments showed negligible (< 6 ms for T1 ; < 1 ms for T2 ) spatial variations in T1 and T2 , suggesting that the T1 and T2 differences between SAS and frontal horns were largely attributed to physiological reasons. Simulations revealed that faster brain-CSF exchange rates lead to shorter apparent T1 and T2 of SAS CSF. However, the experimentally observed T2 difference between SAS and frontal horns was greater than that attributable to typical exchange effect, suggesting that the T2 shortening in SAS may reflect a combined effect of exchange and deoxyhemoglobin susceptibility. CONCLUSION Quantification of SAS CSF relaxation times may be useful to assess the brain-CSF exchange.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dengrong Jiang
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yifan Gou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zhiliang Wei
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xirui Hou
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Vivek Yedavalli
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hanzhang Lu
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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20
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Shi W, Jiang D, Rando H, Khanduja S, Lin Z, Hazel K, Pottanat G, Jones E, Xu C, Lin D, Yasar S, Cho SM, Lu H. Blood-brain barrier breakdown in COVID-19 ICU survivors: an MRI pilot study. NEUROIMMUNE PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS 2023; 2:333-338. [PMID: 38058998 PMCID: PMC10696574 DOI: 10.1515/nipt-2023-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) results in severe inflammation at the acute stage. Chronic neuroinflammation and abnormal immunological response have been suggested to be the contributors to neuro-long-COVID, but direct evidence has been scarce. This study aims to determine the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) survivors using a novel MRI technique. Methods COVID-19 ICU survivors (n=7) and age and sex-matched control participants (n=17) were recruited from June 2021 to March 2023. None of the control participants were hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection. The COVID-19 ICU survivors were studied at 98.6 ± 14.9 days after their discharge from ICU. A non-invasive MRI technique was used to assess the BBB permeability to water molecules, in terms of permeability surface area-product (PS) in the units of mL/100 g/min. Results PS was significantly higher in COVID-19 ICU survivors (p=0.038) when compared to the controls, with values of 153.1 ± 20.9 mL/100 g/min and 132.5 ± 20.7 mL/100 g/min, respectively. In contrast, there were no significant differences in whole-brain cerebral blood flow (p=0.649) or brain volume (p=0.471) between the groups. Conclusions There is preliminary evidence of a chronic BBB breakdown in COVID-19 survivors who had a severe acute infection, suggesting a plausible contributor to neurological long-COVID symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Shi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dengrong Jiang
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hannah Rando
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shivalika Khanduja
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Zixuan Lin
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kaisha Hazel
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - George Pottanat
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ebony Jones
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cuimei Xu
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Doris Lin
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sevil Yasar
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sung-Min Cho
- Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hanzhang Lu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Huang P, Chen K, Liu C, Zhen Z, Zhang R. Visualizing Cerebral Small Vessel Degeneration During Aging and Diseases Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 58:1323-1337. [PMID: 37052571 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebral small vessel disease is a major contributor to brain disorders in older adults. It is associated with a much higher risk of stroke and dementia. Due to a lack of clinical and fluid biomarkers, diagnosing and grading small vessel disease are highly dependent on magnetic resonance imaging. In the past, researchers mostly used brain parenchymal imaging markers to represent small vessel damage, but the relationships between these surrogate markers and small vessel pathologies are complex. Recent progress in high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging methods, including time-of-flight MR angiography, phase-contrast MR angiography, black blood vessel wall imaging, susceptibility-weighted imaging, and contrast-enhanced methods, allow for direct visualization of cerebral small vessel structures. They could be powerful tools for understanding aging-related small vessel degeneration and improving disease diagnosis and treatment. This article will review progress in these imaging techniques and their application in aging and disease studies. Some challenges and future directions are also discussed. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 4. TECHNICAL EFFICACY: 3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyu Huang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kang Chen
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiming Zhen
- Department of Radiology, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Ruiting Zhang
- Department of Radiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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22
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Powell E, Dickie BR, Ohene Y, Maskery M, Parker GJM, Parkes LM. Blood-brain barrier water exchange measurements using contrast-enhanced ASL. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 36:e5009. [PMID: 37666494 PMCID: PMC10909569 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
A technique for quantifying regional blood-brain barrier (BBB) water exchange rates using contrast-enhanced arterial spin labelling (CE-ASL) is presented and evaluated in simulations and in vivo. The two-compartment ASL model describes the water exchange rate from blood to tissue,k b , but to estimatek b in practice it is necessary to separate the intra- and extravascular signals. This is challenging in standard ASL data owing to the small difference inT 1 values. Here, a gadolinium-based contrast agent is used to increase thisT 1 difference and enable the signal components to be disentangled. The optimal post-contrast bloodT 1 (T 1 , b post ) at 3 T was determined in a sensitivity analysis, and the accuracy and precision of the method quantified using Monte Carlo simulations. Proof-of-concept data were acquired in six healthy volunteers (five female, age range 24-46 years). The sensitivity analysis identified the optimalT 1 , b post at 3 T as 0.8 s. Simulations showed thatk b could be estimated in individual cortical regions with a relative error ϵ < 1 % and coefficient of variation CoV = 30 %; however, a high dependence on bloodT 1 was also observed. In volunteer data, mean parameter values in grey matter were: arterial transit timet A = 1 . 15 ± 0 . 49 s, cerebral blood flow f = 58 . 0 ± 14 . 3 mL blood/min/100 mL tissue and water exchange ratek b = 2 . 32 ± 2 . 49 s-1 . CE-ASL can provide regional BBB water exchange rate estimates; however, the clinical utility of the technique is dependent on the achievable accuracy of measuredT 1 values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Powell
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Ben R. Dickie
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research CentreUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
| | - Yolanda Ohene
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research CentreUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Mark Maskery
- Department of NeurologyLancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustPrestonUK
| | - Geoff J. M. Parker
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Queen Square MS Centre, Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Bioxydyn LimitedManchesterUnited Kingdom
| | - Laura M. Parkes
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research CentreUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
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23
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Wang DJJ, Hua J, Cao D, Ho ML. Neurofluids and the glymphatic system: anatomy, physiology, and imaging. Br J Radiol 2023; 96:20230016. [PMID: 37191063 PMCID: PMC10607419 DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20230016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
First described in 2012, the glymphatic system is responsible for maintaining homeostasis within the central nervous system, including nutrient delivery, waste clearance, and consistency of the ionic microenvironment. It is comprised of glial cells and barrier systems that modulate neurofluid production, circulation, and exchange. Experimental interrogation of neurofluid dynamics is restricted to ex vivo and in vitro studies in animals and humans, therefore diagnostic imaging plays an important role in minimally invasive evaluation. This review article will synthesize current knowledge and theories regarding neurofluid circulation and implications for neuroimaging. First, we will discuss the anatomy of the neurogliovascular unit, including paravascular and perivascular pathways of fluid exchange. In addition, we will summarize the structure and function of barrier systems including the blood-brain, blood-cerebrospinal fluid, and brain-cerebrospinal fluid barriers. Next, we will mention physiologic factors that yield normal variations in neurofluid circulation, and how various disease pathologies can disrupt glymphatic drainage pathways. Lastly, we will cover the spectrum of diagnostic imaging and interventional techniques with relevance to glymphatic structure, flow, and function. We conclude by highlighting current barriers and future directions for translational imaging and applications to neurologic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny JJ Wang
- Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
| | | | | | - Mai-Lan Ho
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States
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24
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Li H, Zu T, Chen R, Ba R, Hsu YC, Sun Y, Zhang Y, Wu D. 3D diffusion MRI with twin navigator-based GRASE and comparison with 2D EPI for tractography in the human brain. Magn Reson Med 2023; 90:1969-1978. [PMID: 37345706 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE 3D pulse sequences enable high-resolution acquisition with a high SNR and ideal slice profiles, which, however, is particularly difficult for diffusion MRI (dMRI) due to the additional phase errors from diffusion encoding. METHODS We proposed a twin navigator-based 3D diffusion-weighted gradient spin-echo (GRASE) sequence to correct the phase errors between shots and between odd and even spin echoes for human whole-brain acquisition. We then compared the SNR of 3D GRASE and 2D simultaneous multi-slice EPI within the same acquisition time. We further tested the performance of 2D versus 3D acquisition at equivalent SNR on fiber tracking and microstructural mapping, using the diffusion tensor and high-order fiber orientation density-based metrics. RESULTS The proposed twin navigator approach removed multi-shot phase errors to some extent in the whole brain dMRI, and the 2D navigator performed better than the 1D navigator. Comparisons of SNR between the 2D simultaneous multi-slice EPI and 3D GRASE sequences demonstrated that the SNR of the GRASE sequence was 1.4-1.5-fold higher than the EPI sequence at an equivalent scan time. More importantly, we found a significantly higher fiber cross-section in the cerebrospinal tract, as well as richer subcortical fibers (U-fibers) using the 3D GRASE sequence compared to 2D EPI. CONCLUSION The twin navigator-based 3D diffusion-weighted-GRASE sequence minimized the multishot phase error and effectively improved the SNR for whole-brain dMRI acquisition. We found differences in fiber tracking and microstructural mapping between 2D and 3D acquisitions, possibly due to the different slice profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haotian Li
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Zu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruike Chen
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruicheng Ba
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Cheng Hsu
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Sun
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare China, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
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Ling C, Zhang J, Shao X, Bai L, Li Z, Sun Y, Li F, Wang Z, Xue R, Zhuo Y, Yang Q, Zhang Z, Wang DJJ, Yuan Y. Diffusion prepared pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling reveals blood-brain barrier dysfunction in patients with CADASIL. Eur Radiol 2023; 33:6959-6969. [PMID: 37099178 PMCID: PMC10567537 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-023-09652-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Diffusion prepared pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (DP-pCASL) is a newly proposed MRI method to noninvasively measure the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We aim to investigate whether the water exchange rate across the BBB, estimated with DP-pCASL, is changed in patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), and to analyze the association between the BBB water exchange rate and MRI/clinical features of these patients. METHODS Forty-one patients with CADASIL and thirty-six age- and sex-matched controls were scanned with DP-pCASL MRI to estimate the BBB water exchange rate (kw). The MRI lesion burden, the modified Rankin scale (mRS), and the neuropsychological scales were also examined. The association between kw and MRI/clinical features was analyzed. RESULTS Compared with that in the controls, kw in patients with CADASIL was decreased at normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) (t = - 4.742, p < 0.001), cortical gray matter (t = - 5.137, p < 0.001), and deep gray matter (t = - 3.552, p = 0.001). After adjustment for age, gender, and arterial transit time, kw at NAWM was negatively associated with the volume of white matter hyperintensities (β = - 0.754, p = 0.001), whereas decreased kw at NAWM was independently associated with an increased risk of abnormal mRS scale (OR = 1.058, 95% CI: 1.013-1.106, p = 0.011) in these patients. CONCLUSIONS This study found that the BBB water exchange rate was decreased in patients with CADASIL. The decreased BBB water exchange rate was associated with an increased MRI lesion burden and functional dependence of the patients, suggesting the involvement of BBB dysfunction in the pathogenesis of CADASIL. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT DP-pCASL reveals BBB dysfunction in patients with CADASIL. The decreased BBB water exchange rate is associated with MRI lesion burden and functional dependence, indicating the potential of DP-pCASL as an evaluation method for disease severity. KEY POINTS • DP-pCASL reveals blood-brain barrier dysfunction in patients with CADASIL. • Decreased BBB water exchange rate, an indicator of BBB dysfunction detected by DP-pCASL, was associated with MRI/clinical features of patients with CADASIL. • DP-pCASL can be used as an evaluation method to assess the severity of disease in patients with CADASIL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ling
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurovascular Disease Discovery, Beijing, China
| | - Jinyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Beijing MR Center for Brain Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingfeng Shao
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, CA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Li Bai
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurovascular Disease Discovery, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Beijing MR Center for Brain Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunchuang Sun
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurovascular Disease Discovery, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurovascular Disease Discovery, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurovascular Disease Discovery, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Beijing MR Center for Brain Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Beijing MR Center for Brain Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
- Key Lab of Medical Engineering for Cardiovascular Disease, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beijing, China.
| | - Zihao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Beijing MR Center for Brain Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, China.
| | - Danny J J Wang
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, CA, Los Angeles, USA
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, CA, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Yun Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neurovascular Disease Discovery, Beijing, China.
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Plummer AM, Matos YL, Lin HC, Ryman SG, Birg A, Quinn DK, Parada AN, Vakhtin AA. Gut-brain pathogenesis of post-acute COVID-19 neurocognitive symptoms. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1232480. [PMID: 37841680 PMCID: PMC10568482 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1232480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately one third of non-hospitalized coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients report chronic symptoms after recovering from the acute stage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Some of the most persistent and common complaints of this post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) are cognitive in nature, described subjectively as "brain fog" and also objectively measured as deficits in executive function, working memory, attention, and processing speed. The mechanisms of these chronic cognitive sequelae are currently not understood. SARS-CoV-2 inflicts damage to cerebral blood vessels and the intestinal wall by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors and also by evoking production of high levels of systemic cytokines, compromising the brain's neurovascular unit, degrading the intestinal barrier, and potentially increasing the permeability of both to harmful substances. Such substances are hypothesized to be produced in the gut by pathogenic microbiota that, given the profound effects COVID-19 has on the gastrointestinal system, may fourish as a result of intestinal post-COVID-19 dysbiosis. COVID-19 may therefore create a scenario in which neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory substances readily proliferate from the gut lumen and encounter a weakened neurovascular unit, gaining access to the brain and subsequently producing cognitive deficits. Here, we review this proposed PACS pathogenesis along the gut-brain axis, while also identifying specific methodologies that are currently available to experimentally measure each individual component of the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M. Plummer
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Yvette L. Matos
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Henry C. Lin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Sephira G. Ryman
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Nene and Jamie Koch Comprehensive Movement Disorder Center, Department of Neurology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Aleksandr Birg
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
- Section of Gastroenterology, New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Davin K. Quinn
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Alisha N. Parada
- Division of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Andrei A. Vakhtin
- The Mind Research Network/Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Goldwaser EL, Wang DJJ, Adhikari BM, Chiappelli J, Shao X, Yu J, Lu T, Chen S, Marshall W, Yuen A, Kvarta M, Ma Y, Du X, Gao S, Saeedi O, Bruce H, Donnelly P, O’Neill H, Shuldiner AR, Mitchell BD, Kochunov P, Hong LE. Evidence of Neurovascular Water Exchange and Endothelial Vascular Dysfunction in Schizophrenia: An Exploratory Study. Schizophr Bull 2023; 49:1325-1335. [PMID: 37078962 PMCID: PMC10483475 DOI: 10.1093/schbul/sbad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS Mounting evidence supports cerebrovascular contributions to schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD) but with unknown mechanisms. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is at the nexus of neural-vascular exchanges, tasked with regulating cerebral homeostasis. BBB abnormalities in SSD, if any, are likely more subtle compared to typical neurological insults and imaging measures that assess large molecule BBB leakage in major neurological events may not be sensitive enough to directly examine BBB abnormalities in SSD. STUDY DESIGN We tested the hypothesis that neurovascular water exchange (Kw) measured by non-invasive diffusion-prepared arterial spin label MRI (n = 27 healthy controls [HC], n = 32 SSD) is impaired in SSD and associated with clinical symptoms. Peripheral vascular endothelial health was examined by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (n = 44 HC, n = 37 SSD) to examine whether centrally measured Kw is related to endothelial functions. STUDY RESULTS Whole-brain average Kw was significantly reduced in SSD (P = .007). Exploratory analyses demonstrated neurovascular water exchange reductions in the right parietal lobe, including the supramarginal gyrus (P = .002) and postcentral gyrus (P = .008). Reduced right superior corona radiata (P = .001) and right angular gyrus Kw (P = .006) was associated with negative symptoms. Peripheral endothelial function was also significantly reduced in SSD (P = .0001). Kw in 94% of brain regions in HC positively associated with peripheral endothelial function, which was not observed in SSD, where the correlation was inversed in 52% of brain regions. CONCLUSIONS This study provides initial evidence of neurovascular water exchange abnormalities, which appeared clinically associated, especially with negative symptoms, in schizophrenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric L Goldwaser
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Danny J J Wang
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Nueroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bhim M Adhikari
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua Chiappelli
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xingfeng Shao
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Nueroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jiaao Yu
- Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Tong Lu
- Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Shuo Chen
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Mathematics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Wyatt Marshall
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexa Yuen
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Mark Kvarta
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yizhou Ma
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xiaoming Du
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Si Gao
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Osamah Saeedi
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Heather Bruce
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Patrick Donnelly
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hugh O’Neill
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alan R Shuldiner
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Braxton D Mitchell
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Geriatrics Research and Education Clinical Center, Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter Kochunov
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - L Elliot Hong
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Uchida Y, Kan H, Furukawa G, Onda K, Sakurai K, Takada K, Matsukawa N, Oishi K. Relationship between brain iron dynamics and blood-brain barrier function during childhood: a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study. Fluids Barriers CNS 2023; 20:60. [PMID: 37592310 PMCID: PMC10433620 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00464-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mounting evidence suggests that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays an important role in the regulation of brain iron homeostasis in normal brain development, but these imaging profiles remain to be elucidated. We aimed to establish a relationship between brain iron dynamics and BBB function during childhood using a combined quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to depict both physiological systems along developmental trajectories. METHODS In this single-center prospective study, consecutive outpatients, 2-180 months of age, who underwent brain MRI (3.0-T scanner; Ingenia; Philips) between January 2020 and January 2021, were included. Children with histories of preterm birth or birth defects, abnormalities on MRI, and diagnoses that included neurological diseases during follow-up examinations through December 2022 were excluded. In addition to clinical MRI, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM; iron deposition measure) and diffusion-prepared pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (DP-pCASL; BBB function measure) were acquired. Atlas-based analyses for QSM and DP-pCASL were performed to investigate developmental trajectories of regional brain iron deposition and BBB function and their relationships. RESULTS A total of 78 children (mean age, 73.8 months ± 61.5 [SD]; 43 boys) were evaluated. Rapid magnetic susceptibility progression in the brain (Δsusceptibility value) was observed during the first two years (globus pallidus, 1.26 ± 0.18 [× 10- 3 ppm/month]; substantia nigra, 0.68 ± 0.16; thalamus, 0.15 ± 0.04). The scattergram between the Δsusceptibility value and the water exchange rate across the BBB (kw) divided by the cerebral blood flow was well fitted to the sigmoidal curve model, whose inflection point differed among each deep gray-matter nucleus (globus pallidus, 2.96-3.03 [mL/100 g]-1; substantia nigra, 3.12-3.15; thalamus, 3.64-3.67) in accordance with the regional heterogeneity of brain iron accumulation. CONCLUSIONS The combined quantitative MRI study of QSM and DP-pCASL for pediatric brains demonstrated the relationship between brain iron dynamics and BBB function during childhood. TRIAL REGISTRATION UMIN Clinical Trials Registry identifier: UMIN000039047, registered January 6, 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuto Uchida
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 208 Traylor Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1, Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Aichi, Japan.
| | - Hirohito Kan
- Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 1- 1-20, Daiko-Minami, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, 461-8673, Aichi, Japan
| | - Gen Furukawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, 1-98, Kutsukake-cho, Dengakugakubo, Toyoake, 470-1192, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kengo Onda
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 208 Traylor Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Keita Sakurai
- Department of Radiology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Morioka-cho, Obu, 474-8511, Aichi, Japan
| | - Koji Takada
- Department of Neurology, Toyokawa City Hospital, 23, Noji, Yawata-cho, Toyokawa, 442-0857, Aichi, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Matsukawa
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1, Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, 467-8601, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kenichi Oishi
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 208 Traylor Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- The Richman Family Precision Medicine Center of Excellence in Alzheimer's Disease, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
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29
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Mahmud SZ, Denney TS, Bashir A. Non-contrast estimate of blood-brain barrier permeability in humans using arterial spin labeling and magnetization transfer at 7 T. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 36:e4908. [PMID: 36650646 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction is associated with a number of central nervous system diseases. This study demonstrates the application of a novel noninvasive technique to measure the BBB permeability in the human brain at 7 T. The technique exploits the fact that, when tissue macromolecules are saturated by off-resonance RF pulse, the intravascular and the extravascular (tissue) water experience different magnetization transfer effects. This principle was combined with arterial spin labeling to distinguish between the intravascular and the tissue water, and was used to calculate perfusion, water extraction fraction (E), and BBB permeability surface area product for water (PS). Simultaneous coregistered magnetization transfer ratio maps were also generated that can provide valuable additional information. Eighteen healthy volunteers (seven females), age = 27 ± 11 years and weight = 65 ± 9 kg, participated in the study. Average perfusion was 67 ± 5 and 29 ± 4 ml/100 g/min (p < 0.05); and E was 0.921 ± 0.025 and 0.962 ± 0.015 (p < 0.05) in the gray matter (GM) and the white matter (WM), respectively. PS was higher in the GM (171 ± 20 ml/100 g/min) compared with the WM (95 ± 18 ml/100 g/min) (p < 0.05). The parameters exhibited good reliability with test re-test experiments. The sensitivity of this technique was demonstrated by 200 mg caffeine intake, which resulted in a decrease in the resting PS by ~31%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sultan Z Mahmud
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Auburn University MRI Research Center, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Thomas S Denney
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Auburn University MRI Research Center, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Adil Bashir
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
- Auburn University MRI Research Center, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
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30
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Powell E, Ohene Y, Battiston M, Dickie BR, Parkes LM, Parker GJM. Blood-brain barrier water exchange measurements using FEXI: Impact of modeling paradigm and relaxation time effects. Magn Reson Med 2023; 90:34-50. [PMID: 36892973 PMCID: PMC10962589 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate potential modeling paradigms and the impact of relaxation time effects on human blood-brain barrier (BBB) water exchange measurements using FEXI (BBB-FEXI), and to quantify the accuracy, precision, and repeatability of BBB-FEXI exchange rate estimates at 3 T $$ \mathrm{T} $$ . METHODS Three modeling paradigms were evaluated: (i) the apparent exchange rate (AXR) model; (ii) a two-compartment model (2 CM $$ 2\mathrm{CM} $$ ) explicitly representing intra- and extravascular signal components, and (iii) a two-compartment model additionally accounting for finite compartmentalT 1 $$ {\mathrm{T}}_1 $$ andT 2 $$ {\mathrm{T}}_2 $$ relaxation times (2 CM r $$ 2{\mathrm{CM}}_r $$ ). Each model had three free parameters. Simulations quantified biases introduced by the assumption of infinite relaxation times in the AXR and2 CM $$ 2\mathrm{CM} $$ models, as well as the accuracy and precision of all three models. The scan-rescan repeatability of all paradigms was quantified for the first time in vivo in 10 healthy volunteers (age range 23-52 years; five female). RESULTS The assumption of infinite relaxation times yielded exchange rate errors in simulations up to 42%/14% in the AXR/2 CM $$ 2\mathrm{CM} $$ models, respectively. Accuracy was highest in the compartmental models; precision was best in the AXR model. Scan-rescan repeatability in vivo was good for all models, with negligible bias and repeatability coefficients in grey matter ofRC AXR = 0 . 43 $$ {\mathrm{RC}}_{\mathrm{AXR}}=0.43 $$ s - 1 $$ {\mathrm{s}}^{-1} $$ ,RC 2 CM = 0 . 51 $$ {\mathrm{RC}}_{2\mathrm{CM}}=0.51 $$ s - 1 $$ {\mathrm{s}}^{-1} $$ , andRC 2 CM r = 0 . 61 $$ {\mathrm{RC}}_{2{\mathrm{CM}}_r}=0.61 $$ s - 1 $$ {\mathrm{s}}^{-1} $$ . CONCLUSION Compartmental modelling of BBB-FEXI signals can provide accurate and repeatable measurements of BBB water exchange; however, relaxation time and partial volume effects may cause model-dependent biases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Powell
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Yolanda Ohene
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Marco Battiston
- Queen Square MS CentreUCL Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUK
| | - Ben R. Dickie
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data SciencesSchool of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Laura M. Parkes
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Geoff J. M. Parker
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Queen Square MS CentreUCL Institute of Neurology, University College LondonLondonUK
- Bioxydyn LimitedManchesterUK
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31
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Shao X, Zhao C, Shou Q, St Lawrence KS, Wang DJJ. Quantification of blood-brain barrier water exchange and permeability with multidelay diffusion-weighted pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling. Magn Reson Med 2023; 89:1990-2004. [PMID: 36622951 PMCID: PMC10079266 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To present a pulse sequence and mathematical models for quantification of blood-brain barrier water exchange and permeability. METHODS Motion-compensated diffusion-weighted (MCDW) gradient-and-spin echo (GRASE) pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) sequence was proposed to acquire intravascular/extravascular perfusion signals from five postlabeling delays (PLDs, 1590-2790 ms). Experiments were performed on 11 healthy subjects at 3 T. A comprehensive set of perfusion and permeability parameters including cerebral blood flow (CBF), capillary transit time (τc ), and water exchange rate (kw ) were quantified, and permeability surface area product (PSw ), total extraction fraction (Ew ), and capillary volume (Vc ) were derived simultaneously by a three-compartment single-pass approximation (SPA) model on group-averaged data. With information (i.e., Vc and τc ) obtained from three-compartment SPA modeling, a simplified linear regression of logarithm (LRL) approach was proposed for individual kw quantification, and Ew and PSw can be estimated from long PLD (2490/2790 ms) signals. MCDW-pCASL was compared with a previously developed diffusion-prepared (DP) pCASL sequence, which calculates kw by a two-compartment SPA model from PLD = 1800 ms signals, to evaluate the improvements. RESULTS Using three-compartment SPA modeling, group-averaged CBF = 51.5/36.8 ml/100 g/min, kw = 126.3/106.7 min-1 , PSw = 151.6/93.8 ml/100 g/min, Ew = 94.7/92.2%, τc = 1409.2/1431.8 ms, and Vc = 1.2/0.9 ml/100 g in gray/white matter, respectively. Temporal SNR of MCDW-pCASL perfusion signals increased 3-fold, and individual kw maps calculated by the LRL method achieved higher spatial resolution (3.5 mm3 isotropic) as compared with DP pCASL (3.5 × 3.5 × 8 mm3 ). CONCLUSION MCDW-pCASL allows visualization of intravascular/extravascular ASL signals across multiple PLDs. The three-compartment SPA model provides a comprehensive measurement of blood-brain barrier water dynamics from group-averaged data, and a simplified LRL method was proposed for individual kw quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingfeng Shao
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Chenyang Zhao
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Qinyang Shou
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Keith S St Lawrence
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danny JJ Wang
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), Mark & Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Li Z, Wang Z, Cheng J, Bai X, Hsu YC, Sun Y, Li S, Shi J, Sui B, Bai R. Vascular-water-exchange MRI (VEXI) enables the detection of subtle AXR alterations in Alzheimer's disease without MRI contrast agent, which may relate to BBB integrity. Neuroimage 2023; 270:119951. [PMID: 36805091 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment is an important pathophysiological process in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of AD. However, most current neuroimaging methods assessing BBB function need the injection of exogenous contrast agents (or tracers), which limits the application of these methods in a large population. In this study, we aim to explore the feasibility of vascular water exchange MRI (VEXI), a diffusion-MRI-based method proposed to assess the BBB permeability to water molecules without using a contrast agent, in the detection of the BBB breakdown in AD. We tested VEXI on a 3T MRI scanner on three groups: AD patients (AD group), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients due to AD (MCI group), and the age-matched normal cognition subjects (NC group). Interestingly, we find that the apparent water exchange across the BBB (AXRBBB) measured by VEXI shows higher values in MCI compared with NC, and this higher AXRBBB happens specifically in the hippocampus. This increase in AXRBBB value gets larger and extends to more brain regions (medial orbital frontal cortex and thalamus) from MCI group to the AD group. Furthermore, we find that the AXRBBB values of these three regions is correlated significantly with the impairment of respective cognitive domains independent of age, sex and education. These results suggest VEXI is a promising method to assess the BBB breakdown in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Zhang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Shaw Hospital AND Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yue Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoqing Li
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Shaw Hospital AND Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zejun Wang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Shaw Hospital AND Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Juange Cheng
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Shaw Hospital AND Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Bai
- Tiantan Neuroimaging Center of Excellence, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China; Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Cheng Hsu
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Sun
- MR Collaboration, Siemens Healthcare, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiping Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiong Shi
- National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Binbin Sui
- National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Ruiliang Bai
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the Affiliated Sir Run Shaw Hospital AND Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, College of Biomedical Engineering and Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University.
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33
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Ohene Y, Harris WJ, Powell E, Wycech NW, Smethers KF, Lasič S, South K, Coutts G, Sharp A, Lawrence CB, Boutin H, Parker GJM, Parkes LM, Dickie BR. Filter exchange imaging with crusher gradient modelling detects increased blood-brain barrier water permeability in response to mild lung infection. Fluids Barriers CNS 2023; 20:25. [PMID: 37013549 PMCID: PMC10071630 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00422-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction occurs in many brain diseases, and there is increasing evidence to suggest that it is an early process in dementia which may be exacerbated by peripheral infection. Filter-exchange imaging (FEXI) is an MRI technique for measuring trans-membrane water exchange. FEXI data is typically analysed using the apparent exchange rate (AXR) model, yielding estimates of the AXR. Crusher gradients are commonly used to remove unwanted coherence pathways arising from longitudinal storage pulses during the mixing period. We first demonstrate that when using thin slices, as is needed for imaging the rodent brain, crusher gradients result in underestimation of the AXR. To address this, we propose an extended crusher-compensated exchange rate (CCXR) model to account for diffusion-weighting introduced by the crusher gradients, which is able to recover ground truth values of BBB water exchange (kin) in simulated data. When applied to the rat brain, kin estimates obtained using the CCXR model were 3.10 s-1 and 3.49 s-1 compared to AXR estimates of 1.24 s-1 and 0.49 s-1 for slice thicknesses of 4.0 mm and 2.5 mm respectively. We then validated our approach using a clinically relevant Streptococcus pneumoniae lung infection. We observed a significant 70 ± 10% increase in BBB water exchange in rats during active infection (kin = 3.78 ± 0.42 s-1) compared to before infection (kin = 2.72 ± 0.30 s-1; p = 0.02). The BBB water exchange rate during infection was associated with higher levels of plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF), a marker of acute vascular inflammation. We also observed 42% higher expression of perivascular aquaporin-4 (AQP4) in infected animals compared to non-infected controls, while levels of tight junction proteins remain consistent between groups. In summary, we propose a modelling approach for FEXI data which removes the bias in estimated water-exchange rates associated with the use of crusher gradients. Using this approach, we demonstrate the impact of peripheral infection on BBB water exchange, which appears to be mediated by endothelial dysfunction and associated with an increase in perivascular AQP4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Ohene
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - William J Harris
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Elizabeth Powell
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering and Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL, London, UK
| | - Nina W Wycech
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Katherine F Smethers
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Samo Lasič
- Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Random Walk Imaging, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kieron South
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Graham Coutts
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Andrew Sharp
- Evotec (UK) Ltd., Alderley Park, Block 23F, Mereside, Cheshire, SK10 4TG, UK
| | - Catherine B Lawrence
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hervé Boutin
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Geoff J M Parker
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering and Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL, London, UK
- Bioxydyn Limited, Manchester, UK
| | - Laura M Parkes
- Division of Psychology, Communication and Human Neuroscience, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Zochonis Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ben R Dickie
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Eisenmenger LB, Peret A, Famakin BM, Spahic A, Roberts GS, Bockholt JH, Johnson KM, Paulsen JS. Vascular contributions to Alzheimer's disease. Transl Res 2023; 254:41-53. [PMID: 36529160 PMCID: PMC10481451 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Understanding the pathophysiology underlying AD is paramount for the management of individuals at risk of and suffering from AD. The vascular hypothesis stipulates a relationship between cardiovascular disease and AD-related changes although the nature of this relationship remains unknown. In this review, we discuss several potential pathological pathways of vascular involvement in AD that have been described including dysregulation of neurovascular coupling, disruption of the blood brain barrier, and reduced clearance of metabolite waste such as beta-amyloid, a toxic peptide considered the hallmark of AD. We will also discuss the two-hit hypothesis which proposes a 2-step positive feedback loop in which microvascular insults precede the accumulation of Aß and are thought to be at the origin of the disease development. At neuroimaging, signs of vascular dysfunction such as chronic cerebral hypoperfusion have been demonstrated, appearing early in AD, even before cognitive decline and alteration of traditional biomarkers. Cerebral small vessel disease such as cerebral amyloid angiopathy, characterized by the aggregation of Aß in the vessel wall, is highly prevalent in vascular dementia and AD patients. Current data is unclear whether cardiovascular disease causes, precipitates, amplifies, precedes, or simply coincides with AD. Targeted imaging tools to quantitatively evaluate the intracranial vasculature and longitudinal studies in individuals at risk for or in the early stages of the AD continuum could be critical in disentangling this complex relationship between vascular disease and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura B Eisenmenger
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Anthony Peret
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Bolanle M Famakin
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Alma Spahic
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Grant S Roberts
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jeremy H Bockholt
- Tri-Institutional Center for Translational Research in Neuroimaging and Data Science (TReNDS), Georgia State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kevin M Johnson
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Jane S Paulsen
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
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Sarabi MS, Ma SJ, Jann K, Ringman JM, Wang DJJ, Shi Y. Vessel Density Mapping of Cerebral Small Vessels on 3D High Resolution Black Blood MRI. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.18.533300. [PMID: 36993509 PMCID: PMC10055197 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.18.533300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral small vessels are largely inaccessible to existing clinical in vivo imaging technologies. This study aims to present a novel analysis pipeline for vessel density mapping of cerebral small vessels from high-resolution 3D black-blood MRI at 3T. Twenty-eight subjects (10 under 35 years old, 18 over 60 years old) were imaged with the T1-weighted turbo spin-echo with variable flip angles (T1w TSE-VFA) sequence optimized for black-blood small vessel imaging with iso-0.5mm spatial resolution at 3T. Hessian-based vessel segmentation methods (Jerman, Frangi and Sato filter) were evaluated by vessel landmarks and manual annotation of lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs). Using optimized vessel segmentation, large vessel pruning and non-linear registration, a semiautomatic pipeline was proposed for quantification of small vessel density across brain regions and further for localized detection of small vessel changes across populations. Voxel-level statistics was performed to compare vessel density between two age groups. Additionally, local vessel density of aged subjects was correlated with their corresponding gross cognitive and executive function (EF) scores using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and EF composite scores compiled with Item Response Theory (IRT). Jerman filter showed better performance for vessel segmentation than Frangi and Sato filter which was employed in our pipeline. Cerebral small vessels on the order of a few hundred microns can be delineated using the proposed analysis pipeline on 3D black-blood MRI at 3T. The mean vessel density across brain regions was significantly higher in young subjects compared to aged subjects. In the aged subjects, localized vessel density was positively correlated with MoCA and IRT EF scores. The proposed pipeline is able to segment, quantify, and detect localized differences in vessel density of cerebral small vessels based on 3D high-resolution black-blood MRI. This framework may serve as a tool for localized detection of small vessel density changes in normal aging and cerebral small vessel disease.
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Lee RL, Funk KE. Imaging blood–brain barrier disruption in neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1144036. [PMID: 37009464 PMCID: PMC10063921 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1144036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is the neurovascular structure that regulates the passage of cells and molecules to and from the central nervous system (CNS). Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is associated with gradual breakdown of the BBB, permitting entry of plasma-derived neurotoxins, inflammatory cells, and microbial pathogens into the CNS. BBB permeability can be visualized directly in AD patients using imaging technologies including dynamic contrast-enhanced and arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging, and recent studies employing these techniques have shown that subtle changes in BBB stability occur prior to deposition of the pathological hallmarks of AD, senile plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles. These studies suggest that BBB disruption may be useful as an early diagnostic marker; however, AD is also accompanied by neuroinflammation, which can complicate these analyses. This review will outline the structural and functional changes to the BBB that occur during AD pathogenesis and highlight current imaging technologies that can detect these subtle changes. Advancing these technologies will improve both the diagnosis and treatment of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Wei Z, Liu H, Lin Z, Yao M, Li R, Liu C, Li Y, Xu J, Duan W, Lu H. Non-contrast assessment of blood-brain barrier permeability to water in mice: An arterial spin labeling study at cerebral veins. Neuroimage 2023; 268:119870. [PMID: 36640948 PMCID: PMC9908858 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays a critical role in protecting the brain from toxins and pathogens. However, in vivo tools to assess BBB permeability are scarce and often require the use of exogenous contrast agents. In this study, we aimed to develop a non-contrast arterial-spin-labeling (ASL) based MRI technique to estimate BBB permeability to water in mice. By determining the relative fraction of labeled water spins that were exchanged into the brain tissue as opposed to those that remained in the cerebral veins, we estimated indices of global BBB permeability to water including water extraction fraction (E) and permeability surface-area product (PS). First, using multiple post-labeling delay ASL experiments, we estimated the bolus arrival time (BAT) of the labeled spins to reach the great vein of Galen (VG) to be 691.2 ± 14.5 ms (N = 5). Next, we investigated the dependence of the VG ASL signal on labeling duration and identified an optimal imaging protocol with a labeling duration of 1200 ms and a PLD of 100 ms. Quantitative E and PS values in wild-type mice were found to be 59.9 ± 3.2% and 260.9 ± 18.9 ml/100 g/min, respectively. In contrast, mice with Huntington's disease (HD) revealed a significantly higher E (69.7 ± 2.4%, P = 0.026) and PS (318.1 ± 17.1 ml/100 g/min, P = 0.040), suggesting BBB breakdown in this mouse model. Reproducibility studies revealed a coefficient-of-variation (CoV) of 4.9 ± 1.7% and 6.1 ± 1.2% for E and PS, respectively. The proposed method may open new avenues for preclinical research on pathophysiological mechanisms of brain diseases and therapeutic trials in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiliang Wei
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600N. Wolfe Street, Park 326, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Hongshuai Liu
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, CMSC 8-121, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Zixuan Lin
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600N. Wolfe Street, Park 326, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Minmin Yao
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, CMSC 8-121, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Ruoxuan Li
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, CMSC 8-121, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Chang Liu
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, CMSC 8-121, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Yuguo Li
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600N. Wolfe Street, Park 326, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jiadi Xu
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600N. Wolfe Street, Park 326, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Wenzhen Duan
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 North Wolfe Street, CMSC 8-121, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Hanzhang Lu
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600N. Wolfe Street, Park 326, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Harris WJ, Asselin MC, Hinz R, Parkes LM, Allan S, Schiessl I, Boutin H, Dickie BR. In vivo methods for imaging blood-brain barrier function and dysfunction. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2023; 50:1051-1083. [PMID: 36437425 PMCID: PMC9931809 DOI: 10.1007/s00259-022-05997-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the interface between the central nervous system and systemic circulation. It tightly regulates what enters and is removed from the brain parenchyma and is fundamental in maintaining brain homeostasis. Increasingly, the BBB is recognised as having a significant role in numerous neurological disorders, ranging from acute disorders (traumatic brain injury, stroke, seizures) to chronic neurodegeneration (Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, small vessel disease). Numerous approaches have been developed to study the BBB in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo. The complex multicellular structure and effects of disease are difficult to recreate accurately in vitro, and functional aspects of the BBB cannot be easily studied ex vivo. As such, the value of in vivo methods to study the intact BBB cannot be overstated. This review discusses the structure and function of the BBB and how these are affected in diseases. It then discusses in depth several established and novel methods for imaging the BBB in vivo, with a focus on MRI, nuclear imaging, and high-resolution intravital fluorescence microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- William James Harris
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK
| | - Marie-Claude Asselin
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Rainer Hinz
- Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Laura Michelle Parkes
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK
| | - Stuart Allan
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK
| | - Ingo Schiessl
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK
| | - Herve Boutin
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, Manchester, UK.
- Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Ben Robert Dickie
- Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Northern Care Alliance & University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Uchida Y, Kan H, Sakurai K, Oishi K, Matsukawa N. Contributions of blood-brain barrier imaging to neurovascular unit pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1111448. [PMID: 36861122 PMCID: PMC9969807 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1111448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) plays important roles in the maintenance of brain homeostasis. Its main role includes three kinds of functions: (1) to protect the central nervous system from blood-borne toxins and pathogens; (2) to regulate the exchange of substances between the brain parenchyma and capillaries; and (3) to clear metabolic waste and other neurotoxic compounds from the central nervous system into meningeal lymphatics and systemic circulation. Physiologically, the BBB belongs to the glymphatic system and the intramural periarterial drainage pathway, both of which are involved in clearing interstitial solutes such as β-amyloid proteins. Thus, the BBB is believed to contribute to preventing the onset and progression for Alzheimer's disease. Measurements of BBB function are essential toward a better understanding of Alzheimer's pathophysiology to establish novel imaging biomarkers and open new avenues of interventions for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The visualization techniques for capillary, cerebrospinal, and interstitial fluid dynamics around the neurovascular unit in living human brains have been enthusiastically developed. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent BBB imaging developments using advanced magnetic resonance imaging technologies in relation to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. First, we give an overview of the relationship between Alzheimer's pathophysiology and BBB dysfunction. Second, we provide a brief description about the principles of non-contrast agent-based and contrast agent-based BBB imaging methodologies. Third, we summarize previous studies that have reported the findings of each BBB imaging method in individuals with the Alzheimer's disease continuum. Fourth, we introduce a wide range of Alzheimer's pathophysiology in relation to BBB imaging technologies to advance our understanding of the fluid dynamics around the BBB in both clinical and preclinical settings. Finally, we discuss the challenges of BBB imaging techniques and suggest future directions toward clinically useful imaging biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuto Uchida
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States,*Correspondence: Yuto Uchida, ; Noriyuki Matsukawa,
| | - Hirohito Kan
- Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Keita Sakurai
- Department of Radiology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Ōbu, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kenichi Oishi
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Noriyuki Matsukawa
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan,*Correspondence: Yuto Uchida, ; Noriyuki Matsukawa,
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40
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van der Thiel MM, Backes WH, Ramakers IHGB, Jansen JFA. Novel developments in non-contrast enhanced MRI of the perivascular clearance system: What are the possibilities for Alzheimer's disease research? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:104999. [PMID: 36529311 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The cerebral waste clearance system (i.e, glymphatic or intramural periarterial drainage) works through a network of perivascular spaces (PVS). Dysfunction of this system likely contributes to aggregation of Amyloid-β and subsequent toxic plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A promising, non-invasive technique to study this system is MRI, though applications in dementia are still scarce. This review focusses on recent non-contrast enhanced (non-CE) MRI techniques which determine and visualise physiological aspects of the clearance system at multiple levels, i.e., cerebrospinal fluid flow, PVS-flow and interstitial fluid movement. Furthermore, various MRI studies focussing on aspects of the clearance system which are relevant to AD are discussed, such as studies on ageing, sleep alterations, and cognitive decline. Additionally, the complementary function of non-CE to CE methods is elaborated upon. We conclude that non-CE studies have great potential to determine which parts of the waste clearance system are affected by AD and in which stages of cognitive impairment dysfunction of this system occurs, which could allow future clinical trials to target these specific mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merel M van der Thiel
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry &Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Walter H Backes
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Cardiovascular Disease, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Inez H G B Ramakers
- Department of Psychiatry &Neuropsychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; School for Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
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41
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Moyaert P, Padrela BE, Morgan CA, Petr J, Versijpt J, Barkhof F, Jurkiewicz MT, Shao X, Oyeniran O, Manson T, Wang DJJ, Günther M, Achten E, Mutsaerts HJMM, Anazodo UC. Imaging blood-brain barrier dysfunction: A state-of-the-art review from a clinical perspective. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1132077. [PMID: 37139088 PMCID: PMC10150073 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1132077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) consists of specialized cells that tightly regulate the in- and outflow of molecules from the blood to brain parenchyma, protecting the brain's microenvironment. If one of the BBB components starts to fail, its dysfunction can lead to a cascade of neuroinflammatory events leading to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. Preliminary imaging findings suggest that BBB dysfunction could serve as an early diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for a number of neurological diseases. This review aims to provide clinicians with an overview of the emerging field of BBB imaging in humans by answering three key questions: (1. Disease) In which diseases could BBB imaging be useful? (2. Device) What are currently available imaging methods for evaluating BBB integrity? And (3. Distribution) what is the potential of BBB imaging in different environments, particularly in resource limited settings? We conclude that further advances are needed, such as the validation, standardization and implementation of readily available, low-cost and non-contrast BBB imaging techniques, for BBB imaging to be a useful clinical biomarker in both resource-limited and well-resourced settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulien Moyaert
- Department of Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Paulien Moyaert,
| | - Beatriz E. Padrela
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Catherine A. Morgan
- School of Psychology and Centre for Brain Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Advanced MRI, Auckland UniServices Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jan Petr
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jan Versijpt
- Department of Neurology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Xingfeng Shao
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Olujide Oyeniran
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Tabitha Manson
- Centre for Advanced MRI, Auckland UniServices Limited, Auckland, New Zealand
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Danny J. J. Wang
- Laboratory of FMRI Technology (LOFT), USC Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Matthias Günther
- Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Eric Achten
- Department of Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Henk J. M. M. Mutsaerts
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Udunna C. Anazodo
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Li Y, Sadiq A, Wang Z. Arterial Spin Labelling-Based Blood-Brain Barrier Assessment and Its Applications. INVESTIGATIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING 2022; 26:229-236. [PMID: 36687769 PMCID: PMC9851084 DOI: 10.13104/imri.2022.26.4.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The brain relies on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the selective absorption of nutrients and the exclusion of other big molecules from the circulating blood. Therefore, the integrity of BBB is critical to brain health, and assessing BBB condition is of great clinical importance. BBB is often examined using exogenous tracers that can travel across the BBB, but the tracers might cause severe side effects. To avoid the use of external tracers, researchers have used magnetically labeled arterial blood as the endogenous tracer to assess the water permeability of BBB as a surrogate index of BBB. This paper reviews the three major types of Arterial Spin Labelling (ASL) based BBB water permeability assessment techniques and their applications in brain diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Li
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alishba Sadiq
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ze Wang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Lin Z, Jiang D, Liu P, Ge Y, Moghekar A, Lu H. Blood-brain barrier permeability in response to caffeine challenge. Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:2259-2266. [PMID: 35754146 PMCID: PMC9420773 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Caffeine is known to alter brain perfusion by acting as an adenosine antagonist, but its effect on blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is not fully elucidated. This study aimed to dynamically monitor BBB permeability to water after a single dose of caffeine tablet using a non-contrast MRI technique. METHODS Ten young healthy volunteers who were not regular coffee drinkers were studied. The experiment began with a pre-caffeine measurement, followed by four measurements at the post-caffeine stage. Water-extraction-with-phase-contrast-arterial-spin-tagging (WEPCAST) MRI was used to assess the time dependence of BBB permeability to water following the ingestion of 200 mg caffeine. Other cerebral physiological parameters including cerebral blood flow (CBF), venous oxygenation (Yv ), and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2 ) were also examined. The relationships between cerebral physiological parameters and time were studied with mixed-effect models. RESULTS It was found that, after caffeine ingestion, CBF and Yv showed a time-dependent decrease (p < 0.001), while CMRO2 did not change significantly. The fraction of arterial water crossing the BBB (E) showed a significant increase (p < 0.001). In contrast, the permeability-surface-area product (PS), i.e., BBB permeability to water, remained constant (p = 0.94). Additionally, it was observed that changes in physiological parameters were non-linear with regard to time and occurred at as early as 9 min after caffeine tablet ingestion. CONCLUSION These results suggest an unchanged BBB permeability despite alterations in perfusion during a vasoconstrictive caffeine challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Lin
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Dengrong Jiang
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Peiying Liu
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Yulin Ge
- Department of Radiology, New York University, NY, USA
| | - Abhay Moghekar
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hanzhang Lu
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology & Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- F. M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Paschoal AM, Secchinatto KF, da Silva PHR, Zotin MCZ, Dos Santos AC, Viswanathan A, Pontes-Neto OM, Leoni RF. Contrast-agent-free state-of-the-art MRI on cerebral small vessel disease-part 1. ASL, IVIM, and CVR. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2022; 35:e4742. [PMID: 35429194 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), a common cause of stroke and dementia, is traditionally considered the small vessel equivalent of large artery occlusion or rupture that leads to cortical and subcortical brain damage. Microvessel endothelial dysfunction can also contribute to it. Brain imaging, including MRI, is useful to show the presence of lesions of several types, although the association between conventional MRI measures and clinical features of cSVD is not always concordant. We assessed the additional contribution of contrast-agent-free, state-of-the-art MRI techniques such as arterial spin labeling (ASL), diffusion tensor imaging, functional MRI, and intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) applied to cSVD in the existing literature. We performed a review following the PICO Worksheet and Search Strategy, including original papers in English, published between 2000 and 2022. For each MRI method, we extracted information about their contributions, in addition to those established with traditional MRI methods and related information about the origins, pathology, markers, and clinical outcomes in cSVD. This paper presents the first part of the review, which includes 37 studies focusing on ASL, IVIM, and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) measures. In general, they have shown that, in addition to white matter hyperintensities, alterations in other neuroimaging parameters such as blood flow and CVR also indicate the presence of cSVD. Such quantitative parameters were also related to cSVD risk factors. Therefore, they are promising, noninvasive tools to explore questions that have not yet been clarified about this clinical condition. However, protocol standardization is essential to increase their clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Monteiro Paschoal
- Department of Physics, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology and Clinical Oncology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria Clara Zanon Zotin
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology and Clinical Oncology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
- J. Philip Kistler Stroke Research Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Antônio Carlos Dos Santos
- Department of Medical Imaging, Hematology and Clinical Oncology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anand Viswanathan
- J. Philip Kistler Stroke Research Center, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Octavio M Pontes-Neto
- Department of Neurosciences and Behavioral Science, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renata Ferranti Leoni
- Department of Physics, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Ahn HS, Jung Y, Park SH. Measuring glomerular blood transfer rate in kidney using diffusion-weighted arterial spin labeling. Magn Reson Med 2022; 88:2408-2418. [PMID: 35877788 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To propose a two-compartment renal perfusion model for calculating glomerular blood transfer rate ( k G $$ {k}_G $$ ) as a new measure of renal function. THEORY The renal perfusion signal was divided into preglomerular and postglomerular flows according to flow velocity. By analyzing perfusion signals acquired with and without diffusion gradients, we estimated k G $$ {k}_G $$ , the blood transfer rate from the afferent arterioles into the glomerulus. METHODS A multislice multidelay diffusion-weighted arterial spin labeling sequence was applied to subjects with no history of renal dysfunctions. In the multiple b-value experiment, images were acquired with seven b-values to validate the bi-exponential decays of the renal perfusion signal and to determine the appropriate b-value for suppressing preglomerular flow. In the caffeine challenge, six subjects were scanned twice on the caffeine day and the control day. The k G $$ {k}_G $$ values of the two dates were compared. RESULTS The perfusion signal showed a bi-exponential decay with b-values. There was no significant difference in renal blood flow and arterial transit time between caffeine and control days. In contrast, cortical k G $$ {k}_G $$ was significantly higher on the caffeine day (caffeine day: 106 . 0 ± 20 . 3 $$ 106.0\pm 20.3 $$ min - 1 $$ {}^{-1} $$ control day: 78 . 8 ± 22 . 9 $$ 78.8\pm 22.9 $$ min - 1 $$ {}^{-1} $$ ). These results were consistent with those from the literature. CONCLUSION We showed that the perfusion signal consists of two compartments of preglomerular flow and postglomerular flow. The proposed diffusion-weighted arterial spin labeling could measure the glomerular blood transfer rate ( k G $$ {k}_G $$ ), which was sensitive enough to noninvasively monitor the caffeine-induced vasodilation of afferent arterioles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Seo Ahn
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Yujin Jung
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Sung-Hong Park
- Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Korea
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Clement P, Petr J, Dijsselhof MBJ, Padrela B, Pasternak M, Dolui S, Jarutyte L, Pinter N, Hernandez-Garcia L, Jahn A, Kuijer JPA, Barkhof F, Mutsaerts HJMM, Keil VC. A Beginner's Guide to Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) Image Processing. FRONTIERS IN RADIOLOGY 2022; 2:929533. [PMID: 37492666 PMCID: PMC10365107 DOI: 10.3389/fradi.2022.929533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a non-invasive and cost-effective MRI technique for brain perfusion measurements. While it has developed into a robust technique for scientific and clinical use, its image processing can still be daunting. The 2019 Ann Arbor ISMRM ASL working group established that education is one of the main areas that can accelerate the use of ASL in research and clinical practice. Specifically, the post-acquisition processing of ASL images and their preparation for region-of-interest or voxel-wise statistical analyses is a topic that has not yet received much educational attention. This educational review is aimed at those with an interest in ASL image processing and analysis. We provide summaries of all typical ASL processing steps on both single-subject and group levels. The readers are assumed to have a basic understanding of cerebral perfusion (patho) physiology; a basic level of programming or image analysis is not required. Starting with an introduction of the physiology and MRI technique behind ASL, and how they interact with the image processing, we present an overview of processing pipelines and explain the specific ASL processing steps. Example video and image illustrations of ASL studies of different cases, as well as model calculations, help the reader develop an understanding of which processing steps to check for their own analyses. Some of the educational content can be extrapolated to the processing of other MRI data. We anticipate that this educational review will help accelerate the application of ASL MRI for clinical brain research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Clement
- Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (GIfMI), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jan Petr
- Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mathijs B. J. Dijsselhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Beatriz Padrela
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maurice Pasternak
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, OT, Canada
| | - Sudipto Dolui
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Lina Jarutyte
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, England, United Kingdom
| | - Nandor Pinter
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Dent Neurologic Institute, Buffalo, Amherst, NY, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Luis Hernandez-Garcia
- fMRI Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Andrew Jahn
- fMRI Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Joost P. A. Kuijer
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Center for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henk J. M. M. Mutsaerts
- Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (GIfMI), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Center for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vera C. Keil
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Brain Imaging, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Cancer Center Amsterdam, Imaging and Biomarkers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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47
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Uchida Y, Kan H, Sakurai K, Horimoto Y, Hayashi E, Iida A, Okamura N, Oishi K, Matsukawa N. APOE ɛ4 dose associates with increased brain iron and β-amyloid via blood-brain barrier dysfunction. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:jnnp-2021-328519. [PMID: 35483916 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-328519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 dose on blood-brain barrier (BBB) clearance function, evaluated using an advanced MRI technique and analyse its correlation with brain iron and β-amyloid accumulation in the early stages of the Alzheimer's continuum. METHODS In this single-centre observational prospective cohort study, 24 APOE ɛ4 non-carriers, 22 heterozygotes and 20 homozygotes in the early stages of the Alzheimer's continuum were scanned with diffusion-prepared arterial spin labelling, which estimates the water exchange rate across the BBB (kw). Participants also underwent quantitative susceptibility mapping, [11C]Pittsburgh compound B-positron emission tomography and neuropsychological testing. Using an atlas-based approach, we compared the regional kw of the whole brain among the groups and analysed its correlation with the neuroradiological and neuropsychological findings. RESULTS The BBB kw values in the neocortices differed significantly among the groups (APOE ɛ4 non-carriers>heterozygotes>homozygotes). These values correlated with brain iron levels (frontal lobe: r=-0.476, 95% CI=-0.644 to -0.264, p=0.011; medial temporal lobe: r=-0.455, 95% CI=-0.628 to -0.239, p=0.017), β-amyloid loads (frontal lobe: r=-0.504, 95% CI=-0.731 to -0.176, p=0.015; medial temporal lobe: r=-0.452, 95% CI=-0.699 to -0.110, p=0.036) and neuropsychological scores, after adjusting for age, sex and APOE ɛ4 dose. INTERPRETATION Our results suggest that an increased APOE ɛ4 dose is associated with decreased effective brain-waste clearance, such as iron and β-amyloid, through the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuto Uchida
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Toyokawa City Hospital, Toyokawa, Japan
| | - Hirohito Kan
- Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Keita Sakurai
- Department of Radiology, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Horimoto
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center Group, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Emi Hayashi
- Department of Radiology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center Group, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akihiko Iida
- Department of Radiology, Nagoya City Rehabilitation Center Group, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Okamura
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kenichi Oishi
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Ford JN, Zhang Q, Sweeney EM, Merkler AE, de Leon MJ, Gupta A, Nguyen TD, Ivanidze J. Quantitative Water Permeability Mapping of Blood-Brain-Barrier Dysfunction in Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:867452. [PMID: 35462701 PMCID: PMC9024318 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.867452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood-brain-barrier (BBB) dysfunction is a hallmark of aging and aging-related disorders, including cerebral small vessel disease and Alzheimer's disease. An emerging biomarker of BBB dysfunction is BBB water exchange rate (kW) as measured by diffusion-weighted arterial spin labeling (DW-ASL) MRI. We developed an improved DW-ASL sequence for Quantitative Permeability Mapping and evaluated whole brain and region-specific kW in a cohort of 30 adults without dementia across the age spectrum. In this cross-sectional study, we found higher kW values in the cerebral cortex (mean = 81.51 min-1, SD = 15.54) compared to cerebral white matter (mean = 75.19 min-1, SD = 13.85) (p < 0.0001). We found a similar relationship for cerebral blood flow (CBF), concordant with previously published studies. Multiple linear regression analysis with kW as an outcome showed that age was statistically significant in the cerebral cortex (p = 0.013), cerebral white matter (p = 0.033), hippocampi (p = 0.043), orbitofrontal cortices (p = 0.042), and precunei cortices (p = 0.009), after adjusting for sex and number of vascular risk factors. With CBF as an outcome, age was statistically significant only in the cerebral cortex (p = 0.026) and precunei cortices (p = 0.020). We further found moderate negative correlations between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) kW and WMH volume (r = -0.51, p = 0.02), and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and WMH volume (r = -0.44, p = 0.05). This work illuminates the relationship between BBB water exchange and aging and may serve as the basis for BBB-targeted therapies for aging-related brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy N. Ford
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Qihao Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Sweeney
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Mony J. de Leon
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ajay Gupta
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thanh D. Nguyen
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jana Ivanidze
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Jana Ivanidze,
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Wu M, Zhai Y, Liang X, Chen W, Lin R, Ma L, Huang Y, Zhao D, Liang Y, Zhao W, Fang J, Fang S, Chen Y, Wang Q, Li W. Connecting the Dots Between Hypercholesterolemia and Alzheimer’s Disease: A Potential Mechanism Based on 27-Hydroxycholesterol. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:842814. [PMID: 35464321 PMCID: PMC9021879 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.842814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia, is a complex and multifactorial disease involving genetic and environmental factors, with hypercholesterolemia considered as one of the risk factors. Numerous epidemiological studies have reported a positive association between AD and serum cholesterol levels, and experimental studies also provide evidence that elevated cholesterol levels accelerate AD pathology. However, the underlying mechanism of hypercholesterolemia accelerating AD pathogenesis is not clear. Here, we review the metabolism of cholesterol in the brain and focus on the role of oxysterols, aiming to reveal the link between hypercholesterolemia and AD. 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) is the major peripheral oxysterol that flows into the brain, and it affects β-amyloid (Aβ) production and elimination as well as influencing other pathogenic mechanisms of AD. Although the potential link between hypercholesterolemia and AD is well established, cholesterol-lowering drugs show mixed results in improving cognitive function. Nevertheless, drugs that target cholesterol exocytosis and conversion show benefits in improving AD pathology. Herbs and natural compounds with cholesterol-lowering properties also have a potential role in ameliorating cognition. Collectively, hypercholesterolemia is a causative risk factor for AD, and 27-OHC is likely a potential mechanism for hypercholesterolemia to promote AD pathology. Drugs that regulate cholesterol metabolism are probably beneficial for AD, but more research is needed to unravel the mechanisms involved in 27-OHC, which may lead to new therapeutic strategies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingan Wu
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingying Zhai
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyi Liang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weichun Chen
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruiyi Lin
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linlin Ma
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Huang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Di Zhao
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Liang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiansong Fang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuhuan Fang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunbo Chen
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Qi Wang,
| | - Weirong Li
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- Weirong Li,
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50
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Li AM, Xu J. Cerebrospinal fluid-tissue exchange revealed by phase alternate labeling with null recovery MRI. Magn Reson Med 2022; 87:1207-1217. [PMID: 34799860 PMCID: PMC8794537 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.29092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop phase alternate labeling with null recovery (PALAN) MRI methods for the quantification of the water exchange between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and other surrounding tissues in the brain. METHOD In both T1 -PALAN and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)-PALAN MRI methods, the cerebrospinal fluid signal was nulled, whereas the partial recovery of other tissues with shorter T1 (T1 -PALAN) or lower ADC values (ADC-PALAN) was labeled by alternating the phase of pulses. The water exchange was extracted from the difference between the recovery curves of CSF with and without labeling. RESULTS Both T1 -PALAN and ADC-PALAN observed a rapid occurrence of CSF water exchange with the surrounding tissues at 67 ± 56 ms and 13 ± 2 ms transit times, respectively. The T1 and ADC-PALAN signal peaked at 1.5 s. The CSF water exchange was 1153 ± 270 mL/100 mL/min with T1 -PALAN in the third and lateral ventricles, which was higher than 891 ± 60 mL/100 mL/min obtained by ADC-PALAN. T1 -PALAN ∆S values for the rostral and caudal ventricles are 0.015 ± 0.013 and 0.034 ± 0.01 (p = 0.022, n = 5), whereas similar ΔS values in both rostral and caudal lateral ventricles were observed by ADC-PALAN (3.9 ± 1.9 × 10-3 vs 4.4 ± 1.4 × 10-3 ; p = 0.66 and n = 5). CONCLUSION The PALAN methods are suitable tools to study CSF water exchange across different compartments in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Li
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jiadi Xu
- F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Research Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA,Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA,Corresponding Author: Jiadi Xu, Ph.D., Kennedy Krieger Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, , Tel: 443-923-9572, Fax: 443-923-9505
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