Frequency dependence of water proton longitudinal nuclear magnetic relaxation times in mouse tissues at 20 degrees C

Fast-field-cycling NMR at very low magnetic fields: water molecular dynamic biomarkers of glioma cell invasion and migration

Our objective was to study NMR relaxometry of glioma invasion/migration at very low field (<2 mT) by fast-field-cycling NMR (FFC-NMR) and to decipher the pathophysiological processes of glioma that are responsible for relaxation changes in order to open a new diagnostic method that can be extended to imaging. The phenotypes of two new glioma mouse models, Glio6 and Glio96, were characterized by T_2w -MRI, HE histology, Ki-67 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and CXCR4 RT-qPCR, and were compared with the U87 model. R₁ dispersions of glioma tissues were acquired at low field (0.1 mT-0.8 T) ex vivo and were fitted with Lorentzian and power-law models to extract FFC biomarkers related to the molecular dynamics of water. In order to decipher relaxation changes, three main invasion/migration pathophysiological processes were studied: hypoxia, H₂ O₂ function and the water-channel aquaporin-4 (AQP4). Glio6 and Glio96 were characterized with invasion/migration phenotype and U87 with high cell proliferation as a solid glioma. At very low field, invasion/migration versus proliferation was characterized by a decrease in the relaxation-rate constant (ΔR₁  ≈ -32% at 0.1 mT) and correlation time (≈-40%). These decreases corroborated the AQP4-IHC overexpression (Glio6/Glio96: +92%/+46%), suggesting rapid transcytolemmal water exchange, which was confirmed by the intracellular water-lifetime τ_IN decrease (Δτ_IN  ≈ -30%). In functional experiments, AQP4 expression, τ_IN and the relaxation-rate constant at very low field were all found to be sensitive to hypoxia and to H₂ O₂ stimuli. At very low field the role of water exchanges in relaxation modulation was confirmed, and for the first time it was linked to the glioma invasion/migration and to its main pathophysiological processes: hypoxia, H₂ O₂ redox signaling and AQP4 expression. The method appears appropriate to evaluate the effect of drugs that can target these pathophysiological mechanisms. Finally, FFC-NMR operating at low field is demonstrated to be sensitive to invasion glioma phenotype and can be straightforwardly extended to FFC-MRI as a new cancer invasion imaging method in the clinic.

Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Its History and Renaissance

ABSTRACT

Low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems have seen a renaissance recently due to improvements in technology (both hardware and software). Originally, the performance of low-field MRI systems was rated lower than their actual clinical usefulness, and they were viewed as low-cost but poorly performing systems. However, various applications similar to high-field MRI systems (1.5 T and 3 T) have gradually become possible, culminating with high-performance low-field MRI systems and their adaptations now being proposed that have unique advantages over high-field MRI systems in various aspects. This review article describes the physical characteristics of low-field MRI systems and presents both their advantages and disadvantages for clinical use (past to present), along with their cutting-edge clinical applications.

Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion of murine tissue for development of T1 (R1 ) dispersion contrast imaging

This study quantified the spin-lattice relaxation rate (R₁ ) dispersion of murine tissues from 0.24 mT to 3 T. A combination of ex vivo and in vivo spin-lattice relaxation rate measurements were acquired for murine tissue. Selected brain, liver, kidney, muscle, and fat tissues were excised and R₁ dispersion profiles were acquired from 0.24 mT to 1.0 T at 37 °C, using a fast field-cycling MR (FFC-MR) relaxometer. In vivo R₁ dispersion profiles of mice were acquired from 1.26 T to 1.74 T at 37 °C, using FFC-MRI on a 1.5 T scanner outfitted with a field-cycling insert electromagnet to dynamically control B₀ prior to imaging. Images at five field strengths (1.26, 1.39, 1.5, 1.61, 1.74 T) were acquired using a field-cycling pulse sequence, where B₀ was modulated for varying relaxation durations prior to imaging. R₁ maps and R₁ dispersion (ΔR₁ /ΔB₀ ) were calculated at 1.5 T on a pixel-by-pixel basis. In addition, in vivo R₁ maps of mice were acquired at 3 T. At fields less than 1 T, a large R₁ magnetic field dependence was observed for tissues. ROI analysis of the tissues showed little relaxation dispersion for magnetic fields from 1.26 T to 3 T. Our tissue measurements show strong R₁ dispersion at field strengths less than 1 T and limited R₁ dispersion at field strengths greater than 1 T. These findings emphasize the inherent weak R₁ magnetic field dependence of healthy tissues at clinical field strengths. This characteristic of tissues can be exploited by a combination of FFC-MRI and T₁ contrast agents that exhibit strong relaxivity magnetic field dependences (inherent or by binding to a protein), thereby increasing the agents' specificity and sensitivity. This development can provide potential insights into protein-based biomarkers using FFC-MRI to assess early changes in tumour development, which are not easily measureable with conventional MRI.

The magnetic field dependence of water T1 in tissues

The magnetic field dependence of the composite (1)H(2)O nuclear magnetic resonance signal T(1) was measured for excised samples of rat liver, muscle, and kidney over the field range from 0.7 to 7 T (35-300 MHz) with a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer using sample-shuttle methods. Based on extensive measurements on simpler component systems, the magnetic field dependence of T(1) of all tissues studied are readily fitted at Larmor frequencies above 1 MHz with a simple relaxation equation consisting of three contributions: a power law, A*ω(-0.60) related to the interaction of water with long-lived-protein binding sites, a logarithmic term B*τ(d) *log(1+1/(ωτ(d))(2)) related to water diffusion at macromolecular interfacial regions, and a constant term associated with the high frequency limit of water-spin-lattice relaxation. The parameters A and B include the concentration and surface area dependences respectively. The logarithmic diffusion term becomes significant at high magnetic fields and is consistent with rapid translational dynamics at macromolecular surfaces. The data are fitted well with translational correlation times of approximately 15 ps for human brain white matter, but with a B value three times larger than gray matter tissues. This analysis suggests that the water-surface translational correlation time is approximately three times longer than in gray matter.

The use of contrast agents with fast field-cycling magnetic resonance imaging

Fast field-cycling (FFC) MRI allows switching of the magnetic field during an imaging scan. FFC-MRI takes advantage of the T(1) dispersion properties of contrast agents to improve contrast, thus enabling more sensitive detection of the agent. A new contrast agent designed specifically for use with FFC was imaged using both a homebuilt FFC-MRI system and a 3 T Philips clinical MRI scanner. T(1) dispersion curves were obtained using a commercial relaxometer which showed large changes in relaxation rate between fields. A model of magnetization behaviour was used to predict optimum evolution times for the maximum T(1) contrast between samples at each field. Images were processed and analysed to create maps of R(1) values using a set of images at each field. The R(1) maps produced at two different fields were then subtracted from each other in order to create a map of ΔR(1) in which pixel values depend on the change in R(1) of the sample between the two fields. The dispersion properties of the agent resulted in higher contrast in a ΔR(1) image compared with a standard T(1)-weighted image.

Magnetic resonance water proton relaxation in protein solutions and tissue: T(1rho) dispersion characterization

Background

Image contrast in clinical MRI is often determined by differences in tissue water proton relaxation behavior. However, many aspects of water proton relaxation in complex biological media, such as protein solutions and tissue are not well understood, perhaps due to the limited empirical data.

Principal Findings

Water proton T₁, T₂, and T_1ρ of protein solutions and tissue were measured systematically under multiple conditions. Crosslinking or aggregation of protein decreased T₂ and T_1ρ, but did not change high-field T₁. T_1ρ dispersion profiles were similar for crosslinked protein solutions, myocardial tissue, and cartilage, and exhibited power law behavior with T_1ρ(0) values that closely approximated T₂. The T_1ρ dispersion of mobile protein solutions was flat above 5 kHz, but showed a steep curve below 5 kHz that was sensitive to changes in pH. The T_1ρ dispersion of crosslinked BSA and cartilage in DMSO solvent closely resembled that of water solvent above 5 kHz but showed decreased dispersion below 5 kHz.

Conclusions

Proton exchange is a minor pathway for tissue T₁ and T_1ρ relaxation above 5 kHz. Potential models for relaxation are discussed, however the same molecular mechanism appears to be responsible across 5 decades of frequencies from T_1ρ to T₁.

Physicochemical properties of normal articular cartilage and its MR appearance

Basic physical and physicochemical properties of articular cartilage are correlated with the MR parameters of this tissue. From these parameters, the typical appearance of cartilage in MR images is deduced. Some practical implications for clinical utilization of MRI of articular cartilage are summarized.

1H-nuclear magnetic resonance evidence for acto-myosin-dependent structural changes of the intracellular water of frog skeletal muscle fiber

The proton-spin relaxation process of the intracellular water in intact-relaxed and skinned-rigor fibers of frog skeletal muscle was studied for slack and stretched fibers by use of 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance technique. The longitudinal and transverse proton-spin relaxation processes of the intracellular water of intact-relaxed and skinned-rigor fibers were composed of a single- and multi-exponential processes, respectively. The longitudinal relaxation process was almost the same in slack as well as in stretched fibers for both intact-relaxed and skinned-rigor fibers. On the other hand, the transverse relaxation process was slightly but significantly faster in stretched than in slack fibers in the case of skinned-rigor fibers while it was almost the same in slack and in stretched fibers in the case of intact-relaxed fibers. As the overlap between actin and myosin filaments is maximal in slack fibers and minimal in stretched fibers, these results indicate that the intracellular water located in the overlap region is less structured in rigor fibers than that in relaxed fibers. This suggests that the rigor crossbridge formation disrupts the structured water bound to myosin and actin filaments in muscle fiber.

Simulation of MRI cluster plots and application to neurological segmentation

The advent of magnetic resonance imaging has provided new opportunities for volume measurement of tissues, with applications increasing dramatically in recent years. Cluster classification techniques have proved the most popular for volume measurement, yet little attention has been paid to how the choice of images for analysis affects the quality and ease of segmentation. To address this issue, we have developed a system to simulate MRI cluster plots using multicompartmental anthropomorphic software models of anatomy, and components for image contrast, signal-to-noise ratio, image nonuniformity, tissue heterogeneity, imager field strength, the partial volume effect, correlation between proton density, T1 and T2, and a variety of data preprocessing techniques. The effect of these components on tissue cluster size, shape, orientation, and separation is demonstrated. The simulation allows an informed choice of pulse sequence, acquisition parameters, and data preprocessing for cluster classification to be made as well as providing an aid to interpretation of acquired data cluster plots and a valuable educational tool. The system has been used to choose suitable images for neurological segmentation of grey matter, white matter, CSF, and multiple sclerosis lesions using spin-echo, inversion recovery, and gradient-echo pulse sequences. Constraints on image selection are discussed.

In vivo field dependence of proton relaxation times in human brain, liver and skeletal muscle: a multicenter study

T1 and T2 relaxation times are fundamental parameters for signal contrast behaviour in MRI. A number of ex vivo relaxometry studies have dealt with the magnetic field dispersion of T1. By means of multicenter study within the frame of the COMAC BME Concerted Action on Tissue Characterization by MRI and MRS, the in vivo field dispersion of T1 and T2 has been measured in order to evaluate whether ex vivo data are representative for the in vivo situation. Brain, skeletal muscle, and liver of healthy human volunteers were studied. Fifteen MR units with a field strength ranging from 0.08 T to 1.5 T took part in the trial, which comprised 218 volunteers. All the MR systems were tested for measurement accuracy using the Eurospin TO5 test object. The measured relaxation data were subsequently corrected according to the obtained calibration curves. The results showed a clear field dispersion of T1, whereas no significant variations were seen for T2. Our in vivo data were generally in reasonable agreement with proposed models based on ex vivo measurements.

Multiexponential proton relaxation in model cellular systems

Water proton relaxation measurements obtained from model cellular systems composed of red blood cell (RBC) ghosts are presented. The purpose of the investigation was to evaluate hypotheses concerning the possible sources of multiple exponential components in similar relaxation measurements made on tissue. Both laboratory frame transverse and longitudinal relaxation rates, as well as rotating frame relaxation rates, were measured in preparations of RBC ghosts and "extracellular fluid" that were, (a) uniformly mixed or (b) compartmentalized by layering, as the concentration of serum albumin was varied in the "extracellular fluid." The data show that although transmembrane exchange is too fast to give rise to multiexponential relaxation, multiple components can result from compartmentalization at the level of the cellular organization and do not necessarily require different tissue types. In addition, the data clearly demonstrate the importance of protein adsorption to cellular membranes as a determinant of the concentration of freely mobile solute protein molecules in tissue fluids.

Application of continuous relaxation time distributions to the fitting of data from model systems and excised tissue

Biological systems exhibit heterogeneity at many different levels, leading to the expectation of multiple relaxation time components for water protons in tissue samples. Traditional methods which fit the relaxation data to an a priori number of discrete components are open to observer bias in their interpretation of this data, and moreover, are intuitively less realistic for heterogeneous systems than methods which produce continuous relaxation time distributions. Previous validations of continuous distribution techniques have been made on simulated data assuming uniform Gaussian noise. In the current work we have investigated the ability of one particular linear inverse theory technique to reproduce known relaxation time distributions from the data on a controllable model system. Furthermore, using the experience gained on the model system, we have applied this same technique to the analysis of in vitro relaxation time measurements on excised brain tissue and found for water protons in white matter, four reproducible components for the transverse relaxation, whereas gray matter gave rise to only two. The longitudinal relaxation displayed only one component in either white matter or gray matter.

MR image contrast at high field strength

The T1 of soft tissues increases with magnetic field strength. Some tissue contrast may be diminished on high-field-strength magnetic resonance (MR) images when conventional TRs are used, because of altered T1 effects on the MR signals. This necessitates longer TRs in techniques that use long TRs, which prolongs the examination excessively. Behavior of macroscopic magnetization is governed by the Bloch equations. Therefore, T1 contributions to the MR signal can be modulated by means of both timing intervals and radio-frequency pulses. The analytic solution to the Block equations allowed calculation of white matter/gray matter and gray matter/cerebrospinal fluid contrast in both spin-echo and inversion-recovery (IR) imaging. Rabbit brains (normal and tumor-containing) were then imaged in vivo at 1.5 and 4.7 T. In addition, MR images of a human head were obtained at 4.0 T. Experimental results supported the theoretical predictions that brain contrast on long TR spin-echo or IR images increases with field strength. However, varying the excitation flip angle allowed optimization of the T1 contribution to the MR signals, improving image contrast and/or reducing examination time. Thus, the dependence of T1 on field strength determines the optimum choice of imaging techniques and parameters in a predictable fashion.

Nuclear relaxation of human brain gray and white matter: analysis of field dependence and implications for MRI

The dependence of 1/T1 on the magnetic field strength (the relaxation dispersion) has been measured at 37 degrees C on autopsy samples of human brain gray and white matter at field strengths corresponding to proton Larmor frequencies between 10 kHz and 50 MHz (0.0002-1.2 T). Additional measurements of 1/T1 and 1/T2 have been performed at 200 MHz (4.7 T) and 20 MHz (0.47 T), respectively. Absolute signal amplitudes are found to be proportional to the sample water content, not to the "proton density," and it is concluded that the myelin lipids do not contribute to the signal. Transverse magnetization decay data can be fitted with a triple exponential function, giving characteristic results for each tissue type, and are insensitive to variations of the pulse spacing interval. The longitudinal relaxation dispersion curves show characteristic shapes for each tissue type. The most striking difference is a large dispersion for white matter at very high fields. As a consequence, the relative difference in 1/T1 between gray and white matter shows a marked maximum around 10 MHz. Possible implications for MRI are discussed. A weighted least-squares fit of the dispersions has been performed using a four-parameter function of the form 1/T1 = 1/T1,w + D + A/(1 + (f/fc)beta'). The quality of the fit is superior to that of other functions proposed previously. The results of these fits are used to predict image contrast between gray and white matter at different field strengths.

Effects of thermal denaturation on the longitudinal relaxation time (T1) of water protons in protein solutions: study of the factors determining the T1 of water protons

The factors determining the longitudinal relaxation time (T1) of water protons in protein solutions were investigated by analyzing the effects of thermal denaturation on the T1 of the water protons. We treated the water protons and the protein protons "on a protein surface" as a dipole-dipole coupled two-spin system where relative translational diffusion is the dominant mechanism, and measured the change in the time development of the nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) factors of the water protons. The T1 of the water protons was shortened markedly when the proteins were thermally denatured. Our analysis indicates that this relaxation enhancement is due to an increase in the value of the translational correlation time as well as the fraction of hydration water molecules, though the influence of "proton exchange" between the water protons and the labile protein protons cannot be completely neglected.

1H- and 2H-NMR study of bovine serum albumin solutions

Frozen, native and denatured bovine serum albumin solutions have been studied with a wide-band NMR pulse spectrometer. Both macromolecular and water protons spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxation times--t2m, t1m, t2w, t1w--have been measured between 170 and 360 K. In the native sample, the t2m process is the tumbling rate of the bovine serum albumin molecules. It gives to the spin-lattice relaxation an omega 0(-2) frequency dependence at room temperature in the studied frequency range, 6-90 MHz. An additional process contributes to t1m-1; it arises from internal backbone or segmental motions and provides a lower frequency behaviour. On denaturation, bovine serum albumin molecules lose their tumbling motion and form a rigid network, while internal backbone motions seem unaffected. Calorimetric Cp measurement confirms the occurrence of a phase transition upon denaturation. 1H and 2H spin-lattice relaxation times of water protons depend mainly on bound water mobility. 1H and 2H t2w depend also on the tertiary structure of bovine serum albumin and on its mobility, because of a fast exchange process between water and some protein protons (or deutons), while a cross-relaxation process between protein and water protons contributes to 1H t1w. Denaturation has no influence on bound water motional properties and bound water population.

NMR spectroscopy of heterogeneous solid-liquid mixtures. Spin grouping and exchange analysis of proton spin relaxation in a tissue

An attempt to resolve the complicated proton NMR signal of a heterogeneous material is presented. Lung tissue is used to illustrate the approach to this problem, which is based on resolving the total proton magnetization into components according to their relaxation times. This procedure is utilized at both low and high magnetic fields. These results are then correlated and analyzed for the effect of exchange between spin groups. For example, the total proton NMR signal of lung tissue is shown to arise from three interacting proton groups: protons on solid macromolecules, bound water protons, and bulk water protons. The dynamics of water is modeled to satisfy the dispersivity and the values of the relaxation parameters obtained considering the effect of exchange. It is proposed that this approach is generally applicable.

Biological tissue simulation and standard testing material for MRI

The polyacrylamide gel is proposed here as a phantom material for NMR imaging. This substance has electrical and NMR relaxation characteristics very similar to those of biological tissues. The thermal and time stabilities also make this material a convenient standard for MRI.

Modeling of proton spin relaxation in muscle tissue using nuclear magnetic resonance spin grouping and exchange analysis

NMR spin relaxation experiments performed on healthy mouse muscle tissue at 40 MHz and 293 K are reported. The spin-lattice relaxation experiments were performed using different combinations of selective and nonselective radio frequency pulses. Relaxation experiments in the rotating frame at H1 = 10, 5 and 1 G are also reported. The experimental results were analyzed using the spin-grouping method, which yields the sizes of the resolved magnetization components as well as their T2's and T1's (or T1p's) for the nonexponential relaxation functions. These results were analyzed further for the exchange between different spin groups. It has been found that to explain all of these experimental data it was necessary to use a four-compartment model of the muscle tissue that consists of a lipid spin group, a "solid-like" spin group (mainly proteins), a "bulk water" spin group and a "bound water" spin group. The chemical exchange rate between "bulk" and "bound" water was found to be 29 +/- 9s-1 at room temperature. The exchange rate between the bound water and the solid moderator was estimated to be approximately 500 s-1.

Changes of relaxation times T1 and T2 in rat tissues after biopsy and fixation

NMR spectroscopical measurements of relaxation times were conducted on muscle, intestine, fatty tissue and cerebral cortex and white matter of the rat at various time intervals following removal of the tissue. It appeared that most tissues can be stored at 4 degrees C up to 24 hours without noticeable effects on NMR relaxation parameters. Exceptions are the T2 of muscle and the T1 and T2 of intestine, which tended to change in the first hour after biopsy. Relaxation parameters change considerably after fixation of the tissues. Therefore the effects of fixation have to be taken into account when carrying out NMR measurements on fixed tissues.

The water proton spin-lattice relaxation time measurements in liver samples from hepatectomized and sham-operated rats

We report the proton spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) of rat liver samples taken at different times after partial hepatectomy. The T1 values obtained are compared with those of liver samples from sham-operated rats and of liver samples from rats that had not undergone any surgical treatment. The results show that surgical stress significantly influences the T1 values of sham-operated rats both in their absolute value and in their dependence on the time after the operation, while it induces only a modest early increase of the water content. Possible effects of liver regeneration on 1H-T1 are almost completely concealed by the changes due to the surgical operation. These results emphasize the importance of the choice of a suitable control for T1 measurements in biological systems.

Frequency dependence of water proton longitudinal NMR relaxation times in mouse tissues around the freezing transition

Water proton longitudinal NMR relaxation times were measured in various tissues of healthy and tumor-bearing mice. Measurements were performed as a function of the Larmor frequency nu in the range 6-90 MHz, and at two temperatures (theta + and theta -) bracketing the 'freezing transition', at which the major part of the water signal disappears. At both temperatures, 1/T1 behaves according to: 1/T1 = A/square root nu + B A and B are obtained at theta + and theta -, and yield the proportion of bound water, which is convincingly identified with non-freezable water. The proportions found lie around 6% for tumors and 12% for other tissues. Discrimination between tissues via T1 is demonstrated to be essentially due to the bound water proportion. Bound water on the one hand and free water on the other hand behave similarly in all tissues including tumors. The activation energy for free water is found to be identical to that of pure water, although relaxation times are markedly different. It is noticed that determining the bound water proportion by signal intensity measurements at theta + and theta - is less reliable than by the T1 method.