1
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Pennati F, Belenkov S, Buccardi M, Ferrini E, Sverzellati N, Villetti G, Aliverti A, Stellari FF. Multiphase micro-computed tomography reconstructions provide dynamic respiratory function in a mouse lung fibrosis model. iScience 2024; 27:109262. [PMID: 38433926 PMCID: PMC10907835 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Micro-computed tomography derived functional biomarkers used in lung disease research can significantly complement end-stage histomorphometric measures while also allowing for longitudinal studies. However, no approach for visualizing lung dynamics across a full respiratory cycle has yet been described. Using bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and the antifibrotic drug nintedanib as a test model, we implemented a four-dimensional (4D) micro-CT imaging approach consisting of 30 reconstructed volumes per respiratory cycle, coupled with deep-learning-assisted segmentation of lung volumes. 4D micro-CT provided an accurate description of inhalatory and exhalatory lung dynamics under resting conditions and revealed an inflammation-related obstructive pattern at day 7, followed by a restrictive pattern associated with fibrosis development at day 21. A milder restriction and fibrotic pathology resulted from nintedanib treatment. The similarity of 4D micro-CT data with those produced by diagnostic measurements, also points to its great potential as an exploratory tool for the discovery of clinically relevant therapeutic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pennati
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | | | - Martina Buccardi
- Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Erica Ferrini
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Gino Villetti
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department Corporate Pre-Clinical R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Aliverti
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Franco Fabio Stellari
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Department Corporate Pre-Clinical R&D, Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A., Parma, Italy
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2
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Roosen L, Maes D, Musetta L, Himmelreich U. Preclinical Models for Cryptococcosis of the CNS and Their Characterization Using In Vivo Imaging Techniques. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:146. [PMID: 38392818 PMCID: PMC10890286 DOI: 10.3390/jof10020146] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii remain a challenge to our healthcare systems as they are still difficult to treat. In order to improve treatment success, in particular for infections that have disseminated to the central nervous system, a better understanding of the disease is needed, addressing questions like how it evolves from a pulmonary to a brain disease and how novel treatment approaches can be developed and validated. This requires not only clinical research and research on the microorganisms in a laboratory environment but also preclinical models in order to study cryptococci in the host. We provide an overview of available preclinical models, with particular emphasis on models of cryptococcosis in rodents. In order to further improve the characterization of rodent models, in particular the dynamic aspects of disease manifestation, development, and ultimate treatment, preclinical in vivo imaging methods are increasingly used, mainly in research for oncological, neurological, and cardiac diseases. In vivo imaging applications for fungal infections are rather sparse. A second aspect of this review is how research on models of cryptococcosis can benefit from in vivo imaging methods that not only provide information on morphology and tissue structure but also on function, metabolism, and cellular properties in a non-invasive way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Roosen
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dries Maes
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luigi Musetta
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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3
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Dullin C, Albers J, Tagat A, Lorenzon A, D'Amico L, Chiriotti S, Sodini N, Dreossi D, Alves F, Bergamaschi A, Tromba G. In vivo low-dose phase-contrast CT for quantification of functional and anatomical alterations in lungs of an experimental allergic airway disease mouse model. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1338846. [PMID: 38410752 PMCID: PMC10894991 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1338846] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Synchrotron-based propagation-based imaging (PBI) is ideally suited for lung imaging and has successfully been applied in a variety of in vivo small animal studies. Virtually all these experiments were tailored to achieve extremely high spatial resolution close to the alveolar level while delivering high x-ray doses that would not permit longitudinal studies. However, the main rationale for performing lung imaging studies in vivo in small animal models is the ability to follow disease progression or monitor treatment response in the same animal over time. Thus, an in vivo imaging strategy should ideally allow performing longitudinal studies. Methods Here, we demonstrate our findings of using PBI-based planar and CT imaging with two different detectors-MÖNCH 0.3 direct conversion detector and a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) detector (Photonics Science)-in an Ovalbumin induced experimental allergic airway disease mouse model in comparison with healthy controls. The mice were imaged free breathing under isoflurane anesthesia. Results At x-ray dose levels below those once used by commercial small animal CT devices at similar spatial resolutions, we were able to resolve structural changes at a pixel size down to 25 μm and demonstrate the reduction in elastic recoil in the asthmatic mice in cinematic planar x-ray imaging with a frame rate of up to 100 fps. Discussion Thus, we believe that our approach will permit longitudinal small animal lung disease studies, closely following the mice over longer time spans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dullin
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Albers
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Hamburg Unit c/o Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Aishwarya Tagat
- Department of Urology, University Hospital of Saarland, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Lorenzo D'Amico
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Sabina Chiriotti
- PSD Detector Science and Characterization Group, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villingen, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Sodini
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Diego Dreossi
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Frauke Alves
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna Bergamaschi
- PSD Detector Science and Characterization Group, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villingen, Switzerland
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4
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Zaw Thin M, Moore C, Snoeks T, Kalber T, Downward J, Behrens A. Micro-CT acquisition and image processing to track and characterize pulmonary nodules in mice. Nat Protoc 2023; 18:990-1015. [PMID: 36494493 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00769-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
X-ray computed tomography is a reliable technique for the detection and longitudinal monitoring of pulmonary nodules. In preclinical stages of diagnostic or therapeutic development, the miniaturized versions of the clinical computed tomography scanners are ideally suited for carrying out translationally-relevant research in conditions that closely mimic those found in the clinic. In this Protocol, we provide image acquisition parameters optimized for low radiation dose, high-resolution and high-throughput computed tomography imaging using three commercially available micro-computed tomography scanners, together with a detailed description of the image analysis tools required to identify a variety of lung tumor types, characterized by specific radiological features. For each animal, image acquisition takes 4-8 min, and data analysis typically requires 10-30 min. Researchers with basic training in animal handling, medical imaging and software analysis should be able to implement this protocol across a wide range of lung cancer models in mice for investigating the molecular mechanisms driving lung cancer development and the assessment of diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Zaw Thin
- Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK. .,Adult Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
| | - Christopher Moore
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Thomas Snoeks
- Imaging Research Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Tammy Kalber
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging (CABI), University College London, London, UK
| | - Julian Downward
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK. .,Lung Cancer Group, Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
| | - Axel Behrens
- Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.,Adult Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.,Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Cancer Research UK Convergence Science Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK
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5
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Vanhoffelen E, Resendiz-Sharpe A, Velde GV. Microcomputed Tomography to Visualize and Quantify Fungal Infection Burden and Inflammation in the Mouse Lung Over Time. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2667:211-224. [PMID: 37145287 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3199-7_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary mycoses are an important threat for immunocompromised patients, and although current treatments are effective, they suffer from multiple limitations and fail to further reduce mortality. With the increasing immunocompromised population and increased antifungal resistance, fungal infection research is more relevant than ever. In preclinical respiratory fungal infection research, animal models are indispensable. However, too often researchers still rely on endpoint measurements to assess fungal burden while the dynamics of disease progression are left undiscovered. To open up this "black box", microcomputed tomography (μCT) can be implemented to longitudinally visualize lung pathology in a noninvasive way and to quantify μCT-image derived biomarkers. That way, disease onset, progression, and responsiveness to treatment can be followed up with high resolution spatially and temporally in individual mice, increasing statistical power. Here, we describe a general method for the use of low-dose high-resolution μCT to longitudinally visualize and quantify lung pathology in mouse models of respiratory fungal infections, applied to mouse models of aspergillosis and cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliane Vanhoffelen
- KU Leuven Department of Imaging and Pathology, Biomedical MRI/MoSAIC, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Greetje Vande Velde
- KU Leuven Department of Imaging and Pathology, Biomedical MRI/MoSAIC, Leuven, Belgium.
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6
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Dullin C, Svetlove A, Zschüntzsch J, Alves F. Simultaneous assessment of lung morphology and respiratory motion in retrospectively gated in-vivo microCT of free breathing anesthetized mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13299. [PMID: 35918439 PMCID: PMC9345384 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17335-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Retrospective gating (RG) is a well established technique in preclinical computed tomography (CT) to assess 3D morphology of the lung. In RG additional angular projections are recorded typically by performing multiple rotations. Consequently, the projections are sorted according to the expansion state of the chest and those sets are then reconstructed separately. Thus, the breathing motion artefacts are suppressed at a cost of strongly elevated X-ray dose levels. Here we propose to use the entire raw data to assess respiratory motion in addition to retrospectively gated 3D reconstruction that visualize anatomical structures of the lung. Using this RG based X-ray respiratory motion measurement approach, which will be referred to as RG based X-ray lung function measurement (rgXLF) on the example of the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscle dystrophy (mdx) we accurately obtained both the 3D anatomical morphology of the lung and the thoracic bones as well as functional temporal parameters of the lung. Thus, rgXLF will remove the necessity for separate acquisition procedures by being able to reproduce comparable results to the previously established planar X-ray based lung function measurement approach in a single low dose CT scan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Dullin
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany. .,Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Translational Molecular Imaging, Goettingen, Germany. .,Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Angelika Svetlove
- Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Translational Molecular Imaging, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jana Zschüntzsch
- Clinic for Neurology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göettingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Max-Plank-Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Translational Molecular Imaging, Goettingen, Germany.,Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
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7
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Camara JA, Pujol A, Jimenez JJ, Donate J, Ferrer M, Vande Velde G. Lung Volume Calculation in Preclinical MicroCT: A Fast Geometrical Approach. J Imaging 2022; 8:jimaging8080204. [PMID: 35893082 PMCID: PMC9330811 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging8080204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we present a time-efficient protocol for thoracic volume calculation as a proxy for total lung volume. We hypothesize that lung volume can be calculated indirectly from this thoracic volume. We compared the measured thoracic volume with manually segmented and automatically thresholded lung volumes, with manual segmentation as the gold standard. A linear regression formula was obtained and used for calculating the theoretical lung volume. This volume was compared with the gold standard volumes. In healthy animals, thoracic volume was 887.45 mm3, manually delineated lung volume 554.33 mm3 and thresholded aerated lung volume 495.38 mm3 on average. Theoretical lung volume was 554.30 mm3. Finally, the protocol was applied to three animal models of lung pathology (lung metastasis and transgenic primary lung tumor and fungal infection). In confirmed pathologic animals, thoracic volumes were: 893.20 mm3, 860.12 and 1027.28 mm3. Manually delineated volumes were 640.58, 503.91 and 882.42 mm3, respectively. Thresholded lung volumes were 315.92 mm3, 408.72 and 236 mm3, respectively. Theoretical lung volume resulted in 635.28, 524.30 and 863.10.42 mm3. No significant differences were observed between volumes. This confirmed the potential use of this protocol for lung volume calculation in pathologic models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Camara
- Preclinical Therapeutics Core, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-628-6293-555
| | - Anna Pujol
- Onna Therapeutics, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Juan Jose Jimenez
- Preclinical Imaging Platform, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (J.J.J.); (J.D.)
| | - Jaime Donate
- Preclinical Imaging Platform, Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research, 08035 Barcelona, Spain; (J.J.J.); (J.D.)
| | - Marina Ferrer
- Gnotobiotics Core Facility, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA;
| | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Biomedical MRI/MoSAIC, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, 3001 Leuven, Belgium;
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8
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The importance of routine quality control for reproducible pulmonary measurements by in vivo micro-CT. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9695. [PMID: 35690601 PMCID: PMC9188608 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Micro-computed tomography (CT) imaging provides densitometric and functional assessment of lung diseases in animal models, playing a key role either in understanding disease progression or in drug discovery studies. The generation of reliable and reproducible experimental data is strictly dependent on a system's stability. Quality controls (QC) are essential to monitor micro-CT performance but, although QC procedures are standardized and routinely employed in clinical practice, detailed guidelines for preclinical imaging are lacking. In this work, we propose a routine QC protocol for in vivo micro-CT, based on three commercial phantoms. To investigate the impact of a detected scanner drift on image post-processing, a retrospective analysis using twenty-two healthy mice was performed and lung density histograms used to compare the area under curve (AUC), the skewness and the kurtosis before and after the drift. As expected, statistically significant differences were found for all the selected parameters [AUC 532 ± 31 vs. 420 ± 38 (p < 0.001); skewness 2.3 ± 0.1 vs. 2.5 ± 0.1 (p < 0.001) and kurtosis 4.2 ± 0.3 vs. 5.1 ± 0.5 (p < 0.001)], confirming the importance of the designed QC procedure to obtain a reliable longitudinal quantification of disease progression and drug efficacy evaluation.
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9
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Jonckheere AC, Seys SF, Steelant B, Decaesteker T, Dekoster K, Cremer J, Dilissen E, Schols D, Iwakura Y, Vande Velde G, Breynaert C, Schrijvers R, Vanoirbeek J, Ceuppens JL, Dupont LJ, Bullens DMA. Innate Lymphoid Cells Are Required to Induce Airway Hyperreactivity in a Murine Neutrophilic Asthma Model. Front Immunol 2022; 13:849155. [PMID: 35371094 PMCID: PMC8965562 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.849155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale Non-allergic asthma is driven by multiple endotypes of which neutrophilic and pauci-granulocytic asthma have been best established. However, it is still puzzling what drives inflammation and airway hyperreactivity (AHR) in these patients and how it can be treated effectively. Recently, a potential role of the innate immune system and especially the innate lymphoid cells (ILC) has been proposed. Objective In this study, we investigated the effects of LPS inhalation on airway inflammation and AHR as a potential model for elucidating the pathogenesis of non-allergic asthma. Methods Wild-type (BALB/c), SCID, IL-17A-/-, and Rag2-/- γC-/- mice were endonasally exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 2 µg) on four consecutive days. Twenty-four hours after the last exposure, AHR to methacholine was assessed. Cytokine levels and ILC subpopulations were determined in lung tissue. Cellular differential analysis was performed in BAL fluid. Main Results In this study, we developed a murine model for non-allergic neutrophilic asthma. We found that repeated endonasal applications of low-dose LPS in BALB/c mice led to AHR, BAL neutrophilia, and a significant increase in lung ILC3 as well as a significant increase in lung chemokines KC and MIP-2 and cytokines IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-22, and TNF. The adoptive transfer of ILC in Rag2-/- γC-/- mice showed that ILC played a causal role in the induction of AHR in this model. Antagonising IL-1β, but not IL-17A or neutrophils, resulted in a partial reduction in LPS-induced AHR. Conclusion In conclusion, we report here a murine model for neutrophilic asthma where ILC are required to induce airway hyperreactivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Charlotte Jonckheere
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sven F Seys
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Brecht Steelant
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tatjana Decaesteker
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kaat Dekoster
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Biomedical MRI Unit/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Cremer
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Dilissen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Schols
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yoichiro Iwakura
- Centre for Animal Disease Models, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Biomedical MRI Unit/Molecular Small Animal Imaging Center (MoSAIC), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christine Breynaert
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rik Schrijvers
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Vanoirbeek
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for Environment and Health, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan L Ceuppens
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieven J Dupont
- Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Clinical Division of Respiratory Medicine, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique M A Bullens
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Clinical Division of Paediatrics, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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10
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Burkhardt R, Gora T, Fingerle AA, Sauter AP, Meurer F, Gassert FT, Dobiasch S, Schilling D, Feuchtinger A, Walch AK, Multhoff G, Herzen J, Noël PB, Rummeny EJ, Combs SE, Schmid TE, Pfeiffer F, Wilkens JJ. In-vivo X-ray dark-field computed tomography for the detection of radiation-induced lung damage in mice. Phys Imaging Radiat Oncol 2021; 20:11-16. [PMID: 34611553 PMCID: PMC8476771 DOI: 10.1016/j.phro.2021.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiation-induced lung damage was observed using X-ray dark-field tomography. In this pre-clinical study, mouse lungs were irradiated and subsequently imaged. We report increased sensitivity of X-ray dark-field tomography over absorption-based tomography.
Background and Purpose Radiotherapy of thoracic tumours can lead to side effects in the lung, which may benefit from early diagnosis. We investigated the potential of X-ray dark-field computed tomography by a proof-of-principle murine study in a clinically relevant radiotherapeutic setting aiming at the detection of radiation-induced lung damage. Material and Methods Six mice were irradiated with 20 Gy to the entire right lung. Together with five unirradiated control mice, they were imaged using computed tomography with absorption and dark-field contrast before and 16 weeks post irradiation. Mean pixel values for the right and left lung were calculated for both contrasts, and the right-to-left-ratio R of these means was compared. Radiologists also assessed the tomograms acquired 16 weeks post irradiation. Sensitivity, specificity, inter- and intra-reader accuracy were evaluated. Results In absorption contrast the group-average of R showed no increase in the control group and increased by 7% (p = 0.005) in the irradiated group. In dark-field contrast, it increased by 2% in the control group and by 14% (p = 0.005) in the irradiated group. Specificity was 100% for both contrasts but sensitivity was almost four times higher using dark-field tomography. Two cases were missed by absorption tomography but were detected by dark-field tomography. Conclusions The applicability of X-ray dark-field computed tomography for the detection of radiation-induced lung damage was demonstrated in a pre-clinical mouse model. The presented results illustrate the differences between dark-field and absorption contrast and show that dark-field tomography could be advantageous in future clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rico Burkhardt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Thomas Gora
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander A Fingerle
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas P Sauter
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix Meurer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian T Gassert
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Sophie Dobiasch
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Schilling
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Annette Feuchtinger
- Abteilung Analytische Pathologie, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Axel K Walch
- Abteilung Analytische Pathologie, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Gabriele Multhoff
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,TranslaTUM, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Herzen
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Chair of Biomedical Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Munich School of BioEngineering (MSB), Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Peter B Noël
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Ernst J Rummeny
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephanie E Combs
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas E Schmid
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Franz Pfeiffer
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Chair of Biomedical Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Munich School of BioEngineering (MSB), Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Jan J Wilkens
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Chair of Biomedical Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
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11
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Khan A, Markus A, Rittmann T, Albers J, Alves F, Hülsmann S, Dullin C. Simple low dose radiography allows precise lung volume assessment in mice. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4163. [PMID: 33602964 PMCID: PMC7893164 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83319-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
X-ray based lung function (XLF) as a planar method uses dramatically less X-ray dose than computed tomography (CT) but so far lacked the ability to relate its parameters to pulmonary air volume. The purpose of this study was to calibrate the functional constituents of XLF that are biomedically decipherable and directly comparable to that of micro-CT and whole-body plethysmography (WBP). Here, we developed a unique set-up for simultaneous assessment of lung function and volume using XLF, micro-CT and WBP on healthy mice. Our results reveal a strong correlation of lung volumes obtained from radiographic XLF and micro-CT and demonstrate that XLF is superior to WBP in sensitivity and precision to assess lung volumes. Importantly, XLF measurement uses only a fraction of the radiation dose and acquisition time required for CT. Therefore, the redefined XLF approach is a promising tool for preclinical longitudinal studies with a substantial potential of clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amara Khan
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Markus
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Rittmann
- 4th Physical Institute - Solids and Nanostructures, University of Göttingen, Friedrich-Hund-Platz 1, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jonas Albers
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Clinic for Hematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Swen Hülsmann
- Clinic for Anesthesiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Dullin
- Translational Molecular Imaging, Max-Planck-Institute for Experimental Medicine, Hermann-Rein-Straße 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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12
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Mahmutovic Persson I, von Wachenfeldt K, Waterton JC, Olsson LE. Imaging Biomarkers in Animal Models of Drug-Induced Lung Injury: A Systematic Review. J Clin Med 2020; 10:jcm10010107. [PMID: 33396865 PMCID: PMC7795017 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10010107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
For drug-induced interstitial lung disease (DIILD) translational imaging biomarkers are needed to improve detection and management of lung injury and drug-toxicity. Literature was reviewed on animal models in which in vivo imaging was used to detect and assess lung lesions that resembled pathological changes found in DIILD, such as inflammation and fibrosis. A systematic search was carried out using three databases with key words “Animal models”, “Imaging”, “Lung disease”, and “Drugs”. A total of 5749 articles were found, and, based on inclusion criteria, 284 papers were selected for final data extraction, resulting in 182 out of the 284 papers, based on eligibility. Twelve different animal species occurred and nine various imaging modalities were used, with two-thirds of the studies being longitudinal. The inducing agents and exposure (dose and duration) differed from non-physiological to clinically relevant doses. The majority of studies reported other biomarkers and/or histological confirmation of the imaging results. Summary of radiotracers and examples of imaging biomarkers were summarized, and the types of animal models and the most used imaging modalities and applications are discussed in this review. Pathologies resembling DIILD, such as inflammation and fibrosis, were described in many papers, but only a few explicitly addressed drug-induced toxicity experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irma Mahmutovic Persson
- Department of Translational Medicine, Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, 20502 Malmö, Sweden;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-736839562
| | | | - John C. Waterton
- Bioxydyn Ltd., Science Park, Manchester M15 6SZ, UK;
- Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Lars E. Olsson
- Department of Translational Medicine, Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, 20502 Malmö, Sweden;
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13
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Burkhardt R, Gora T, Fingerle AA, Sauter AP, Meurer F, Umkehrer S, von Teuffenbach M, Kampfer S, Schilling D, Feuchtinger A, Walch AK, Rummeny E, Combs SE, Schmid TE, Pfeiffer F, Wilkens JJ, Herzen J. Early detection of radiation-induced lung damage with X-ray dark-field radiography in mice. Eur Radiol 2020; 31:4175-4183. [PMID: 33211140 PMCID: PMC8128748 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-020-07459-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Assessing the advantage of x-ray dark-field contrast over x-ray transmission contrast in radiography for the detection of developing radiation-induced lung damage in mice. METHODS Two groups of female C57BL/6 mice (irradiated and control) were imaged obtaining both contrasts monthly for 28 weeks post irradiation. Six mice received 20 Gy of irradiation to the entire right lung sparing the left lung. The control group of six mice was not irradiated. A total of 88 radiographs of both contrasts were evaluated for both groups based on average values for two regions of interest, covering (irradiated) right lung and healthy left lung. The ratio of these average values, R, was distinguished between healthy and damaged lungs for both contrasts. The time-point when deviations of R from healthy lung exceeded 3σ was determined and compared among contrasts. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used to test against the null hypothesis that there is no difference between both groups. A selection of 32 radiographs was assessed by radiologists. Sensitivity and specificity were determined in order to compare the diagnostic potential of both contrasts. Inter-reader and intra-reader accuracy were rated with Cohen's kappa. RESULTS Radiation-induced morphological changes of lung tissue caused deviations from the control group that were measured on average 10 weeks earlier with x-ray dark-field contrast than with x-ray transmission contrast. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy doubled using dark-field radiography. CONCLUSION X-ray dark-field radiography detects morphological changes of lung tissue associated with radiation-induced damage earlier than transmission radiography in a pre-clinical mouse model. KEY POINTS • Significant deviations from healthy lung due to irradiation were measured after 16 weeks with x-ray dark-field radiography (p = 0.004). • Significant deviations occur on average 10 weeks earlier for x-ray dark-field radiography in comparison to x-ray transmission radiography. • Sensitivity and specificity doubled when using x-ray dark-field radiography instead of x-ray transmission radiography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rico Burkhardt
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany. .,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany. .,Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.
| | - Thomas Gora
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander A Fingerle
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas P Sauter
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Felix Meurer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Umkehrer
- Chair of Biomedical Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | | | - Severin Kampfer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Daniela Schilling
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Annette Feuchtinger
- Abteilung Analytische Pathologie, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Axel K Walch
- Abteilung Analytische Pathologie, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ernst Rummeny
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany
| | - Stephanie E Combs
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Deutsches Konsortium für Translationale Krebsforschung (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas E Schmid
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Institute of Radiation Medicine (IRM), Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Franz Pfeiffer
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Chair of Biomedical Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Munich School of BioEngineering (MSB), Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Jan J Wilkens
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich, Germany.,Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Chair of Biomedical Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Julia Herzen
- Physics Department, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Chair of Biomedical Physics, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany.,Munich School of BioEngineering (MSB), Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
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14
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Tielemans B, Dekoster K, Verleden SE, Sawall S, Leszczyński B, Laperre K, Vanstapel A, Verschakelen J, Kachelriess M, Verbeken E, Swoger J, Vande Velde G. From Mouse to Man and Back: Closing the Correlation Gap between Imaging and Histopathology for Lung Diseases. Diagnostics (Basel) 2020; 10:E636. [PMID: 32859103 PMCID: PMC7554749 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics10090636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung diseases such as fibrosis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, infection and cancer are life-threatening conditions that slowly deteriorate quality of life and for which our diagnostic power is high, but our knowledge on etiology and/or effective treatment options still contains important gaps. In the context of day-to-day practice, clinical and preclinical studies, clinicians and basic researchers team up and continuously strive to increase insights into lung disease progression, diagnostic and treatment options. To unravel disease processes and to test novel therapeutic approaches, investigators typically rely on end-stage procedures such as serum analysis, cyto-/chemokine profiles and selective tissue histology from animal models. These techniques are useful but provide only a snapshot of disease processes that are essentially dynamic in time and space. Technology allowing evaluation of live animals repeatedly is indispensable to gain a better insight into the dynamics of lung disease progression and treatment effects. Computed tomography (CT) is a clinical diagnostic imaging technique that can have enormous benefits in a research context too. Yet, the implementation of imaging techniques in laboratories lags behind. In this review we want to showcase the integrated approaches and novel developments in imaging, lung functional testing and pathological techniques that are used to assess, diagnose, quantify and treat lung disease and that may be employed in research on patients and animals. Imaging approaches result in often novel anatomical and functional biomarkers, resulting in many advantages, such as better insight in disease progression and a reduction in the numbers of animals necessary. We here showcase integrated assessment of lung disease with imaging and histopathological technologies, applied to the example of lung fibrosis. Better integration of clinical and preclinical imaging technologies with pathology will ultimately result in improved clinical translation of (therapy) study results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birger Tielemans
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (B.T.); (K.D.); (J.V.); (E.V.)
| | - Kaat Dekoster
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (B.T.); (K.D.); (J.V.); (E.V.)
| | - Stijn E. Verleden
- Department of CHROMETA, BREATHE lab, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.E.V.); (A.V.)
| | - Stefan Sawall
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), X-Ray Imaging and CT, Heidelberg University, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.S.); (M.K.)
| | - Bartosz Leszczyński
- Department of Medical Physics, M. Smoluchowski Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Applied Computer Science, Jagiellonian University, 31-007 Kraków, Poland;
| | | | - Arno Vanstapel
- Department of CHROMETA, BREATHE lab, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (S.E.V.); (A.V.)
| | - Johny Verschakelen
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (B.T.); (K.D.); (J.V.); (E.V.)
| | - Marc Kachelriess
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), X-Ray Imaging and CT, Heidelberg University, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; (S.S.); (M.K.)
| | - Erik Verbeken
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (B.T.); (K.D.); (J.V.); (E.V.)
| | - Jim Swoger
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona, 08003 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (B.T.); (K.D.); (J.V.); (E.V.)
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15
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Tsui HC, Decaesteker T, Jonckheere AC, Vande Velde G, Cremer J, Verbeken E, Hoet PHM, Nemery B, Vanoirbeek JAJ. Cobalt exposure via skin alters lung immune cells and enhances pulmonary responses to cobalt in mice. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 319:L641-L651. [PMID: 32726143 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00265.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cobalt has been associated with allergic contact dermatitis and occupational asthma. However, the link between skin exposure and lung responses to cobalt is currently unknown. We investigated the effect of prior dermal sensitization to cobalt on pulmonary physiological and immunological responses after subsequent challenge with cobalt via the airways. BALB/c mice received epicutaneous applications (25 μL/ear) with 5% CoCl2*6H2O (Co) or the vehicle (Veh) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) twice; they then received oropharyngeal challenges with 0.05% CoCl2*6H2O or saline five times, thereby obtaining four groups: Veh/Veh, Co/Veh, Veh/Co, and Co/Co. To detect early respiratory responses noninvasively, we performed sequential in vivo microcomputed tomography (µCT). One day after the last challenge, we assessed airway hyperreactivity (AHR) to methacholine, inflammation in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and dendritic cells (DCs) in the lungs, and serum IgE. Compared with the Veh/Veh group, the Co/Co group showed increased µCT-derived lung response, increased AHR to methacholine, mixed neutrophilic and eosinophilic inflammation, elevated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and elevated keratinocyte chemoattractant (KC) in BAL. Flow cytometry in the Co/Co group demonstrated increased DC, type 1 and type 2 conventional DC (cDC1/cDC2), monocyte-derived DC, increased ILC group 2, and natural cytotoxicity receptor-ILC group 3. The Veh/Co group showed only increased AHR to methacholine and elevated MCP-1 in BAL, whereas the Co/Veh group showed increased cDC1 and ILC2 in lung. We conclude that dermal sensitization to cobalt may increase the susceptibility of the lungs to inhaling cobalt. Mechanistically, this enhanced susceptibility involves changes in pulmonary DCs and ILCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Chang Tsui
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tatjana Decaesteker
- Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne-Charlotte Jonckheere
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Biomedical MRI, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Cremer
- Translational Research in Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Erik Verbeken
- Translational Cell and Tissue Research, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter H M Hoet
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Benoit Nemery
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen A J Vanoirbeek
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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16
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Cuccione E, Chhour P, Si-Mohamed S, Dumot C, Kim J, Hubert V, Da Silva CC, Vandamme M, Chereul E, Balegamire J, Chevalier Y, Berthezène Y, Boussel L, Douek P, Cormode DP, Wiart M. Multicolor spectral photon counting CT monitors and quantifies therapeutic cells and their encapsulating scaffold in a model of brain damage. Nanotheranostics 2020; 4:129-141. [PMID: 32483519 PMCID: PMC7256015 DOI: 10.7150/ntno.45354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale & aim: Various types of cell therapies are currently under investigation for the treatment of ischemic stroke patients. To bridge the gap between cell administration and therapeutic outcome, there is a need for non-invasive monitoring of these innovative therapeutic approaches. Spectral photon counting computed tomography (SPCCT) is a new imaging modality that may be suitable for cell tracking. SPCCT is the next generation of clinical CT that allows the selective visualization and quantification of multiple contrast agents. The aims of this study are: (i) to demonstrate the feasibility of using SPCCT to longitudinally monitor and quantify therapeutic cells, i.e. bone marrow-derived M2-polarized macrophages transplanted in rats with brain damage; and (ii) to evaluate the potential of this approach to discriminate M2-polarized macrophages from their encapsulating scaffold. Methods: Twenty one rats received an intralesional transplantation of bone marrow-derived M2-polarized macrophages. In the first set of experiments, cells were labeled with gold nanoparticles and tracked for up to two weeks post-injection in a monocolor study via gold K-edge imaging. In the second set of experiments, the same protocol was repeated for a bicolor study, in which the labeled cells are embedded in iodine nanoparticle-labeled scaffold. The amount of gold in the brain was longitudinally quantified using gold K-edge images reconstructed from SPCCT acquisition. Animals were sacrificed at different time points post-injection, and ICP-OES was used to validate the accuracy of gold quantification from SPCCT imaging. Results: The feasibility of therapeutic cell tracking was successfully demonstrated in brain-damaged rats with SPCCT imaging. The imaging modality enabled cell monitoring for up to 2 weeks post-injection, in a specific and quantitative manner. Differentiation of labeled cells and their embedding scaffold was also feasible with SPCCT imaging, with a detection limit as low as 5,000 cells in a voxel of 250 × 250 × 250 µm in dimension in vivo. Conclusion: Multicolor SPCCT is an innovative translational imaging tool that allows monitoring and quantification of therapeutic cells and their encapsulating scaffold transplanted in the damaged rat brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Cuccione
- CarMeN Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1060, INRA U1397, Université Lyon 1, INSA Lyon, F-69600 Oullins, France
- VOXCAN, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | - Peter Chhour
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Salim Si-Mohamed
- CREATIS, CNRS UMR 5220 - INSERM U1206 - University of Lyon 1 - INSA Lyon, Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Radiology Department, Lyon, France
| | - Chloé Dumot
- CarMeN Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1060, INRA U1397, Université Lyon 1, INSA Lyon, F-69600 Oullins, France
| | - Johoon Kim
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Violaine Hubert
- CarMeN Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1060, INRA U1397, Université Lyon 1, INSA Lyon, F-69600 Oullins, France
| | - Claire Crola Da Silva
- CarMeN Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1060, INRA U1397, Université Lyon 1, INSA Lyon, F-69600 Oullins, France
| | - Marc Vandamme
- VOXCAN, 1 avenue Bourgelat, 69280 Marcy l'Etoile, France
| | | | - Joëlle Balegamire
- LAGEPP, University of Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Yves Chevalier
- LAGEPP, University of Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre, 69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Yves Berthezène
- CREATIS, CNRS UMR 5220 - INSERM U1206 - University of Lyon 1 - INSA Lyon, Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Radiology Department, Lyon, France
| | - Loïc Boussel
- CREATIS, CNRS UMR 5220 - INSERM U1206 - University of Lyon 1 - INSA Lyon, Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Radiology Department, Lyon, France
| | - Philippe Douek
- CREATIS, CNRS UMR 5220 - INSERM U1206 - University of Lyon 1 - INSA Lyon, Lyon, France
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, Radiology Department, Lyon, France
| | - David P. Cormode
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Marlène Wiart
- CarMeN Laboratory, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U1060, INRA U1397, Université Lyon 1, INSA Lyon, F-69600 Oullins, France
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17
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Radiosafe micro-computed tomography for longitudinal evaluation of murine disease models. Sci Rep 2019; 9:17598. [PMID: 31772203 PMCID: PMC6879529 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53876-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Implementation of in vivo high-resolution micro-computed tomography (µCT), a powerful tool for longitudinal analysis of murine lung disease models, is hampered by the lack of data on cumulative low-dose radiation effects on the investigated disease models. We aimed to measure radiation doses and effects of repeated µCT scans, to establish cumulative radiation levels and scan protocols without relevant toxicity. Lung metastasis, inflammation and fibrosis models and healthy mice were weekly scanned over one-month with µCT using high-resolution respiratory-gated 4D and expiration-weighted 3D protocols, comparing 5-times weekly scanned animals with controls. Radiation dose was measured by ionization chamber, optical fiberradioluminescence probe and thermoluminescent detectors in a mouse phantom. Dose effects were evaluated by in vivo µCT and bioluminescence imaging read-outs, gold standard endpoint evaluation and blood cell counts. Weekly exposure to 4D µCT, dose of 540-699 mGy/scan, did not alter lung metastatic load nor affected healthy mice. We found a disease-independent decrease in circulating blood platelets and lymphocytes after repeated 4D µCT. This effect was eliminated by optimizing a 3D protocol, reducing dose to 180-233 mGy/scan while maintaining equally high-quality images. We established µCT safety limits and protocols for weekly repeated whole-body acquisitions with proven safety for the overall health status, lung, disease process and host responses under investigation, including the radiosensitive blood cell compartment.
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18
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Molinos C, Sasser T, Salmon P, Gsell W, Viertl D, Massey JC, Mińczuk K, Li J, Kundu BK, Berr S, Correcher C, Bahadur A, Attarwala AA, Stark S, Junge S, Himmelreich U, Prior JO, Laperre K, Van Wyk S, Heidenreich M. Low-Dose Imaging in a New Preclinical Total-Body PET/CT Scanner. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:88. [PMID: 31131277 PMCID: PMC6509903 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Ionizing radiation constitutes a health risk to imaging scientists and study animals. Both PET and CT produce ionizing radiation. CT doses in pre-clinical in vivo imaging typically range from 50 to 1,000 mGy and biological effects in mice at this dose range have been previously described. [18F]FDG body doses in mice have been estimated to be in the range of 100 mGy for [18F]FDG. Yearly, the average whole body doses due to handling of activity by PET technologists are reported to be 3–8 mSv. A preclinical PET/CT system is presented with design features which make it suitable for small animal low-dose imaging. The CT subsystem uses a X-source power that is optimized for small animal imaging. The system design incorporates a spatial beam shaper coupled with a highly sensitive flat-panel detector and very fast acquisition (<10 s) which allows for whole body scans with doses as low as 3 mGy. The mouse total-body PET subsystem uses a detector architecture based on continuous crystals, coupled to SiPM arrays and a readout based in rows and columns. The PET field of view is 150 mm axial and 80 mm transaxial. The high solid-angle coverage of the sample and the use of continuous crystals achieve a sensitivity of 9% (NEMA) that can be leveraged for use of low tracer doses and/or performing rapid scans. The low-dose imaging capabilities of the total-body PET subsystem were tested with NEMA phantoms, in tumor models, a mouse bone metabolism scan and a rat heart dynamic scan. The CT imaging capabilities were tested in mice and in a low contrast phantom. The PET low-dose phantom and animal experiments provide evidence that image quality suitable for preclinical PET studies is achieved. Furthermore, CT image contrast using low dose scan settings was suitable as a reference for PET scans. Total-body mouse PET/CT studies could be completed with total doses of <10 mGy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Molinos
- Bruker BioSpin, Preclinical Imaging, Ettlingen, Germany
| | - Todd Sasser
- Bruker BioSpin, Preclinical Imaging, Ettlingen, Germany
| | - Phil Salmon
- Bruker BioSpin, Preclinical Imaging, Ettlingen, Germany
| | | | - David Viertl
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - James C Massey
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Krzysztof Mińczuk
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Bijoy K Kundu
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Stuart Berr
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | | | - Ali Bahadur
- Bruker BioSpin, Preclinical Imaging, Ettlingen, Germany
| | | | - Simon Stark
- Bruker BioSpin, Preclinical Imaging, Ettlingen, Germany
| | - Sven Junge
- Bruker BioSpin, Preclinical Imaging, Ettlingen, Germany
| | | | - John O Prior
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kjell Laperre
- Bruker BioSpin, Preclinical Imaging, Ettlingen, Germany
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19
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Kuethe DO, Hix JM, Fredenburgh LE. T 1 , T 1 contrast, and Ernst-angle images of four rat-lung pathologies. Magn Reson Med 2018; 81:2489-2500. [PMID: 30417929 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.27582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To initiate the archive of relaxation-weighted images that may help discriminate between pulmonary pathologies relevant to acute respiratory distress syndrome. MRI has the ability to distinguish pathologies by providing a variety of different contrast mechanisms. Lungs have historically been difficult to image with MRI but image quality is sufficient to begin cataloging the appearance of pathologies in T1 - and T2 -weighted images. This study documents T1 and the use of T1 contrast with four experimental rat lung pathologies. METHODS Inversion-recovery and spoiled steady state images were made at 1.89 T to measure T1 and document contrast in rats with atelectasis, lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation, ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI), and injury from saline lavage. Higher-resolution Ernst-angle images were made to see patterns of lung infiltrations. RESULTS T1 -weighted images showed minimal contrast between pathologies, similar to T1 -weighted images of other soft tissues. Images taken shortly after magnetization inversion and displayed with inverted contrast highlight lung pathologies. Ernst-angle images distinguish the effects of T1 relaxation and spin density and display distinctive patterns. T1 for pathologies were: atelectasis, 1.25 ± 0.046 s; inflammation from instillation of lipopolysaccharide, 1.24 ± 0.015 s; VILI, 1.55 ± 0.064 s (p = 0.0022 vs. normal lung); and injury from saline lavage, 1.90±0.080 s (p = 0.0022 vs. normal lung; p = 0.0079 vs. VILI). T1 of normal lung and erector spinae muscle were 1.25 ± 0.028 s and 1.02 ± 0.027 s, respectively (p = 0.0022). CONCLUSIONS Traditional T1 -weighting is subtle. However, images made with inverted magnetization and inverted contrast highlight the pathologies and Ernst-angle images aid in distinguishing pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean O Kuethe
- ABQMR, Albuquerque, New Mexico.,Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Jeremy M Hix
- Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | - Laura E Fredenburgh
- Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico.,Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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20
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Viswanath P, Peng S, Singh R, Kingsley C, Balter PA, Johnson FM. A Novel Method for Quantifying Total Thoracic Tumor Burden in Mice. Neoplasia 2018; 20:975-984. [PMID: 30157470 PMCID: PMC6111024 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse models are powerful tools to study lung cancer initiation and progression in vivo and have contributed significantly to recent advances in therapy. Using micro-computed tomography to monitor and study parenchymal and extra-parenchymal metastases in existing murine models of lung cancer is challenging owing to a lack of radiographic contrast and difficulty in achieving respiratory gating. To facilitate the analysis of these in vivo imaging studies and study of tumor progression in murine models we developed a novel, rapid, semi-automated method of calculating thoracic tumor burden from computed tomography images. This method, in which commercially available software is used to calculate the mass of the thoracic cavity (MTC), takes into account the aggregate tumor burden in the thoracic cavity. The present study showed that in tumor-free mice, the MTC does not change over time and is not affected by breathing, whereas in tumor-bearing mice, the increase in the MTC is a measure of tumor mass that correlates well with tumor burden measured by lung weight. Tumor burden calculated with our MTC method correlated with that measured by lung weight as well as or better than that calculated using four established methods. To test this method, we assessed metastatic tumor development and response to a pharmacologic PLK1 inhibitor in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. PLK1 inhibition significantly inhibited tumor growth. Our results demonstrate that the MTC method can be used to study dynamic changes in tumor growth and response to therapeutics in genetically engineered mouse models and orthotopic xenograft mouse models of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavitra Viswanath
- Department of Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX
| | - Shaohua Peng
- Department of Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Ratnakar Singh
- Department of Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Charles Kingsley
- Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Peter A Balter
- Department of Radiation Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Faye M Johnson
- Department of Thoracic Head & Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX.
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Mendez C, Colpo N, Duzenli C, Atwal P, Gill B. Technical Note: Development of a phantom for dosimetric comparison of murine micro-CT protocols with optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters. Med Phys 2018; 45:3974-3979. [PMID: 29971794 DOI: 10.1002/mp.13079] [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: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This work aims to evaluate the utility and accuracy of a mouse-like phantom and optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) in measuring dose delivered to the body and lung of mice undergoing micro-CT imaging. METHODS A phantom with two cavities for NanoDot OSLDs (Landauer, Inc., Greenwood, IL) was designed and constructed using acrylic to model the mouse body and polyurethane foam to obtain an approximate lung tissue dose. The OSLD dose was compared to ion chamber measurements for the same imaging protocols delivered by a Siemens Inveon micro-CT (Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Hoffman Estates, IL, USA). A whole body scan, using 80 kV, 0.5 mA and 0.5 mm of aluminum filter, was used to compare results to previously published data. Additionally, dose was measured for the whole body scan without the aluminum filter and two chest protocols (full and half rotation). RESULTS OSLD dose results agree with chamber measurements within 3%. Average OSLD measurements for the whole body scan without filter were 10.7 ± 0.7 cGy in the abdomen and 11.2 ± 0.7 cGy in the lung. For the full rotation chest protocol, the average dose measured in the lung was 65.8 ± 4.3 cGy and 60.2 ± 3.9 cGy in the abdomen. Average doses were 41.1 ± 2.7 cGy in the lung and 38.2 ± 2.5 cGy in the abdomen for the half rotation chest protocol. The OSLD measurements showed a coefficient of variation under 1.4%. A maximum rotational geometry under-response of 0.86% with respect to exposure at normal incidence to the OSLD was measured. CONCLUSIONS The doses measured were found to be comparable to other studies for the scanner configuration and protocols chosen. The phantom built for this study was found to give reproducible dose measurements with 4% uncertainty. In this way, a robust and convenient method is established for future dose assessment of micro-CT protocols and interinstitutional comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Mendez
- Department of Medical Physics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4E6, Canada
| | - Nadine Colpo
- Molecular Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Cheryl Duzenli
- Department of Medical Physics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4E6, Canada
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, 2329 West Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Parmveer Atwal
- Department of Medical Physics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 32900 Marshall Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia, V2S 0C2, Canada
| | - Brad Gill
- Department of Medical Physics, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4E6, Canada
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22
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Meganck JA, Liu B. Dosimetry in Micro-computed Tomography: a Review of the Measurement Methods, Impacts, and Characterization of the Quantum GX Imaging System. Mol Imaging Biol 2018; 19:499-511. [PMID: 27957647 PMCID: PMC5498628 DOI: 10.1007/s11307-016-1026-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Purpose X-ray micro-computed tomography (μCT) is a widely used imaging modality in preclinical research with applications in many areas including orthopedics, pulmonology, oncology, cardiology, and infectious disease. X-rays are a form of ionizing radiation and, therefore, can potentially induce damage and cause detrimental effects. Previous reviews have touched on these effects but have not comprehensively covered the possible implications on study results. Furthermore, interpreting data across these studies is difficult because there is no widely accepted dose characterization methodology for preclinical μCT. The purpose of this paper is to ensure in vivo μCT studies can be properly designed and the data can be appropriately interpreted. Procedures Studies from the scientific literature that investigate the biological effects of radiation doses relevant to μCT were reviewed. The different dose measurement methodologies used in the peer-reviewed literature were also reviewed. The CT dose index 100 (CTDI100) was then measured on the Quantum GX μCT instrument. A low contrast phantom, a hydroxyapatite phantom, and a mouse were also imaged to provide examples of how the dose can affect image quality. Results Data in the scientific literature indicate that scenarios exist where radiation doses used in μCT imaging are high enough to potentially bias experimental results. The significance of this effect may relate to the study outcome and tissue being imaged. CTDI100 is a reasonable metric to use for dose characterization in μCT. Dose rates in the Quantum GX vary based on the amount of material in the beam path and are a function of X-ray tube voltage. The CTDI100 in air for a Quantum GX can be as low as 5.1 mGy for a 50 kVp scan and 9.9 mGy for a 90 kVp scan. This dose is low enough to visualize bone both in a mouse image and in a hydroxyapatite phantom, but applications requiring higher resolution in a mouse or less noise in a low-contrast phantom benefit from longer scan times with increased dose. Conclusions Dose management should be considered when designing μCT studies. Dose rates in the Quantum GX are compatible with longitudinal μCT imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A Meganck
- Research and Development, Life Sciences Technology, PerkinElmer, 68 Elm Street, Hopkinton, MA, 01748, USA.
| | - Bob Liu
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Preissner M, Murrie RP, Pinar I, Werdiger F, Carnibella RP, Zosky GR, Fouras A, Dubsky S. High resolution propagation-based imaging system for in vivo dynamic computed tomography of lungs in small animals. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 63:08NT03. [DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aab8d2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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24
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Jenkins RG, Moore BB, Chambers RC, Eickelberg O, Königshoff M, Kolb M, Laurent GJ, Nanthakumar CB, Olman MA, Pardo A, Selman M, Sheppard D, Sime PJ, Tager AM, Tatler AL, Thannickal VJ, White ES. An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report: Use of Animal Models for the Preclinical Assessment of Potential Therapies for Pulmonary Fibrosis. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2017; 56:667-679. [PMID: 28459387 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0096st] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous compounds have shown efficacy in limiting development of pulmonary fibrosis using animal models, yet few of these compounds have replicated these beneficial effects in clinical trials. Given the challenges associated with performing clinical trials in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), it is imperative that preclinical data packages be robust in their analyses and interpretations to have the best chance of selecting promising drug candidates to advance to clinical trials. The American Thoracic Society has convened a group of experts in lung fibrosis to discuss and formalize recommendations for preclinical assessment of antifibrotic compounds. The panel considered three major themes (choice of animal, practical considerations of fibrosis modeling, and fibrotic endpoints for evaluation). Recognizing the need for practical considerations, we have taken a pragmatic approach. The consensus view is that use of the murine intratracheal bleomycin model in animals of both genders, using hydroxyproline measurements for collagen accumulation along with histologic assessments, is the best-characterized animal model available for preclinical testing. Testing of antifibrotic compounds in this model is recommended to occur after the acute inflammatory phase has subsided (generally after Day 7). Robust analyses may also include confirmatory studies in human IPF specimens and validation of results in a second system using in vivo or in vitro approaches. The panel also strongly encourages the publication of negative results to inform the lung fibrosis community. These recommendations are for preclinical therapeutic evaluation only and are not intended to dissuade development of emerging technologies to better understand IPF pathogenesis.
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25
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Cleveland ZI, Zhou YM, Akinyi TG, Dunn RS, Davidson CR, Guo J, Woods JC, Hardie WD. Magnetic resonance imaging of disease progression and resolution in a transgenic mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2017; 312:L488-L499. [PMID: 28130263 PMCID: PMC5407091 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00458.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary fibrosis contributes to morbidity and mortality in a range of diseases, and there are no approved therapies for reversing its progression. To understand the mechanisms underlying pulmonary fibrosis and assess potential therapies, mouse models are central to basic and translational research. Unfortunately, metrics commonly used to assess murine pulmonary fibrosis require animals to be grouped and euthanized, increasing experimental difficulty and cost. We examined the ability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to noninvasively assess lung fibrosis progression and resolution in a doxycycline (Dox) regulatable, transgenic mouse model that overexpresses transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) under control of a lung-epithelial-specific promoter. During 7 wk of Dox treatment, fibrotic lesions were readily observed as high-signal tissue. Mean weighted signal and percent signal volume were found to be the most robust MRI-derived measures of fibrosis, and these metrics correlated significantly with pleural thickness, histology scores, and hydroxyproline content (R = 0.75-0.89). When applied longitudinally, percent high signal volume increased by 1.5% wk-1 (P < 0.001) and mean weighted signal increased at a rate of 0.0065 wk-1 (P = 0.0062). Following Dox treatment, lesions partially resolved, with percent high signal volume decreasing by -3.2% wk-1 (P = 0.0034) and weighted mean signal decreasing at -0.015 wk-1 (P = 0.0028). Additionally, longitudinal MRI revealed dynamic remodeling in a subset of lesions, a previously unobserved behavior in this model. These results demonstrate MRI can noninvasively assess experimental lung fibrosis progression and resolution and provide unique insights into its pathobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zackary I Cleveland
- Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio;
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Imaging Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Yu M Zhou
- Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; and
| | - Teckla G Akinyi
- Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - R Scott Dunn
- Imaging Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Cynthia R Davidson
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jinbang Guo
- Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Jason C Woods
- Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Imaging Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Physics, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - William D Hardie
- Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Longitudinal microcomputed tomography-derived biomarkers for lung metastasis detection in a syngeneic mouse model: added value to bioluminescence imaging. J Transl Med 2017; 97:24-33. [PMID: 27869796 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2016.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Revised: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
With more patients dying from metastasis than from primary cancers, metastasis is a very important area in cancer research. Investigators thereby heavily rely on animal models of metastasis to common organs such as the lung to improve our insight into the pathogenesis and to research novel therapeutic approaches to combat metastasis. In this experimental context, novel tools that allow longitudinal monitoring of lung metastasis in individual animals are highly needed. We have therefore evaluated for the first time microcomputed tomography (μCT) as a very efficient and crossvalidated means to noninvasively and repeatedly monitor metastasis to the lung in individual, free-breathing syngeneic mice. Two individual clones of KLN205 cancer cells were intravenously injected in syngeneic DBA/2 mice and lung metastasis was monitored weekly during 3 weeks using μCT, and was compared with the current gold standard histology and bioluminescence imaging (BLI). μCT enabled us to visualize diffuse tumor morphology and also to extract four different biomarkers that quantify not only tumor load but also aerated space in the lung as a marker of vital lung capacity and potential compensatory mechanisms. Complementary to BLI, applying this novel μCT-based approach enabled us to unravel sensitively and efficiently differences in metastatic potential between two cellular clones. In conclusion, μCT and BLI offer biomarkers that describe different and complementary aspects of lung metastasis, underlining the importance of multimodality follow-up. The added value of μCT findings is important to better assess lung metastasis and host/lung response in preclinical studies, which will be valuable for translational applications.
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27
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Broeckhoven C, Plessis A, Roux SG, Mouton PLFN, Hui C. Beauty is more than skin deep: a non‐invasive protocol for
in vivo
anatomical study using micro‐CT. Methods Ecol Evol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Broeckhoven
- Department of Botany & Zoology Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
- Theoretical Ecology Group Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Anton Plessis
- CT Scanner Facility Central Analytical Facilities Stellenbosch University Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Stephan Gerhard Roux
- CT Scanner Facility Central Analytical Facilities Stellenbosch University Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | | | - Cang Hui
- Theoretical Ecology Group Department of Mathematical Sciences Stellenbosch University Private Bag X1 Matieland 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
- Theoretical and Physical Biosciences African Institute for Mathematical Sciences Cape Town 7945 South Africa
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28
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Longitudinal imaging of the ageing mouse. Mech Ageing Dev 2016; 160:93-116. [PMID: 27530773 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2016.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Several non-invasive imaging techniques are used to investigate the effect of pathologies and treatments over time in mouse models. Each preclinical in vivo technique provides longitudinal and quantitative measurements of changes in tissues and organs, which are fundamental for the evaluation of alterations in phenotype due to pathologies, interventions and treatments. However, it is still unclear how these imaging modalities can be used to study ageing with mice models. Almost all age related pathologies in mice such as osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, thrombi, dementia, to name a few, can be imaged in vivo by at least one longitudinal imaging modality. These measurements are the basis for quantification of treatment effects in the development phase of a novel treatment prior to its clinical testing. Furthermore, the non-invasive nature of such investigations allows the assessment of different tissue and organ phenotypes in the same animal and over time, providing the opportunity to study the dysfunction of multiple tissues associated with the ageing process. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the applications of the most commonly used in vivo imaging modalities used in mouse studies: micro-computed-tomography, preclinical magnetic-resonance-imaging, preclinical positron-emission-tomography, preclinical single photon emission computed tomography, ultrasound, intravital microscopy, and whole body optical imaging.
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Kuethe DO, Filipczak PT, Hix JM, Gigliotti AP, Estépar RSJ, Washko GR, Baron RM, Fredenburgh LE. Magnetic resonance imaging provides sensitive in vivo assessment of experimental ventilator-induced lung injury. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2016; 311:L208-18. [PMID: 27288491 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00459.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models play a critical role in the study of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). One limitation has been the lack of a suitable method for serial assessment of acute lung injury (ALI) in vivo. In this study, we demonstrate the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess ALI in real time in rat models of VILI. Sprague-Dawley rats were untreated or treated with intratracheal lipopolysaccharide or PBS. After 48 h, animals were mechanically ventilated for up to 15 h to induce VILI. Free induction decay (FID)-projection images were made hourly. Image data were collected continuously for 30 min and divided into 13 phases of the ventilatory cycle to make cinematic images. Interleaved measurements of respiratory mechanics were performed using a flexiVent ventilator. The degree of lung infiltration was quantified in serial images throughout the progression or resolution of VILI. MRI detected VILI significantly earlier (3.8 ± 1.6 h) than it was detected by altered lung mechanics (9.5 ± 3.9 h, P = 0.0156). Animals with VILI had a significant increase in the Index of Infiltration (P = 0.0027), and early regional lung infiltrates detected by MRI correlated with edema and inflammatory lung injury on histopathology. We were also able to visualize and quantify regression of VILI in real time upon institution of protective mechanical ventilation. Magnetic resonance lung imaging can be utilized to investigate mechanisms underlying the development and propagation of ALI, and to test the therapeutic effects of new treatments and ventilator strategies on the resolution of ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean O Kuethe
- ABQMR Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and
| | - Piotr T Filipczak
- Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeremy M Hix
- Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico; and
| | | | - Raúl San José Estépar
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - George R Washko
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rebecca M Baron
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Laura E Fredenburgh
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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Longitudinal, in vivo assessment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in mice by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. J Transl Med 2016; 96:692-704. [PMID: 27019389 DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2016.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Revised: 02/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis is an emerging threat to public health due to the increasing use of immune suppressive drugs and the emergence of resistance against antifungal drugs. To deal with this threat, research on experimental disease models provides insight into the pathogenesis of infections caused by susceptible and resistant Aspergillus strains and by assessing their response to antifungal drugs. However, standard techniques used to evaluate infection in a preclinical setting are severely limited by their invasive character, thereby precluding evaluation of disease extent and therapy effects in the same animal. To enable non-invasive, longitudinal monitoring of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in mice, we optimized computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques for daily follow-up of neutropenic BALB/c mice intranasally infected with A. fumigatus spores. Based on the images, lung parameters (signal intensity, lung tissue volume and total lung volume) were quantified to obtain objective information on disease onset, progression and extent for each animal individually. Fungal lung lesions present in infected animals were successfully visualized and quantified by both CT and MRI. By using an advanced MR pulse sequence with ultrashort echo times, pathological changes within the infected lung became visually and quantitatively detectable at earlier disease stages, thereby providing valuable information on disease onset and progression with high sensitivity. In conclusion, these non-invasive imaging techniques prove to be valuable tools for the longitudinal evaluation of dynamic disease-related changes and differences in disease severity in individual animals that might be readily applied for rapid and cost-efficient drug screening in preclinical models in vivo.
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Vande Velde G, Poelmans J, De Langhe E, Hillen A, Vanoirbeek J, Himmelreich U, Lories RJ. Longitudinal micro-CT provides biomarkers of lung disease that can be used to assess the effect of therapy in preclinical mouse models, and reveal compensatory changes in lung volume. Dis Model Mech 2015; 9:91-8. [PMID: 26563390 PMCID: PMC4728330 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.020321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In vivo lung micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is being increasingly embraced in pulmonary research because it provides longitudinal information on dynamic disease processes in a field in which ex vivo assessment of experimental disease models is still the gold standard. To optimize the quantitative monitoring of progression and therapy of lung diseases, we evaluated longitudinal changes in four different micro-CT-derived biomarkers [aerated lung volume, lung tissue (including lesions) volume, total lung volume and mean lung density], describing normal development, lung infections, inflammation, fibrosis and therapy. Free-breathing mice underwent micro-CT before and repeatedly after induction of lung disease (bleomycin-induced fibrosis, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, pulmonary cryptococcosis) and therapy (imatinib). The four lung biomarkers were quantified. After the last time point, we performed pulmonary function tests and isolated the lungs for histology. None of the biomarkers remained stable during longitudinal follow-up of adult healthy mouse lungs, implying that biomarkers should be compared with age-matched controls upon intervention. Early inflammation and progressive fibrosis led to a substantial increase in total lung volume, which affects the interpretation of aerated lung volume, tissue volume and mean lung density measures. Upon treatment of fibrotic lung disease, the improvement in aerated lung volume and function was not accompanied by a normalization of the increased total lung volume. Significantly enlarged lungs were also present in models of rapidly and slowly progressing lung infections. The data suggest that total lung volume changes could partly reflect a compensatory mechanism that occurs during disease progression in mice. Our findings underscore the importance of quantifying total lung volume in addition to aerated lung or lesion volumes to accurately document growth and potential compensatory mechanisms in mouse models of lung disease, in order to fully describe and understand dynamic processes during lung disease onset, progression and therapy. This is highly relevant for the translation of therapy evaluation results from preclinical studies to human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greetje Vande Velde
- Biomedical MRI/MoSAIC, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
| | - Jennifer Poelmans
- Biomedical MRI/MoSAIC, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
| | - Ellen De Langhe
- Laboratory of Tissue Homeostasis and Disease, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium Division of Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
| | - Amy Hillen
- Biomedical MRI/MoSAIC, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Vanoirbeek
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
| | - Uwe Himmelreich
- Biomedical MRI/MoSAIC, Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
| | - Rik J Lories
- Laboratory of Tissue Homeostasis and Disease, Skeletal Biology and Engineering Research Center, Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium Division of Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
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