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Cagol A, Tsagkas C, Granziera C. Advanced Brain Imaging in Central Nervous System Demyelinating Diseases. Neuroimaging Clin N Am 2024; 34:335-357. [PMID: 38942520 DOI: 10.1016/j.nic.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, advances in neuroimaging have profoundly transformed our comprehension of central nervous system demyelinating diseases. Remarkable technological progress has enabled the integration of cutting-edge acquisition and postprocessing techniques, proving instrumental in characterizing subtle focal changes, diffuse microstructural alterations, and macroscopic pathologic processes. This review delves into state-of-the-art modalities applied to multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease. Furthermore, it explores how this dynamic landscape holds significant promise for the development of effective and personalized clinical management strategies, encompassing support for differential diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring treatment response, and patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cagol
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167b, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 2, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, Via A. Pastore, 1 16132 Genova, Italy. https://twitter.com/CagolAlessandr0
| | - Charidimos Tsagkas
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167b, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Translational Neuroradiology Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (NIH), 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cristina Granziera
- Translational Imaging in Neurology (ThINk) Basel, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Hegenheimermattweg 167b, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland; Department of Neurology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Spitalstrasse 2, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
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Zuroff LR, Green AJ. The Study of Remyelinating Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: Visual Outcomes as a Window Into Repair. J Neuroophthalmol 2024; 44:143-156. [PMID: 38654413 DOI: 10.1097/wno.0000000000002149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amelioration of disability in multiple sclerosis requires the development of complementary therapies that target neurodegeneration and promote repair. Remyelination is a promising neuroprotective strategy that may protect axons from damage and subsequent neurodegeneration. METHODS A review of key literature plus additional targeted search of PubMed and Google Scholar was conducted. RESULTS There has been a rapid expansion of clinical trials studying putative remyelinating candidates, but further growth of the field is limited by the lack of consensus on key aspects of trial design. We have not yet defined the ideal study population, duration of therapy, or the appropriate outcome measures to detect remyelination in humans. The varied natural history of multiple sclerosis, coupled with the short time frame of phase II clinical trials, requires that we develop and validate biomarkers of remyelination that can serve as surrogate endpoints in clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS We propose that the visual system may be the most well-suited and validated model for the study potential remyelinating agents. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology of demyelination and summarize the current clinical trial landscape of remyelinating agents. We present some of the challenges in the study of remyelinating agents and discuss current potential biomarkers of remyelination and repair, emphasizing both established and emerging visual outcome measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah R Zuroff
- Department of Neurology (LZ), Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Department of Neurology (AJG), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Zhu Z, Naji N, Esfahani JH, Snyder J, Seres P, Emery DJ, Noga M, Blevins G, Smyth P, Wilman AH. MR Susceptibility Separation for Quantifying Lesion Paramagnetic and Diamagnetic Evolution in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. J Magn Reson Imaging 2024. [PMID: 38308397 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.29266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion evolution may involve changes in diamagnetic myelin and paramagnetic iron. Conventional quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) can provide net susceptibility distribution, but not the discrete paramagnetic and diamagnetic components. PURPOSE To apply susceptibility separation (χ separation) to follow lesion evolution in MS with comparison to R2 */R2 ' /QSM. STUDY TYPE Longitudinal, prospective. SUBJECTS Twenty relapsing-remitting MS subjects (mean age: 42.5 ± 9.4 years, 13 females; mean years of symptoms: 4.3 ± 1.4 years). FIELD STRENGTH/SEQUENCE Three-dimensional multiple echo gradient echo (QSM and R2 * mapping), two-dimensional dual echo fast spin echo (R2 mapping), T2 -weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery, and T1-weighted magnetization prepared gradient echo sequences at 3 T. ASSESSMENT Data were analyzed from two scans separated by a mean interval of 14.4 ± 2.0 months. White matter lesions on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery were defined by an automatic pipeline, then manually refined (by ZZ/AHW, 3/25 years' experience in MRI), and verified by a radiologist (MN, 25 years' experience in MS). Susceptibility separation yielded the paramagnetic and diamagnetic susceptibility content of each voxel. Lesions were classified into four groups based on the variation of QSM/R2 * or separated into positive/negative components from χ separation. STATISTICAL TESTS Two-sample paired t tests for assessment of longitudinal differences. Spearman correlation coefficients to assess associations between χ separation and R2 */R2 ' /QSM. Significant level: P < 0.005. RESULTS A total of 183 lesions were quantified. Categorizing lesions into groups based on χ separation demonstrated significant annual changes in QSM//R2 */R2 ' . When lesions were grouped based on changes in QSM and R2 *, both changing in unison yielded a significant dominant paramagnetic variation and both opposing yielded a dominant diamagnetic variation. Significant Spearman correlation coefficients were found between susceptibility-sensitive MRI indices and χ separation. DATA CONCLUSION Susceptibility separation changes in MS lesions may distinguish and quantify paramagnetic and diamagnetic evolution, potentially providing additional insight compared to R2 * and QSM alone. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nashwan Naji
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Javad Hamidi Esfahani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jeff Snyder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Peter Seres
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Derek J Emery
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michelle Noga
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gregg Blevins
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Penelope Smyth
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alan H Wilman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Ananthavarathan P, Sahi N, Chard DT. An update on the role of magnetic resonance imaging in predicting and monitoring multiple sclerosis progression. Expert Rev Neurother 2024; 24:201-216. [PMID: 38235594 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2304116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is established in diagnosing and monitoring disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), its utility in predicting and monitoring disease progression is less clear. AREAS COVERED The authors consider changing concepts in the phenotypic classification of MS, including progression independent of relapses; pathological processes underpinning progression; advances in MRI measures to assess them; how well MRI features explain and predict clinical outcomes, including models that assess disease effects on neural networks, and the potential role for machine learning. EXPERT OPINION Relapsing-remitting and progressive MS have evolved from being viewed as mutually exclusive to having considerable overlap. Progression is likely the consequence of several pathological elements, each important in building more holistic prognostic models beyond conventional phenotypes. MRI is well placed to assess pathogenic processes underpinning progression, but we need to bridge the gap between MRI measures and clinical outcomes. Mapping pathological effects on specific neural networks may help and machine learning methods may be able to optimize predictive markers while identifying new, or previously overlooked, clinically relevant features. The ever-increasing ability to measure features on MRI raises the dilemma of what to measure and when, and the challenge of translating research methods into clinically useable tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piriyankan Ananthavarathan
- Department of Neuroinflammation, University College London Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, London, UK
| | - Nitin Sahi
- Department of Neuroinflammation, University College London Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, London, UK
| | - Declan T Chard
- Clinical Research Associate & Consultant Neurologist, Institute of Neurology - Queen Square Multiple Sclerosis Centre, London, UK
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Khormi I, Al-Iedani O, Alshehri A, Ramadan S, Lechner-Scott J. MR myelin imaging in multiple sclerosis: A scoping review. J Neurol Sci 2023; 455:122807. [PMID: 38035651 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.122807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
The inability of disease-modifying therapies to stop the progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), has led to the development of a new therapeutic strategy focussing on myelin repair. While conventional MRI lacks sensitivity for quantifying myelin damage, advanced MRI techniques are proving effective. The development of targeted therapeutics requires histological validation of myelin imaging results, alongside the crucial task of establishing correlations between myelin imaging results and clinical assessments, so that the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions can be evaluated. The aims of this scoping review were to identify myelin imaging methods - some of which have been histologically validated, and to determine how these approaches correlate with clinical assessments of people with MS (pwMS), thus allowing for effective therapeutic evaluation. A search of two databases was undertaken for publications relating to studies on adults MS using either MRI/MR-histology of the MS brain in the range 1990-to-2022. The myelin imaging methods specified were relaxometry, magnetization transfer, and quantitative susceptibility. Relaxometry was used most frequently, with myelin water fraction (MWF) being the primary metric. Studies conducted on tissue from various regions of the brain showed that MWF was significantly lower in pwMS than in healthy controls. Magnetization transfer ratio indicated that the macromolecular content of lesions was lower than that of normal-appearing tissue. Higher magnetic susceptibility of lesions were indicative of myelin breakdown and iron accumulation. Several myelin imaging metrics were correlated with disability, disease severity and duration. Many studies showed a good correlation between myelin measured histologically and by MR myelin imaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Khormi
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia; College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Oun Al-Iedani
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | - Abdulaziz Alshehri
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia; Department of Radiology, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saadallah Ramadan
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
| | - Jeannette Lechner-Scott
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia; Department of Neurology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
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Bontempi P, Rozzanigo U, Marangoni S, Fogazzi E, Ravanelli D, Cazzoletti L, Giometto B, Farace P. Non-lesional white matter in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis assessed by multicomponent T2 relaxation. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3334. [PMID: 38041516 PMCID: PMC10726908 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of the study is to investigate, by T2 relaxation, non-lesional white matter (WM) in relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS Twenty stable RR MS patients underwent 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with 3D Fluid-Attenuated Inversion-Recovery (FLAIR), 3D-T1-weighted, and T2-relaxation multi-echo sequences. The Lesion Segmentation Tool processed FLAIR images to identify focal lesions (FLs), whereas T1 images were segmented to identify WM and FL sub-volumes with T1 hypo-intensity. Non-lesional WM was obtained as the segmented WM, excluding FL volumes. The multi-echo sequence allowed decomposition into myelin water, intra-extracellular water, and free water (Fw), which were evaluated on the segmented non-lesional WM. Correlation analysis was performed between the non-lesional WM relaxation parameters and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), disease duration, patient age, and T1 hypo-intense FL volumes. RESULTS The T1 hypo-intense FL volumes correlated with EDSS. On the non-lesional WM, the median Fw correlated with EDSS, disease duration, age, and T1 hypo-intense FL volumes. Bivariate EDSS correlation of FL volumes and WM T2-relaxation parameters did not improve significance. CONCLUSION T2 relaxation allowed identifying subtle WM alterations, which significantly correlated with EDSS, disease duration, and age but do not seem to be EDSS-predictors independent from FL sub-volumes in stable RR patients. Particularly, the increase in the Fw component is suggestive of an uninvestigated prodromal phenomenon in brain degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Bontempi
- Department of Engineering for Innovation MedicineUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Umberto Rozzanigo
- Neuro‐radiology Unit, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
| | - Sabrina Marangoni
- Neurology Unit, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
| | - Elena Fogazzi
- Physics departmentUniversity of TrentoPovoTrentoItaly
| | - Daniele Ravanelli
- Medical Physics Department, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
| | - Lucia Cazzoletti
- Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Department of Diagnostics and Public HealthUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Bruno Giometto
- Neurology Unit, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
| | - Paolo Farace
- Medical Physics Department, Hospital of TrentoAzienda Provinciale per i Servizi Sanitari (APSS)TrentoItaly
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Khormi I, Al-Iedani O, Casagranda S, Papageorgakis C, Alshehri A, Lea R, Liebig P, Ramadan S, Lechner-Scott J. CEST 2022 - Differences in APT-weighted signal in T1 weighted isointense lesions, black holes and normal-appearing white matter in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Magn Reson Imaging 2023:S0730-725X(23)00098-X. [PMID: 37321380 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2023.06.002] [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: 12/17/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate amide proton transfer weighted (APTw) signal differences between multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and contralateral normal-appearing white matter (cNAWM). Cellular changes during the demyelination process were also assessed by comparing APTw signal intensity in T1weighted isointense (ISO) and hypointense (black hole -BH) MS lesions in relation to cNAWM. METHODS Twenty-four people with relapsing-remitting MS (pw-RRMS) on stable therapy were recruited. MRI/APTw acquisitions were undertaken on a 3 T MRI scanner. The pre and post-processing, analysis, co-registration with structural MRI maps, and identification of regions of interest (ROIs) were all performed with Olea Sphere 3.0 software. Generalized linear model (GLM) univariate ANOVA was undertaken to test the hypotheses that differences in mean APTw were entered as dependent variables. ROIs were entered as random effect variables, which allowed all data to be included. Regions (lesions and cNAWM) and/or structure (ISO and BH) were the main factor variables. The models also included age, sex, disease duration, EDSS, and ROI volumes as covariates. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these comparisons. RESULTS A total of 502 MS lesions manually identified on T2-FLAIR from twenty-four pw-RRMS were subcategorized as 359 ISO and 143 BH with reference to the T1-MPRAGE cerebral cortex signal. Also, 490 ROIs of cNAWM were manually delineated to match the MS lesion positions. A two-tailed t-test showed that mean APTw values were higher in females than in males (t = 3.52, p < 0.001). Additionally, the mean APTw values of MS lesions were higher than those of cNAWM after accounting for covariates (mean lesion = 0.44, mean cNAWM = 0.13, F = 44.12, p < 0.001).The mean APTw values of ISO lesions were higher than those of cNAWM after accounting for covariates (mean ISO lesions = 0.42, mean cNAWM = 0.21, F = 12.12, p < 0.001). The mean APTw values of BH were also higher than those of cNAWM (mean BH lesions = 0.47, mean cNAWM = 0.033, F = 40.3, p < 0.001). The effect size (i.e., difference between lesion and cNAWM) for BH was found to be higher than for ISO (14 vs. 2). Diagnostic performance showed that APT was able to discriminate between all lesions and cNAWM with an accuracy of >75% (AUC = 0.79, SE = 0.014). Discrimination between ISO lesions and cNAWM was accomplished with an accuracy of >69% (AUC = 0.74, SE = 0.018), while discrimination between BH lesions and cNAWM was achieved at an accuracy of >80% (AUC = 0.87, SE = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the potential of APTw imaging for use as a non-invasive technique that is able to provide essential molecular information to clinicians and researchers so that the stages of inflammation and degeneration in MS lesions can be better characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Khormi
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia; College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Oun Al-Iedani
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
| | | | | | - Abdulaziz Alshehri
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia; Department of Radiology, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rodney Lea
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia
| | | | - Saadallah Ramadan
- School of Health Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
| | - Jeannette Lechner-Scott
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia; Department of Neurology, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton Heights, Australia; School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
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Snyder J, Seres P, Stobbe RW, Grenier JG, Smyth P, Blevins G, Wilman AH. Inline dual-echo T2 quantification in brain using a fast mapping reconstruction technique. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2023; 36:e4811. [PMID: 35934839 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
T2 mapping from 2D proton density and T2-weighted images (PD-T2) using Bloch equation simulations can be time consuming and introduces a latency between image acquisition and T2 map production. A fast T2 mapping reconstruction method is investigated and compared with a previous modeling approach to reduce computation time and allow inline T2 maps on the MRI console. Brain PD-T2 images from five multiple sclerosis patients were used to compare T2 map reconstruction times between the new subtraction method and the Euclidean norm minimization technique. Bloch equation simulations were used to create the lookup table for decay curve matching in both cases. Agreement of the two techniques used Bland-Altman analysis for investigating individual subsets of data and all image points in the five volumes (meta-analysis). The subtraction method resulted in an average reduction of computation time for single slices from 134 s (minimization method) to 0.44 s. Comparing T2 values between the subtraction and minimization methods resulted in a confidence interval ranging from -0.06 to 0.06 ms (95% of values were within ± 0.06 ms between the techniques). Using identical reconstruction code based on the subtraction method, inline T2 maps were produced from PD-T2 images directly on the scanner console. The excellent agreement between the two methods permits the subtraction technique to be interchanged with the previous method, reducing computation time and allowing inline T2 map reconstruction based on Bloch simulations directly on the scanner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeff Snyder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Peter Seres
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Robert W Stobbe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Justin G Grenier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Penelope Smyth
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Gregg Blevins
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Alan H Wilman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Kolind S, Abel S, Taylor C, Tam R, Laule C, Li DK, Garren H, Gaetano L, Bernasconi C, Clayton D, Vavasour I, Traboulsee A. Myelin water imaging in relapsing multiple sclerosis treated with ocrelizumab and interferon beta-1a. NEUROIMAGE: CLINICAL 2022; 35:103109. [PMID: 35878575 PMCID: PMC9421448 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
2-Year change in MS myelin water fraction favored ocrelizumab over interferon. Matched healthy controls showed no change in myelin water fraction over 2 years. Ocrelizumab appears to protect against demyelination in MS white matter and lesions.
Background Myelin water imaging is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that quantifies myelin damage and repair in multiple sclerosis (MS) via the myelin water fraction (MWF). Objective In this substudy of a phase 3 therapeutic trial, OPERA II, MWF was assessed in relapsing MS participants assigned to interferon beta-1a (IFNb-1a) or ocrelizumab (OCR) during a two-year double-blind period (DBP) followed by a two-year open label extension (OLE) with ocrelizumab treatment. Methods MWF in normal appearing white matter (NAWM), including both whole brain NAWM and 5 white matter structures, and chronic lesions, was assessed in 29 OCR and 26 IFNb-1a treated participants at weeks 0, 24, 48 and 96 (DBP), and weeks 144 and 192 (OLE), and in white matter for 23 healthy control participants at weeks 0, 48 and 96. Results Linear mixed-effects models of data from baseline to week 96 showed a difference in the change in MWF over time favouring ocrelizumab in all NAWM regions. At week 192, lesion MWF was lower for participants originally randomised to IFNb-1a compared to those originally randomised to OCR. Controls showed no change in MWF over 96 weeks in any region. Conclusion Ocrelizumab appears to protect against demyelination in MS NAWM and chronic lesions and may allow for a more permissive micro environment for remyelination to occur in focal and diffusely damaged tissue.
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Edwards EM, Wu W, Fritz NE. Using Myelin Water Imaging to Link Underlying Pathology to Clinical Function in Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2022; 59:103646. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Haacke EM, Bernitsas E, Subramanian K, Utriainen D, Palutla VK, Yerramsetty K, Kumar P, Sethi SK, Chen Y, Latif Z, Jella P, Gharabaghi S, Wang Y, Zhang X, Comley RA, Beaver J, Luo Y. A Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Methods to Assess Multiple Sclerosis Lesions: Implications for Patient Characterization and Clinical Trial Design. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 12:diagnostics12010077. [PMID: 35054244 PMCID: PMC8775217 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sensitive imaging modality for identifying inflammatory and/or demyelinating lesions, which is critical for a clinical diagnosis of MS and evaluating drug responses. There are many unique means of probing brain tissue status, including conventional T1 and T2 weighted imaging (T1WI, T2WI), T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR), magnetization transfer, myelin water fraction, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), phase-sensitive inversion recovery and susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), but no study has combined all of these modalities into a single well-controlled investigation. The goals of this study were to: compare different MRI measures for lesion visualization and quantification; evaluate the repeatability of various imaging methods in healthy controls; compare quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) with myelin water fraction; measure short-term longitudinal changes in the white matter of MS patients and map out the tissue properties of the white matter hyperintensities using STAGE (strategically acquired gradient echo imaging). Additionally, the outcomes of this study were anticipated to aid in the choice of an efficient imaging protocol reducing redundancy of information and alleviating patient burden. Of all the sequences used, T2 FLAIR and T2WI showed the most lesions. To differentiate the putative demyelinating lesions from inflammatory lesions, the fusion of SWI and T2 FLAIR was used. Our study suggests that a practical and efficient imaging protocol combining T2 FLAIR, T1WI and STAGE (with SWI and QSM) can be used to rapidly image MS patients to both find lesions and study the demyelinating and inflammatory characteristics of the lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewart Mark Haacke
- The MRI Institute for Biomedical Research, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA; (D.U.); (S.K.S.)
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (K.S.); (Z.L.); (P.J.); (Y.W.)
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (E.B.); (Y.C.)
- SpinTech Inc., Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA
- MR Innovations Inc., Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA;
- Correspondence:
| | - Evanthia Bernitsas
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (E.B.); (Y.C.)
| | - Karthik Subramanian
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (K.S.); (Z.L.); (P.J.); (Y.W.)
| | - David Utriainen
- The MRI Institute for Biomedical Research, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA; (D.U.); (S.K.S.)
- SpinTech Inc., Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA
| | - Vinay Kumar Palutla
- MR Medical Imaging Innovations India Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad 500081, India; (V.K.P.); (K.Y.); (P.K.)
| | - Kiran Yerramsetty
- MR Medical Imaging Innovations India Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad 500081, India; (V.K.P.); (K.Y.); (P.K.)
| | - Prashanth Kumar
- MR Medical Imaging Innovations India Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad 500081, India; (V.K.P.); (K.Y.); (P.K.)
| | - Sean K. Sethi
- The MRI Institute for Biomedical Research, Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA; (D.U.); (S.K.S.)
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (K.S.); (Z.L.); (P.J.); (Y.W.)
- SpinTech Inc., Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA
| | - Yongsheng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (E.B.); (Y.C.)
| | - Zahid Latif
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (K.S.); (Z.L.); (P.J.); (Y.W.)
| | - Pavan Jella
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (K.S.); (Z.L.); (P.J.); (Y.W.)
| | | | - Ying Wang
- Department of Radiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; (K.S.); (Z.L.); (P.J.); (Y.W.)
- MR Innovations Inc., Bingham Farms, MI 48025, USA;
| | - Xiaomeng Zhang
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; (X.Z.); (R.A.C.); (J.B.); (Y.L.)
| | - Robert A. Comley
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; (X.Z.); (R.A.C.); (J.B.); (Y.L.)
| | - John Beaver
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; (X.Z.); (R.A.C.); (J.B.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yanping Luo
- AbbVie Inc., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA; (X.Z.); (R.A.C.); (J.B.); (Y.L.)
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12
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Martin P, Hagberg GE, Schultz T, Harzer K, Klose U, Bender B, Nägele T, Scheffler K, Krägeloh-Mann I, Groeschel S. T2-Pseudonormalization and Microstructural Characterization in Advanced Stages of Late-infantile Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. Clin Neuroradiol 2021; 31:969-980. [PMID: 33226437 PMCID: PMC8648649 DOI: 10.1007/s00062-020-00975-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE T2-weighted signal hyperintensities in white matter (WM) are a diagnostic finding in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). In our systematic investigation of the evolution of T2-hyperintensities in patients with the late-infantile form, we describe and characterize T2-pseudonormalization in the advanced stage of the natural disease course. METHODS The volume of T2-hyperintensities was quantified in 34 MRIs of 27 children with late-infantile MLD (median age 2.25 years, range 0.5-5.2 years). In three children with the most advanced clinical course (age >4 years) and for whom the T2-pseudonormalization was the most pronounced, WM microstructure was investigated using a multimodal MRI protocol, including diffusion-weighted imaging, MR spectroscopy (MRS), myelin water fraction (MWF), magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), T1-mapping and quantitative susceptibility mapping. RESULTS T2-hyperintensities in cerebral WM returned to normal in large areas of 3 patients in the advanced disease stage. Multimodal assessment of WM microstructure in areas with T2-pseudonormalization revealed highly decreased values for NAA, neurite density, isotropic water, mean and radial kurtosis, MWF and MTR, as well as increased radial diffusivity. CONCLUSION In late-infantile MLD patients, we found T2-pseudonormalization in WM tissue with highly abnormal microstructure characterizing the most advanced disease stage. Pathological hallmarks might be a loss of myelin, but also neuronal loss as well as increased tissue density due to gliosis and accumulated storage material. These results suggest that a multimodal MRI protocol using more specific microstructural parameters than T2-weighted sequences should be used when evaluating the effect of treatment trials in MLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Martin
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Gisela E Hagberg
- High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Schultz
- B-IT and Institute of Computer Science, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Klaus Harzer
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Uwe Klose
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Bender
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Nägele
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Klaus Scheffler
- High Field Magnetic Resonance, Max-Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Samuel Groeschel
- Department of Neuropediatrics, University Children's Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
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13
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Hurtado Rúa SM, Kaunzner UW, Pandya S, Sweeney E, Tozlu C, Kuceyeski A, Nguyen TD, Gauthier SA. Lesion features on magnetic resonance imaging discriminate multiple sclerosis patients. Eur J Neurol 2021; 29:237-246. [PMID: 34402140 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides insight into various pathological processes in multiple sclerosis (MS) and may provide insight into patterns of damage among patients. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine if MRI features have clinical discriminative power among a cohort of MS patients. METHODS Ninety-six relapsing remitting and seven progressive MS patients underwent myelin water fraction (MWF) imaging and conventional MRI for cortical thickness and thalamic volume. Patients were clustered based on lesion level MRI features using an agglomerative hierarchical clustering algorithm based on principal component analysis (PCA). RESULTS One hundred and three patients with 1689 MS lesions were analyzed. PCA on MRI features demonstrated that lesion MWF and volume distributions (characterized by 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles) accounted for 87% of the total variability based on four principal components. The best hierarchical cluster confirmed two distinct patient clusters. The clustering features in order of importance were lesion median MWF, MWF 25th, MWF 75th, volume 75th percentiles, median individual lesion volume, total lesion volume, cortical thickness, and thalamic volume (all p values <0.01368). The clusters were associated with patient Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) (n = 103, p = 0.0338) at baseline and at 5 years (n = 72, p = 0.0337). CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that individual MRI features can identify two patient clusters driven by lesion-based values, and our unique approach is an analysis blinded to clinical variables. The two distinct clusters exhibit MWF differences, most likely representing individual remyelination capabilities among different patient groups. These findings support the concept of patient-specific pathophysiological processes and may guide future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra M Hurtado Rúa
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ulrike W Kaunzner
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Sneha Pandya
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Elizabeth Sweeney
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Ceren Tozlu
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Amy Kuceyeski
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Thanh D Nguyen
- Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Susan A Gauthier
- Department of Neurology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA.,Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA.,Feil Family Brain and Mind Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York City, New York, USA
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14
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Maekawa T, Hagiwara A, Yokoyama K, Hori M, Andica C, Fujita S, Kamagata K, Wada A, Abe O, Tomizawa Y, Hattori N, Aoki S. Multiple sclerosis plaques may undergo continuous myelin degradation: a cross-sectional study with myelin and axon-related quantitative magnetic resonance imaging metrics. Neuroradiology 2021; 64:465-471. [PMID: 34383123 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-021-02781-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We hypothesize that myelin is more susceptible to damage over time than axons. We investigated the association between the estimated duration from the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) plaques and myelin- and axon-related quantitative synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (SyMRI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics. METHODS We analyzed 31 patients with MS with 73 newly appeared plaques. Simple linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association between the estimated duration from the onset of plaques and quantitative MRI metrics. These metrics included the myelin volume fraction (MVF), axon volume fraction, and g-ratio in plaque and normal-appearing white matter. RESULTS MS plaques with a longer estimated duration from onset were significantly correlated with a lower MVF (slope = - 0.0070, R2 = 0.0970), higher g-ratio (slope = 0.0078, R2 = 0.0842) (all P values < 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggested that myelin in plaques undergoes continuous damage, more so than axons. Myelin imaging with SyMRI and NODDI may be useful for the quantitative assessment of temporal changes in MS plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Maekawa
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan.
| | - Akifumi Hagiwara
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Kazumasa Yokoyama
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Masaaki Hori
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Toho University Omori Medical Center, 6-11-1, Omori-Nishi, Ota-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Christina Andica
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Shohei Fujita
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
- Departmen of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Koji Kamagata
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Akihiko Wada
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Osamu Abe
- Departmen of Radiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Yuji Tomizawa
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
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15
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Vavasour IM, Chang KL, Combes AJE, Meyers SM, Kolind SH, Rauscher A, Li DKB, Traboulsee A, MacKay AL, Laule C. Water content changes in new multiple sclerosis lesions have a minimal effect on the determination of myelin water fraction values. J Neuroimaging 2021; 31:1119-1125. [PMID: 34310789 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Myelin water fraction (MWF) is a histopathologically validated in vivo myelin marker. As MWF is the proportion of water with a short T2 relative to the total water, increases in water from edema and inflammation may confound MWF determination in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. Total water content (TWC) measurement enables calculation of absolute myelin water content (MWC) and can be used to distinguish edema/inflammation from demyelination. We assessed what influence changes in total water might have on MWF by calculating MWC values in new MS lesions. METHODS 3T 32-echo T2 relaxation data were collected monthly for 6 months from six relapsing-remitting MS participants. TWC was determined and multiplied with MWF images to calculate corrected MWC images. The effect of this water content correction was examined in 20 new lesions by comparing mean MWF and MWC over time. RESULTS On average, at lesion first appearance, lesion TWC increased by 6.4% (p = .003; range: -1% to +21%), MWF decreased by 24% (p = .006; range: -70% to +12%), and MWC decreased by 20% (p = .026; range: -68% to +21%), relative to prelesion values. Average TWC in lesions then gradually decreased, whereas MWF and MWC remained low. The shape of the MWF and MWC lesion evolution curves was nearly identical, differing only by an offset. CONCLUSION MWF mirrors MWC and is able to monitor myelin in new lesions. Even after taking into account water content increases, MWC still decreased at lesion first appearance attributed to demyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M Vavasour
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kimberley L Chang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anna J E Combes
- Department of Neuroimaging, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sandra M Meyers
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Shannon H Kolind
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alexander Rauscher
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David K B Li
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anthony Traboulsee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alex L MacKay
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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16
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Birkl C, Doucette J, Fan M, Hernández-Torres E, Rauscher A. Myelin water imaging depends on white matter fiber orientation in the human brain. Magn Reson Med 2020; 85:2221-2231. [PMID: 33017486 PMCID: PMC7821018 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.28543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2020] [Revised: 09/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose The multi‐exponential T2 decay of the MRI signal from cerebral white matter can be separated into short T2 components related to myelin water and long T2 components related to intracellular and extracellular water. In this study, we investigated to what degree the apparent myelin water fraction (MWF) depends on the angle between white matter fibers and the main magnetic field. Methods Maps of the apparent MWF were acquired using multi‐echo Carr‐Purcell‐Meiboom‐Gill and gradient‐echo spin‐echo sequences. The Carr‐Purcell‐Meiboom‐Gill sequence was acquired with a TR of 1073 ms, 1500 ms, and 2000 ms. The fiber orientation was mapped with DTI. By angle‐wise pooling the voxels across the brain’s white matter, orientation‐dependent apparent MWF curves were generated. Results We found that the apparent MWF varied between 25% and 35% across different fiber orientations. Furthermore, the selection of the TR influences the apparent MWF. Conclusion White matter fiber orientation induces a strong systematic bias on the estimation of the apparent MWF. This finding has implications for future research and the interpretation of MWI results in previously published studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Birkl
- UBC MRI Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Neuroradiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.,Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Jonathan Doucette
- UBC MRI Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Michael Fan
- UBC MRI Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Texas Oncology, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Enedino Hernández-Torres
- UBC MRI Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Medicine (Division of Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alexander Rauscher
- UBC MRI Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics (Division of Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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17
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Abel S, Vavasour I, Lee LE, Johnson P, Ristow S, Ackermans N, Chan J, Cross H, Laule C, Dvorak A, Schabas A, Hernández-Torres E, Tam R, Kuan AJ, Morrow SA, Wilken J, Rauscher A, Bhan V, Sayao AL, Devonshire V, Li DKB, Carruthers R, Traboulsee A, Kolind SH. Associations Between Findings From Myelin Water Imaging and Cognitive Performance Among Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e2014220. [PMID: 32990740 PMCID: PMC7525360 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.14220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Cognitive impairment is a debilitating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) that affects up to 70% of patients. An improved understanding of the underlying pathology of MS-related cognitive impairment would provide considerable benefit to patients and clinicians. OBJECTIVE To determine whether there is an association between myelin damage in tissue that appears completely normal on standard clinical imaging, but can be detected by myelin water imaging (MWI), with cognitive performance in MS. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this cross-sectional study, participants with MS and controls underwent cognitive testing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from August 23, 2017, to February 20, 2019. Participants were recruited through the University of British Columbia Hospital MS clinic and via online recruitment advertisements on local health authority websites. Cognitive testing was performed in the MS clinic, and MRI was performed at the adjacent academic research neuroimaging center. Seventy-three participants with clinically definite MS fulfilling the 2017 revised McDonald criteria for diagnosis and 22 age-, sex-, and education-matched healthy volunteers without neurological disease were included in the study. Data analysis was performed from March to November 2019. EXPOSURES MWI was performed at 3 T with a 48-echo, 3-dimensional, gradient and spin-echo (GRASE) sequence. Cognitive testing was performed with assessments drawn from cognitive batteries validated for use in MS. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The association between myelin water measures, a measurement of the T2 relaxation signal from water in the myelin bilayers providing a specific marker for myelin, and cognitive test scores was assessed using Pearson correlation. Three white matter regions of interest-the cingulum, superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), and corpus callosum-were selected a priori according to their known involvement in MS-related cognitive impairment. RESULTS For the 95 total participants, the mean (SD) age was 49.33 (11.44) years. The mean (SD) age was 50.2 (10.7) years for the 73 participants with MS and 46.4 (13.5) for the 22 controls. Forty-eight participants with MS (66%) and 14 controls (64%) were women. The mean (SD) years of education were 14.7 (2.2) for patients and 15.8 (2.5) years for controls. In MS, significant associations were observed between myelin water measures and scores on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SLF, r = -0.490; 95% CI, -0.697 to -0.284; P < .001; corpus callosum, r = -0.471; 95% CI, -0.680 to -0.262; P < .001; and cingulum, r = -0.419; 95% CI, -0.634 to -0.205; P < .001), Selective Reminding Test (SLF, r = -0.444; 95% CI, -0.660 to -0.217; P < .001; corpus callosum, r = -0.411; 95% CI, -0.630 to -0.181; P = .001; and cingulum, r = -0.361; 95% CI, -0.602 to -0.130; P = .003), and Controlled Oral Word Association Test (SLF, r = -0.317; 95% CI, -0.549 to -0.078; P = .01; and cingulum, r = -0.335; 95% CI, -0.658 to -0.113; P = .006). No significant associations were found in controls. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study used MWI to demonstrate that otherwise normal-appearing brain tissue is diffusely damaged in MS, and the findings suggest that myelin water measures are associated with cognitive performance. MWI offers an in vivo biomarker feasible for use in clinical trials investigating cognition, providing a means for monitoring changes in myelination and its association with symptom worsening or improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawna Abel
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Irene Vavasour
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lisa Eunyoung Lee
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Poljanka Johnson
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stephen Ristow
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nathalie Ackermans
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jillian Chan
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Helen Cross
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Adam Dvorak
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alice Schabas
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Enedino Hernández-Torres
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Roger Tam
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Annie J. Kuan
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah A. Morrow
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Wilken
- Department of Neurology, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC
- Washington Neuropsychology Research Group LLC, Fairfax, Virginia
| | - Alexander Rauscher
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Virender Bhan
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ana-Luiza Sayao
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Virginia Devonshire
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - David K. B. Li
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robert Carruthers
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anthony Traboulsee
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shannon H. Kolind
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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18
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Hagiwara A, Kamagata K, Shimoji K, Yokoyama K, Andica C, Hori M, Fujita S, Maekawa T, Irie R, Akashi T, Wada A, Suzuki M, Abe O, Hattori N, Aoki S. White Matter Abnormalities in Multiple Sclerosis Evaluated by Quantitative Synthetic MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, and Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2019; 40:1642-1648. [PMID: 31515218 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a6209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE A number of MR-derived quantitative metrics have been suggested to assess the pathophysiology of MS, but the reports about combined analyses of these metrics are scarce. Our aim was to assess the spatial distribution of parameters for white matter myelin and axon integrity in patients with relapsing-remitting MS by multiparametric MR imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-four patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 24 age- and sex-matched controls were prospectively scanned by quantitative synthetic and 2-shell diffusion MR imaging. Synthetic MR imaging data were used to retrieve relaxometry parameters (R1 and R2 relaxation rates and proton density) and myelin volume fraction. Diffusion tensor metrics (fractional anisotropy and mean, axial, and radial diffusivity) and neurite orientation and dispersion index metrics (intracellular volume fraction, isotropic volume fraction, and orientation dispersion index) were retrieved from diffusion MR imaging data. These data were analyzed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics. RESULTS Patients with MS showed significantly lower fractional anisotropy and myelin volume fraction and higher isotropic volume fraction in widespread white matter areas. Areas with different isotropic volume fractions were included within areas with lower fractional anisotropy. Myelin volume fraction showed no significant difference in some areas with significantly decreased fractional anisotropy in MS, including in the genu of the corpus callosum and bilateral anterior corona radiata, whereas myelin volume fraction was significantly decreased in some areas where fractional anisotropy showed no significant difference, including the bilateral posterior limb of the internal capsule, external capsule, sagittal striatum, fornix, and uncinate fasciculus. CONCLUSIONS We found differences in spatial distribution of abnormality in fractional anisotropy, isotropic volume fraction, and myelin volume fraction distribution in MS, which might be useful for characterizing white matter in patients with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Hagiwara
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
- Department of Radiology (A.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., O.A.), Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - K Kamagata
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
| | - K Shimoji
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology (K.S.), Tokyo Metropolitan Geriatric Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - K Yokoyama
- Neurology (K.Y., N.H.), Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - C Andica
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
| | - M Hori
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
- Department of Radiology (M.H.), Toho University Omori Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - S Fujita
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
- Department of Radiology (A.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., O.A.), Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - T Maekawa
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
- Department of Radiology (A.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., O.A.), Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - R Irie
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
- Department of Radiology (A.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., O.A.), Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - T Akashi
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
| | - A Wada
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
| | - M Suzuki
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
| | - O Abe
- Department of Radiology (A.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., O.A.), Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - N Hattori
- Neurology (K.Y., N.H.), Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - S Aoki
- From the Departments of Radiology (A.H., K.K., K.S., C.A., M.H., S.F., T.M., R.I., T.A., A.W., M.S., S.A.)
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19
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Boto J, Askin NC, Regnaud A, Kober T, Gkinis G, Lazeyras F, Lövblad KO, Vargas MI. Cerebral Gray and White Matter Involvement in Anorexia Nervosa Evaluated by T1, T2, and T2* Mapping. J Neuroimaging 2019; 29:598-604. [PMID: 31259451 DOI: 10.1111/jon.12647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Changes in the brain composition of anorexics could potentially be expected, opening the door to new imaging approaches where quantitative and qualitative MRI have a role. Our purpose was to investigate anorexia-related brain dehydration and myelin depletion by analyzing T1, T2, and T2* relaxation times of different brain structures in anorexics and controls. METHODS Thirty-eight anorexic female patients (mean age, 26.2 years; age range, 16.2-48.7 years; mean BMI, 14.5 kg/m2 ; BMI range, 10.0-18.4 kg/m2 ) underwent brain MRI between August 2014 and August 2018. Controls were 16 healthy females (mean age, 28.0 years; age range, 22.3-34.7 years; mean BMI, 20.9 kg/m2 ; BMI range, 18.4-26.6 kg/m2 ). T1, T2, and T2* relaxation times were obtained for different brain structures in anorexics and controls as part of this retrospective case-control study. RESULTS The T1 relaxation times of gray and white matter were significantly lower in anorexics (P = .009), whereas the T2 relaxation times of gray matter were higher (P < .001). There were no statistically significant differences in gray matter T2* relaxation times or in white matter T2 and T2* relaxation times between anorexics and controls. Occipital lobe gray matter showed the shortest T1, T2, and T2* relaxation times of all brain regions (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS T1 shortening in anorexics suggests both dehydration and myelin loss, whereas T2 prolongation points toward myelin loss (myelin water has lower T2), which seems to be less discernible in white matter. Shorter overall relaxation times in the most posterior regions of the brain suggest higher iron content.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Boto
- Division of Neuroradiology, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nurten Ceren Askin
- Division of Radiology, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Alice Regnaud
- Division of Neuroradiology, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Kober
- Advanced Clinical Imaging Technology, Siemens Healthcare HC CEMEA SUI DI BM PI, Siemens ACIT, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland.,LTS5, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - François Lazeyras
- Division of Radiology, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Karl-Olof Lövblad
- Division of Neuroradiology, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Maria Isabel Vargas
- Division of Neuroradiology, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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20
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Kor D, Birkl C, Ropele S, Doucette J, Xu T, Wiggermann V, Hernández-Torres E, Hametner S, Rauscher A. The role of iron and myelin in orientation dependent R 2* of white matter. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2019; 32:e4092. [PMID: 31038240 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.4092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Brain myelin and iron content are important parameters in neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Both myelin and iron content influence the brain's R2* relaxation rate. However, their quantification based on R2* maps requires a realistic tissue model that can be fitted to the measured data. In structures with low myelin content, such as deep gray matter, R2* shows a linear increase with increasing iron content. In white matter, R2* is not only affected by iron and myelin but also by the orientation of the myelinated axons with respect to the external magnetic field. Here, we propose a numerical model which incorporates iron and myelin, as well as fibre orientation, to simulate R2* decay in white matter. Applying our model to fibre orientation-dependent in vivo R2* data, we are able to determine a unique solution of myelin and iron content in global white matter. We determine an averaged myelin volume fraction of 16.02 ± 2.07% in non-lesional white matter of patients with MS, 17.32 ± 2.20% in matched healthy controls, and 18.19 ± 2.98% in healthy siblings of patients with MS. Averaged iron content was 35.6 ± 8.9 mg/kg tissue in patients, 43.1 ± 8.3 mg/kg in controls, and 47.8 ± 8.2 mg/kg in siblings. All differences in iron content between groups were significant, while the difference in myelin content between MS patients and the siblings of MS patients was significant. In conclusion, we demonstrate that a model that combines myelin-induced orientation-dependent and iron-induced orientation-independent components is able to fit in vivo R2* data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kor
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christoph Birkl
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics (Division of Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Stefan Ropele
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Jonathan Doucette
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics (Division of Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tianyou Xu
- Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vanessa Wiggermann
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics (Division of Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Enedino Hernández-Torres
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics (Division of Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Simon Hametner
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander Rauscher
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics (Division of Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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21
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Baldassari LE, Feng J, Clayton BLL, Oh SH, Sakaie K, Tesar PJ, Wang Y, Cohen JA. Developing therapeutic strategies to promote myelin repair in multiple sclerosis. Expert Rev Neurother 2019; 19:997-1013. [PMID: 31215271 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2019.1632192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Approved disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) lessen inflammatory disease activity that causes relapses and MRI lesions. However, chronic inflammation and demyelination lead to axonal degeneration and neuronal loss, for which there currently is no effective treatment. There has been increasing interest in developing repair-promoting strategies, but there are important unanswered questions regarding the mechanisms and appropriate methods to evaluate these treatments. Areas covered: The rationale for remyelinating agents in MS is discussed, with an overview of both myelin physiology and endogenous repair mechanisms. This is followed by a discussion of the identification and development of potential remyelinating drugs. Potential biomarkers of remyelination are reviewed, including considerations regarding measuring remyelination in clinical trials. Information and data were obtained from a search of recent literature through PubMed. Peer-reviewed original articles and review articles were included. Expert opinion: There are several obstacles to the translation of potential remyelinating agents to clinical trials, particularly uncertainty regarding the most appropriate study population and method to monitor remyelination. Refinements in clinical trial design and outcome measurement, potentially via advanced imaging techniques, are needed to optimize detection of repair in patients with MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Baldassari
- Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic , Cleveland , OH , USA
| | - Jenny Feng
- Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic , Cleveland , OH , USA
| | - Benjamin L L Clayton
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine , Cleveland , OH , USA
| | - Se-Hong Oh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies , Yongin , Republic of Korea
| | - Ken Sakaie
- Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic , Cleveland , OH , USA
| | - Paul J Tesar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine , Cleveland , OH , USA
| | - Yanming Wang
- Department of Radiology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine , Cleveland , OH , USA
| | - Jeffrey A Cohen
- Mellen Center for MS Treatment and Research, Cleveland Clinic , Cleveland , OH , USA
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22
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Birkl C, Birkl-Toeglhofer AM, Endmayr V, Höftberger R, Kasprian G, Krebs C, Haybaeck J, Rauscher A. The influence of brain iron on myelin water imaging. Neuroimage 2019; 199:545-552. [PMID: 31108214 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
With myelin playing a vital role in normal brain integrity and function and thus in various neurological disorders, myelin sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are of great importance. In particular, multi-exponential T2 relaxation was shown to be highly sensitive to myelin. The myelin water imaging (MWI) technique allows to separate the T2 decay into short components, specific to myelin water, and long components reflecting the intra- and extracellular water. The myelin water fraction (MWF) is the ratio of the short components to all components. In the brain's white matter (WM), myelin and iron are closely linked via the presence of iron in the myelin generating oligodendrocytes. Iron is known to decrease T2 relaxation times and may therefore mimic myelin. In this study, we investigated if variations in WM iron content can lead to apparent MWF changes. We performed MWI in post mortem human brain tissue prior and after chemical iron extraction. Histology for iron and myelin confirmed a decrease in iron content and no change in myelin content after iron extraction. In MRI, iron extraction lead to a decrease in MWF by 26%-28% in WM. Thus, a change in MWF does not necessarily reflect a change in myelin content. This observation has important implications for the interpretation of MWI findings in previously published studies and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Birkl
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Austria.
| | - Anna Maria Birkl-Toeglhofer
- Department of Pathology, Neuropathology and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria; Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Austria
| | - Verena Endmayr
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Gregor Kasprian
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia Krebs
- Department of Cellular & Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Johannes Haybaeck
- Department of Pathology, Neuropathology and Molecular Pathology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria; Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, Austria; Department of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guerecke University Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Rauscher
- UBC MRI Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pediatrics (Division of Neurology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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23
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Möller HE, Bossoni L, Connor JR, Crichton RR, Does MD, Ward RJ, Zecca L, Zucca FA, Ronen I. Iron, Myelin, and the Brain: Neuroimaging Meets Neurobiology. Trends Neurosci 2019; 42:384-401. [PMID: 31047721 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2019.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although iron is crucial for neuronal functioning, many aspects of cerebral iron biology await clarification. The ability to quantify specific iron forms in the living brain would open new avenues for diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring, and understanding pathogenesis of diseases. A modality that allows assessment of brain tissue composition in vivo, in particular of iron deposits or myelin content on a submillimeter spatial scale, is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Multimodal strategies combining MRI with complementary analytical techniques ex vivo have emerged, which may lead to improved specificity. Interdisciplinary collaborations will be key to advance beyond simple correlative analyses in the biological interpretation of MRI data and to gain deeper insights into key factors leading to iron accumulation and/or redistribution associated with neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald E Möller
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstr. 1A, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Lucia Bossoni
- Department of Radiology, C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - James R Connor
- Department of Neurosurgery, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | | | - Mark D Does
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Roberta J Ward
- Centre for Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration, Department of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Luigi Zecca
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council of Italy, Segrate, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Fabio A Zucca
- Institute of Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council of Italy, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - Itamar Ronen
- Department of Radiology, C.J. Gorter Center for High Field MRI, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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24
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Cooper G, Finke C, Chien C, Brandt AU, Asseyer S, Ruprecht K, Bellmann-Strobl J, Paul F, Scheel M. Standardization of T1w/T2w Ratio Improves Detection of Tissue Damage in Multiple Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2019; 10:334. [PMID: 31024428 PMCID: PMC6465519 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal appearing white matter (NAWM) damage develops early in multiple sclerosis (MS) and continues in the absence of new lesions. The ratio of T1w and T2w (T1w/T2w ratio), a measure of white matter integrity, has previously shown reduced intensity values in MS NAWM. We evaluate the validity of a standardized T1w/T2w ratio (sT1w/T2w ratio) in MS and whether this method is sensitive in detecting MS-related differences in NAWM. T1w and T2w scans were acquired at 3 Tesla in 47 patients with relapsing-remitting MS and 47 matched controls (HC). T1w/T2w and sT1w/T2w ratios were then calculated. We compared between-group variability between T1w/T2w and sT1w/T2w ratio in HC and MS and assessed for group differences. We also evaluated the relationship between the T1w/T2w and sT1w/T2w ratios and clinically relevant variables. Compared to the classic T1w/T2w ratio, the between-subject variability in sT1w/T2w ratio showed a significant reduction in MS patients (p < 0.001) and HC (p < 0.001). However, only sT1w/T2w ratio values were reduced in patients compared to HC (p < 0.001). The sT1w/T2w ratio intensity values were significantly influenced by age, T2 lesion volume and group status (MS vs. HC) (adjusted R2 = 0.30, p < 0.001). We demonstrate the validity of the sT1w/T2w ratio in MS and that it is more sensitive to MS-related differences in NAWM compared to T1w/T2w ratio. The sT1w/T2w ratio shows promise as an easily-implemented measure of NAWM in MS using readily available scans and simple post-processing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Cooper
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Einstein Center for Neurosciences, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Finke
- Einstein Center for Neurosciences, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Chien
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander U Brandt
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Susanna Asseyer
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klemens Ruprecht
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Judith Bellmann-Strobl
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Friedemann Paul
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Einstein Center for Neurosciences, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Scheel
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Neuroradiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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25
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Filippi M, Brück W, Chard D, Fazekas F, Geurts JJG, Enzinger C, Hametner S, Kuhlmann T, Preziosa P, Rovira À, Schmierer K, Stadelmann C, Rocca MA. Association between pathological and MRI findings in multiple sclerosis. Lancet Neurol 2019; 18:198-210. [DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(18)30451-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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26
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Lee LE, Chan JK, Nevill E, Soares A, Vavasour IM, MacMillan EL, Garren H, Clayton D, Keegan BM, Tam R, Traboulsee AL, Kolind SH, Carruthers RL. Advanced imaging findings in progressive solitary sclerosis: a single lesion or a global disease? Mult Scler J Exp Transl Clin 2019; 5:2055217318824612. [PMID: 30729027 PMCID: PMC6350151 DOI: 10.1177/2055217318824612] [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: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Progressive solitary sclerosis is a unifocal demyelinating disease recently proposed as a possible multiple sclerosis variant. Objective To compare myelin content and brain metabolite ratio qualitatively in the normal-appearing white matter of progressive solitary sclerosis cases compared to multiple sclerosis and healthy control participants. Methods Case report. Results Progressive solitary sclerosis cases showed abnormal myelin in normal-appearing white matter tracts and global normal-appearing white matter as well as lower N-acetyl-aspartate to total creatine ratio compared to multiple sclerosis and healthy control groups. Conclusion Despite a single demyelinating lesion along the corticospinal tract in progressive solitary sclerosis, we showed evidence of more extensive abnormality within the normal-appearing white matter.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Roger Tam
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Shannon H Kolind
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robert L Carruthers
- Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of British Columbia, CanadaThe first two and final two authors contributed equally to the manuscript
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27
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Vertinsky AT, Li DK, Vavasour IM, Miropolsky V, Zhao G, Zhao Y, Riddehough A, Moore GW, Traboulsee A, Laule C. Diffusely Abnormal White Matter, T2
Burden of Disease, and Brain Volume in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis. J Neuroimaging 2018; 29:151-159. [DOI: 10.1111/jon.12574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra T. Vertinsky
- Department of Radiology; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - David K.B. Li
- Department of Radiology; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- UBC MS/MRI Research Group; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Department of Medicine (Neurology); University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Irene M. Vavasour
- Department of Radiology; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Vladislav Miropolsky
- Department of Radiology; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Guojun Zhao
- Department of Radiology; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- UBC MS/MRI Research Group; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Yinshan Zhao
- Department of Medicine (Neurology); University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Andrew Riddehough
- UBC MS/MRI Research Group; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - G.R. Wayne Moore
- Department of Medicine (Neurology); University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD); University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Anthony Traboulsee
- UBC MS/MRI Research Group; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Department of Medicine (Neurology); University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Department of Radiology; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD); University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Department of Physics and Astronomy; University of British Columbia; Vancouver British Columbia Canada
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28
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Choi JY, Jeong IH, Oh S, Oh C, Park NY, Kim HJ, Lee J. Evaluation of Normal‐Appearing White Matter in Multiple Sclerosis Using Direct Visualization of Short Transverse Relaxation Time Component (ViSTa) Myelin Water Imaging and Gradient Echo and Spin Echo (GRASE) Myelin Water Imaging. J Magn Reson Imaging 2018; 49:1091-1098. [DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Joon Yul Choi
- Laboratory for Imaging Science and Technology, Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringSeoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea
| | - In Hye Jeong
- Department of NeurologyResearch Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center Gyeonggi‐do Republic of Korea
| | - Se‐Hong Oh
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringHankuk University of Foreign Studies Gyeonggi‐do Republic of Korea
| | - Chang‐Hyun Oh
- Department of Electronics and Information EngineeringKorea University Sejong Republic of Korea
| | - Na Young Park
- Department of NeurologyResearch Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center Gyeonggi‐do Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Jin Kim
- Department of NeurologyResearch Institute and Hospital of National Cancer Center Gyeonggi‐do Republic of Korea
| | - Jongho Lee
- Laboratory for Imaging Science and Technology, Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringSeoul National University Seoul Republic of Korea
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29
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Laule C, Moore GW. Myelin water imaging to detect demyelination and remyelination and its validation in pathology. Brain Pathol 2018; 28:750-764. [PMID: 30375119 PMCID: PMC8028667 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Damage to myelin is a key feature of multiple sclerosis (MS) pathology. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has revolutionized our ability to detect and monitor MS pathology in vivo. Proton density, T1 and T2 can provide qualitative contrast weightings that yield superb in vivo visualization of central nervous system tissue and have proved invaluable as diagnostic and patient management tools in MS. However, standard clinical MR methods are not specific to the types of tissue damage they visualize, and they cannot detect subtle abnormalities in tissue that appears otherwise normal on conventional MRIs. Myelin water imaging is an MR method that provides in vivo measurement of myelin. Histological validation work in both human brain and spinal cord tissue demonstrates a strong correlation between myelin water and staining for myelin, validating myelin water as a marker for myelin. Myelin water varies throughout the brain and spinal cord in healthy controls, and shows good intra- and inter-site reproducibility. MS plaques show variably decreased myelin water fraction, with older lesions demonstrating the greatest myelin loss. Longitudinal study of myelin water can provide insights into the dynamics of demyelination and remyelination in plaques. Normal appearing brain and spinal cord tissues show reduced myelin water, an abnormality which becomes progressively more evident over a timescale of years. Diffusely abnormal white matter, which is evident in 20%-25% of MS patients, also shows reduced myelin water both in vivo and postmortem, and appears to originate from a primary lipid abnormality with relative preservation of myelin proteins. Active research is ongoing in the quest to refine our ability to image myelin and its perturbations in MS and other disorders of the myelin sheath.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Laule
- RadiologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Pathology & Laboratory MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Physics & AstronomyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD)University of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
| | - G.R. Wayne Moore
- Pathology & Laboratory MedicineUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD)University of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
- Medicine (Neurology)University of British ColumbiaVancouverBCCanada
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30
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Vavasour IM, Tam R, Li DKB, Laule C, Taylor C, Kolind SH, MacKay AL, Javed A, Traboulsee A. A 24-month advanced magnetic resonance imaging study of multiple sclerosis patients treated with alemtuzumab. Mult Scler 2018; 25:811-818. [DOI: 10.1177/1352458518770085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Tissue damage in both multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) are important contributors to disability and progression. Specific aspects of MS pathology can be measured using advanced imaging. Alemtuzumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting CD52 developed for MS treatment. Objective: To investigate changes over 2 years of advanced magnetic resonance (MR) metrics in lesions and NAWM of MS patients treated with alemtuzumab. Methods: A total of 42 relapsing–remitting alemtuzumab-treated MS subjects were scanned for 2 years at 3 T. T1 relaxation, T2 relaxation, diffusion tensor, MR spectroscopy and volumetric sequences were performed. Mean T1 and myelin water fraction (MWF) were determined for stable lesions, new lesions and NAWM. Fractional anisotropy was calculated for the corpus callosum (CC) and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentration was determined from a large NAWM voxel. Brain parenchymal fraction (BPF), cortical thickness and CC area were also calculated. Results: No change in any MR measurement was found in lesions or NAWM over 24 months. BPF, cortical thickness and CC area all showed decreases in the first year followed by stability in the second year. Conclusion: Advanced MR biomarkers of myelin (MWF) and neuron/axons (NAA) show no change in NAWM over 24 months in alemtuzumab-treated MS participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene M Vavasour
- Department of Radiology and UBC MRI Research Centre, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Roger Tam
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/School of Biomedical Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David KB Li
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cornelia Laule
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Carolyn Taylor
- Department of Statistics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shannon H Kolind
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Alex L MacKay
- Department of Radiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada/Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Adil Javed
- Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Anthony Traboulsee
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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31
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Uddin MN, Figley TD, Marrie RA, Figley CR. Can T 1 w/T 2 w ratio be used as a myelin-specific measure in subcortical structures? Comparisons between FSE-based T 1 w/T 2 w ratios, GRASE-based T 1 w/T 2 w ratios and multi-echo GRASE-based myelin water fractions. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2018; 31:e3868. [PMID: 29315894 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Given the growing popularity of T1 -weighted/T2 -weighted (T1 w/T2 w) ratio measurements, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the concordance between T1 w/T2 w ratios obtained using conventional fast spin echo (FSE) versus combined gradient and spin echo (GRASE) sequences for T2 w image acquisition, and to compare the resulting T1 w/T2 w ratios with histologically validated myelin water fraction (MWF) measurements in several subcortical brain structures. In order to compare these measurements across a relatively wide range of myelin concentrations, whole-brain T1 w magnetization prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo (MPRAGE), T2 w FSE and three-dimensional multi-echo GRASE data were acquired from 10 participants with multiple sclerosis at 3 T. Then, after high-dimensional, non-linear warping, region of interest (ROI) analyses were performed to compare T1 w/T2 w ratios and MWF estimates (across participants and brain regions) in 11 bilateral white matter (WM) and four bilateral subcortical grey matter (SGM) structures extracted from the JHU_MNI_SS 'Eve' atlas. Although the GRASE sequence systematically underestimated T1 w/T2 w values compared to the FSE sequence (revealed by Bland-Altman and mountain plots), linear regressions across participants and ROIs revealed consistently high correlations between the two methods (r2 = 0.62 for all ROIs, r2 = 0.62 for WM structures and r2 = 0.73 for SGM structures). However, correlations between either FSE-based or GRASE-based T1 w/T2 w ratios and MWFs were extremely low in WM structures (FSE-based, r2 = 0.000020; GRASE-based, r2 = 0.0014), low across all ROIs (FSE-based, r2 = 0.053; GRASE-based, r2 = 0.029) and moderate in SGM structures (FSE-based, r2 = 0.20; GRASE-based, r2 = 0.17). Overall, our findings indicated a high degree of correlation (but not equivalence) between FSE-based and GRASE-based T1 w/T2 w ratios, and low correlations between T1 w/T2 w ratios and MWFs. This suggests that the two T1 w/T2 w ratio approaches measure similar facets of subcortical tissue microstructure, whereas T1 w/T2 w ratios and MWFs appear to be sensitized to different microstructural properties. On this basis, we conclude that multi-echo GRASE sequences can be used in future studies to efficiently elucidate both general (T1 w/T2 w ratio) and myelin-specific (MWF) tissue characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Nasir Uddin
- Department of Radiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Neuroscience Research Program, Kleysen Institute for Advanced Medicine, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Teresa D Figley
- Department of Radiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Neuroscience Research Program, Kleysen Institute for Advanced Medicine, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Ruth Ann Marrie
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Chase R Figley
- Department of Radiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Neuroscience Research Program, Kleysen Institute for Advanced Medicine, Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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32
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Does MD. Inferring brain tissue composition and microstructure via MR relaxometry. Neuroimage 2018; 182:136-148. [PMID: 29305163 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.12.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Revised: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
MRI relaxometry is sensitive to a variety of tissue characteristics in a complex manner, which makes it both attractive and challenging for characterizing tissue. This article reviews the most common water proton relaxometry measures, T1, T2, and T2*, and reports on their development and current potential to probe the composition and microstructure of brain tissue. The development of these relaxometry measures is challenged by the need for suitably accurate tissue models, as well as robust acquisition and analysis methodologies. MRI relaxometry has been established as a tool for characterizing neural tissue, particular with respect to myelination, and the potential for further development exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D Does
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA; Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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