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van der Heide FCT, Steens ILM, Limmen B, Mokhtar S, van Boxtel MPJ, Schram MT, Köhler S, Kroon AA, van der Kallen CJH, Dagnelie PC, van Dongen MCJM, Eussen SJPM, Berendschot TTJM, Webers CAB, van Greevenbroek MMJ, Koster A, van Sloten TT, Jansen JFA, Backes WH, Stehouwer CDA. Thinner inner retinal layers are associated with lower cognitive performance, lower brain volume, and altered white matter network structure-The Maastricht Study. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:316-329. [PMID: 37611119 PMCID: PMC10917009 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The retina may provide non-invasive, scalable biomarkers for monitoring cerebral neurodegeneration. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from The Maastricht study (n = 3436; mean age 59.3 years; 48% men; and 21% with type 2 diabetes [the latter oversampled by design]). We evaluated associations of retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and inner plexiform layer thicknesses with cognitive performance and magnetic resonance imaging indices (global grey and white matter volume, hippocampal volume, whole brain node degree, global efficiency, clustering coefficient, and local efficiency). RESULTS After adjustment, lower thicknesses of most inner retinal layers were significantly associated with worse cognitive performance, lower grey and white matter volume, lower hippocampal volume, and worse brain white matter network structure assessed from lower whole brain node degree, lower global efficiency, higher clustering coefficient, and higher local efficiency. DISCUSSION The retina may provide biomarkers that are informative of cerebral neurodegenerative changes in the pathobiology of dementia.
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Grants
- 31O.041 OP-Zuid, the Province of Limburg, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs
- Stichting De Weijerhorst (Maastricht, the Netherlands), the Pearl String Initiative Diabetes (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), the Cardiovascular Center (CVC, Maastricht, the Netherlands), CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases (Maastricht, the Netherlands), CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care (Maastricht, the Netherlands), NUTRIM School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (Maastricht, the Netherlands), Stichting Annadal (Maastricht, the Netherlands), Health Foundation Limburg (Maastricht, the Netherlands), Perimed (Järfälla, Sweden), and by unrestricted grants from Janssen-Cilag B.V. (Tilburg, the Netherlands), Novo Nordisk Farma B.V. (Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands), and Sanofi-Aventis Netherlands B.V. (Gouda, the Netherlands)
- 916.19.074 VENI research
- 2018T025 Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development, and a Dutch Heart Foundation research
- 2021.81.004 Diabetes Fonds Fellowship
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Nunes A, Serranho P, Guimarães P, Ferreira J, Castelo-Branco M, Bernardes R. When Sex Matters: Differences in the Central Nervous System as Imaged by OCT through the Retina. J Imaging 2023; 10:6. [PMID: 38248991 PMCID: PMC10817590 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging10010006] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retinal texture has gained momentum as a source of biomarkers of neurodegeneration, as it is sensitive to subtle differences in the central nervous system from texture analysis of the neuroretina. Sex differences in the retina structure, as detected by layer thickness measurements from optical coherence tomography (OCT) data, have been discussed in the literature. However, the effect of sex on retinal interocular differences in healthy adults has been overlooked and remains largely unreported. METHODS We computed mean value fundus images for the neuroretina layers as imaged by OCT of healthy individuals. Texture metrics were obtained from these images to assess whether women and men have the same retina texture characteristics in both eyes. Texture features were tested for group mean differences between the right and left eye. RESULTS Corrected texture differences exist only in the female group. CONCLUSIONS This work illustrates that the differences between the right and left eyes manifest differently in females and males. This further supports the need for tight control and minute analysis in studies where interocular asymmetry may be used as a disease biomarker, and the potential of texture analysis applied to OCT imaging to spot differences in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Nunes
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.N.)
| | - Pedro Serranho
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.N.)
- Department of Sciences and Technology, Universidade Aberta, 1269-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Guimarães
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.N.)
| | - João Ferreira
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3030-201 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.N.)
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Bernardes
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), Institute of Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.N.)
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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Ashraf G, McGuinness M, Khan MA, Obtinalla C, Hadoux X, van Wijngaarden P. Retinal imaging biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies using brain amyloid beta status for case definition. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 15:e12421. [PMID: 37250908 PMCID: PMC10210353 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Introduction We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between retinal imaging parameters and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus were systematically searched for prospective and observational studies. Included studies had AD case definition based on brain amyloid beta (Aβ) status. Study quality assessment was performed. Random-effects meta-analyses of standardized mean difference, correlation, and diagnostic accuracy were conducted. Results Thirty-eight studies were included. There was weak evidence of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thinning on optical coherence tomography (OCT) (p = 0.14, 11 studies, n = 828), increased foveal avascular zone area on OCT-angiography (p = 0.18, four studies, n = 207), and reduced arteriole and venule vessel fractal dimension on fundus photography (p < 0.001 and p = 0.08, respectively, three studies, n = 297) among AD cases. Discussion Retinal imaging parameters appear to be associated with AD. Small study sizes and heterogeneity in imaging methods and reporting make it difficult to determine utility of these changes as AD biomarkers. Highlights We performed a systematic review on retinal imaging and Alzheimer's disease (AD).We only included studies in which cases were based on brain amyloid beta status.Several retinal biomarkers were associated with AD but clinical utility is uncertain.Studies should focus on biomarker-defined AD and use standardized imaging methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gizem Ashraf
- Centre for Eye Research AustraliaRoyal Victorian Eye and Ear HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- OphthalmologyDepartment of SurgeryUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Myra McGuinness
- Centre for Eye Research AustraliaRoyal Victorian Eye and Ear HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Centre for Epidemiology and BiostatisticsMelbourne School of Population and Global HealthUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Muhammad Azaan Khan
- Faculty of Medicine and HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Czarina Obtinalla
- Discipline of OrthopticsSchool of Allied HealthHuman Services & SportCollege of ScienceHealth & EngineeringLa Trobe UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Xavier Hadoux
- Centre for Eye Research AustraliaRoyal Victorian Eye and Ear HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Centre for Eye Research AustraliaRoyal Victorian Eye and Ear HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- OphthalmologyDepartment of SurgeryUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
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Retinal Neurodegeneration Measured With Optical Coherence Tomography and Neuroimaging in Alzheimer Disease: A Systematic Review. J Neuroophthalmol 2023; 43:116-125. [PMID: 36255105 DOI: 10.1097/wno.0000000000001673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has enabled several retinal alterations to be detected in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), alterations that could be potential biomarkers. However, the relationship between the retina and other biomarkers of AD has been underresearched. We gathered and analyzed the literature about the relationship between retinal and cerebral alterations detected via neuroimaging in patients with AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and preclinical AD. METHODS This systematic review followed the PRISMA Statement guidelines through the 27 items on its checklist. We searched in PubMed, BVS, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, using the keywords: Alzheimer's disease, optical coherence tomography, white matter, cortex, atrophy, cortical thickness, neuroimaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. We included articles that studied the retina in relation to neuroimaging in patients with AD, MCI, and preclinical AD. We excluded studies without OCT, without neuroimaging, clinical cases, opinion articles, systematic reviews, and animal studies. RESULTS Of a total of 35 articles found, 23 were finally included. Although mixed results were found, most of these corroborate the relationship between retinal and brain disorders. CONCLUSIONS More rigorous research is needed in the field, including homogenized, longitudinal, and prolonged follow-up studies, as well as studies that include all stages of AD. This will enable better understanding of the retina and its implications in AD, leading to the discovery of retinal biomarkers that reflect brain alterations in AD patients in an accessible and noninvasive manner.
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Wang L, Hu Z, Chen H, Sheng X, Qin R, Shao P, Yang Z, Yao W, Zhao H, Xu Y, Bai F. Applying Retinal Vascular Structures Characteristics Coupling with Cortical Visual System in Alzheimer's Disease Spectrum Patients. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020339. [PMID: 36831883 PMCID: PMC9954049 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical visual system dysfunction is closely related to the progression of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), while retinal vascular structures play an important role in the integrity of the function of the visual network and are a potential biomarker of AD. This study explored the association between the cortical visual system and retinal vascular structures in AD-spectrum patients, and it established a screening tool to detect preclinical AD based on these parameters identified in a retinal examination. A total of 42 subjects were enrolled and were distributed into two groups: 22 patients with cognitive impairment and 20 healthy controls. All participants underwent neuropsychological tests, optical coherence tomography angiography and resting-state fMRI imaging. Seed-based functional connectivity analysis was used to construct the cortical visual network. The association of functional connectivity of the cortical visual system and retinal vascular structures was further explored in these subjects. This study found that the cognitive impairment group displayed prominently decreased functional connectivity of the cortical visual system mainly involving the right inferior temporal gyrus, left supramarginal gyrus and right postcentral gyrus. Meanwhile, we observed that retinal vascular structure characteristics deteriorated with the decline in functional connectivity in the cortical visual system. Our study provided novel insights into the aberrant cortical visual system in patients with cognitive impairment that strongly emphasized the critical role of retinal vascular structure characteristics, which could be used as potential biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianlian Wang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Jiangsu University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zheqi Hu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Haifeng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Xiaoning Sheng
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Ruomeng Qin
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Pengfei Shao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhiyuan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Weina Yao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Jiangsu University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Feng Bai
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital of the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Brain Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
- Geriatric Medicine Center, Affiliated Taikang Xianlin Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-25-83105960
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Hao X, Zhang W, Jiao B, Yang Q, Zhang X, Chen R, Wang X, Xiao X, Zhu Y, Liao W, Wang D, Shen L. Correlation between retinal structure and brain multimodal magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1088829. [PMID: 36909943 PMCID: PMC9992546 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1088829] [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: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The retina imaging and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can both reflect early changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may serve as potential biomarker for early diagnosis, but their correlation and the internal mechanism of retinal structural changes remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the possible correlation between retinal structure and visual pathway, brain structure, intrinsic activity changes in AD patients, as well as to build a classification model to identify AD patients. Methods In the study, 49 AD patients and 48 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. Retinal images were obtained by optical coherence tomography (OCT). Multimodal MRI sequences of all subjects were collected. Spearman correlation analysis and multiple linear regression models were used to assess the correlation between OCT parameters and multimodal MRI findings. The diagnostic value of combination of retinal imaging and brain multimodal MRI was assessed by performing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Compared with HCs, retinal thickness and multimodal MRI findings of AD patients were significantly altered (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were presented between the fractional anisotropy (FA) value of optic tract and mean retinal thickness, macular volume, macular ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness, inner plexiform layer (IPL) thickness in AD patients (p < 0.01). The fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (fALFF) value of primary visual cortex (V1) was correlated with temporal quadrant peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness (p < 0.05). The model combining thickness of GCL and temporal quadrant pRNFL, volume of hippocampus and lateral geniculate nucleus, and age showed the best performance to identify AD patients [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.936, sensitivity = 89.1%, specificity = 87.0%]. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that retinal structure change was related to the loss of integrity of white matter fiber tracts in the visual pathway and the decreased LGN volume and functional metabolism of V1 in AD patients. Trans-synaptic axonal retrograde lesions may be the underlying mechanism. Combining retinal imaging and multimodal MRI may provide new insight into the mechanism of retinal structural changes in AD and may serve as new target for early auxiliary diagnosis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Hao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Jiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qijie Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ruiting Chen
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuewen Xiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weihua Liao
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dongcui Wang
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Engineering Research Center of Hunan Province in Cognitive Impairment Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
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Zang C, Liu H, Ju C, Yuan F, Ning J, Shang M, Bao X, Yu Y, Yao X, Zhang D. Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis extract alleviated white matter damage through promoting the differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells via suppressing neuroinflammation. Food Funct 2022; 13:2131-2141. [PMID: 35112688 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo02127c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence has highlighted the role of white matter damage in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previous research has shown that a mixture of crocin analogues (GJ-4), Gardenia jasminoides J. Ellis extract, improved cognition in several AD mouse models, but the mechanism remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of GJ-4 on white matter damage. Proteomic analysis and western blotting results suggested that the level of myelin-related proteins, including myelin basic protein (MBP), myelin associated glycoprotein (MAG) and myelin associated oligodendrocyte basic protein (MOBP), was significantly decreased in the brain of PrP-hAβPPswe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) transgenic mice, and GJ-4 treatment increased the expressions of these proteins. This result revealed that GJ-4 could ameliorate myelin injury, suggesting that this might be a possible mechanism of GJ-4 on cognition. To validate the effects of GJ-4 on myelin, a metabolite of GJ-4, crocetin, which can pass through the blood-brain barrier, was applied in in vitro experiments. A mechanistic study revealed that crocetin significantly promoted the differentiation of primary cultured oligodendrocyte precursor cells to oligodendrocytes through up-regulation of nuclear Ki67 and transcription factor 2 (Olig2). Oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells, have been reported to be lifelong partners of neurons. Therefore, to investigate the effects of crocetin on myelin and neurons, lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-treated primary mixed midbrain neuronal/glial culture was used. Immunofluorescence results indicated that crocetin treatment protected neurons and suppressed microglial activation against LPC-induced injury. To further discern the effects of GJ-4 on white matter injury and neuroinflammation, an LPC-induced mouse model was developed. GJ-4 administration increased oligodendrocyte proliferation, differentiation, and myelin repair. The mechanistic study indicated that GJ-4 improved white matter injury through the regulation of neuroinflammatory dysfunction. These data indicated that GJ-4 effectively repaired white matter damage in the LPC-treated mice. Thus, the present study supported GJ-4 as a potential therapeutic agent for AD and white matter related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caixia Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Cheng Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Fangyu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Jingwen Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Meiyu Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Xiuqi Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Yang Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Xinsheng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China.
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Xia N, Li Y, Xue Y, Li W, Zhang Z, Wen C, Li J, Ye Q. Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging in the characterization of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Imaging Behav 2021; 16:617-626. [PMID: 34480258 DOI: 10.1007/s11682-021-00538-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, and characterizing brain changes in AD is important for clinical diagnosis and prognosis. This study was designed to evaluate the classification performance of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging in differentiating between AD patients and normal control (NC) subjects and to explore its potential effectiveness as a neuroimaging biomarker. METHODS Thirty-one patients with probable AD and twenty NC subjects were included in the prospective study. IVIM data were subjected to postprocessing, and parameters including the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), slow diffusion coefficient (Ds), fast diffusion coefficient (Df), perfusion fraction (fp) and Df*fp were calculated. The classification model was developed and confirmed with cross-validation (group A/B) using Support Vector Machine (SVM). Correlations between IVIM parameters and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores in AD patients were investigated using partial correlation analysis. RESULTS Diffusion MRI revealed significant region-specific differences that aided in differentiating AD patients from controls. Among the analyzed regions and parameters, the Df of the right precuneus (PreR) (ρ = 0.515; P = 0.006) and the left cerebellum (CL) (ρ = 0.429; P = 0.026) demonstrated significant associations with the cognitive function of AD patients. An area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.99) was calculated for the validation in dataset B after the prediction model was trained on dataset A. When the datasets were reversed, an AUC of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.75, 1.00) was calculated for the validation in dataset A, after the prediction model trained in dataset B. CONCLUSION IVIM imaging is a promising method for the classification of AD and NC subjects, and IVIM parameters of precuneus and cerebellum might be effective biomarker for the diagnosis of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nengzhi Xia
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanxuan Li
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingnan Xue
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Weikang Li
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenhua Zhang
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Caiyun Wen
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiance Li
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Ye
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People's Republic of China. .,High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, People's Republic of China.
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9
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Past, present and future role of retinal imaging in neurodegenerative disease. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 83:100938. [PMID: 33460813 PMCID: PMC8280255 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Retinal imaging technology is rapidly advancing and can provide ever-increasing amounts of information about the structure, function and molecular composition of retinal tissue in humans in vivo. Most importantly, this information can be obtained rapidly, non-invasively and in many cases using Food and Drug Administration-approved devices that are commercially available. Technologies such as optical coherence tomography have dramatically changed our understanding of retinal disease and in many cases have significantly improved their clinical management. Since the retina is an extension of the brain and shares a common embryological origin with the central nervous system, there has also been intense interest in leveraging the expanding armamentarium of retinal imaging technology to understand, diagnose and monitor neurological diseases. This is particularly appealing because of the high spatial resolution, relatively low-cost and wide availability of retinal imaging modalities such as fundus photography or OCT compared to brain imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography. The purpose of this article is to review and synthesize current research about retinal imaging in neurodegenerative disease by providing examples from the literature and elaborating on limitations, challenges and future directions. We begin by providing a general background of the most relevant retinal imaging modalities to ensure that the reader has a foundation on which to understand the clinical studies that are subsequently discussed. We then review the application and results of retinal imaging methodologies to several prevalent neurodegenerative diseases where extensive work has been done including sporadic late onset Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's Disease. We also discuss Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease and cerebrovascular small vessel disease, where the application of retinal imaging holds promise but data is currently scarce. Although cerebrovascular disease is not generally considered a neurodegenerative process, it is both a confounder and contributor to neurodegenerative disease processes that requires more attention. Finally, we discuss ongoing efforts to overcome the limitations in the field and unmet clinical and scientific needs.
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Jorge L, Martins R, Canário N, Xavier C, Abrunhosa A, Santana I, Castelo-Branco M. Investigating the Spatial Associations Between Amyloid-β Deposition, Grey Matter Volume, and Neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 80:113-132. [PMID: 33523050 PMCID: PMC8075404 DOI: 10.3233/jad-200840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: It has been proposed that amyloid-β (Aβ) plays a causal role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by triggering a series of pathologic events—possibly including neuroinflammation—which culminate in progressive brain atrophy. However, the interplay between the two pathological molecular events and how both are associated with neurodegeneration is still unclear. Objective: We aimed to estimate the spatial inter-relationship between neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and Aβ deposition in a cohort of 20 mild AD patients and 17 healthy controls (HC). Methods: We resorted to magnetic resonance imaging to measure cortical atrophy, using the radiotracer 11C-PK11195 PET to measure neuroinflammation levels and 11C-PiB PET to assess Aβ levels. Between-group comparisons were computed to explore AD-related changes in the three types of markers. To examine the effects of each one of the molecular pathologic mechanisms on neurodegeneration we computed: 1) ANCOVAs with the anatomic data, controlling for radiotracer uptake differences between groups and 2) voxel-based multiple regression analysis between-modalities. In addition, associations in anatomically defined regions of interests were also investigated. Results: We found significant differences between AD and controls in the levels of atrophy, neuroinflammation, and Aβ deposition. Associations between Aβ aggregation and brain atrophy were detected in AD in a widely distributed pattern, whereas associations between microglia activation and structural measures of neurodegeneration were restricted to few anatomically regions. Conclusion: In summary, Aβ deposition, as opposed to neuroinflammation, was more associated with cortical atrophy, suggesting a prominent role of Aβ in neurodegeneration at a mild stage of the AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lília Jorge
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Martins
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nádia Canário
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carolina Xavier
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Antero Abrunhosa
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Isabel Santana
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Department of Neurology, Coimbra University Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Nuclear Sciences Applied to Health (ICNAS), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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The Retinal Inner Plexiform Synaptic Layer Mirrors Grey Matter Thickness of Primary Visual Cortex with Increased Amyloid β Load in Early Alzheimer's Disease. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:8826087. [PMID: 33014034 PMCID: PMC7525303 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8826087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The retina may serve as putative window into neuropathology of synaptic loss in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated synapse-rich layers versus layers composed by nuclei/cell bodies in an early stage of AD. In addition, we examined the associations between retinal changes and molecular and structural markers of cortical damage. We recruited 20 AD patients and 17 healthy controls (HC). Combining optical coherence tomography (OCT), magnetic resonance (MR), and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, we measured retinal and primary visual cortex (V1) thicknesses, along with V1 amyloid β (Aβ) retention ([11C]-PiB PET tracer) and neuroinflammation ([11C]-PK11195 PET tracer). We found that V1 showed increased amyloid-binding potential, in the absence of neuroinflammation. Although thickness changes were still absent, we identified a positive association between the synapse-rich inner plexiform layer (IPL) and V1 in AD. This retinocortical interplay might reflect changes in synaptic function resulting from Aβ deposition, contributing to early visual loss.
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