1
|
Cheng C, Lu CF, Hsieh BY, Huang SH, Kao YCJ. Anisotropy component of DTI reveals long-term neuroinflammation following repetitive mild traumatic brain injury in rats. Eur Radiol Exp 2024; 8:82. [PMID: 39046630 PMCID: PMC11269550 DOI: 10.1186/s41747-024-00490-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the long-term effects of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury (rmTBI) with varying inter-injury intervals by measuring diffusion tensor metrics, including mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), and diffusion magnitude (L) and pure anisotropy (q). METHODS Eighteen rats were randomly divided into three groups: short-interval rmTBI (n = 6), long-interval rmTBI (n = 6), and sham controls (n = 6). MD, FA, L, and q values were analyzed from longitudinal diffusion tensor imaging at days 50 and 90 after rmTBI. Immunohistochemical staining against neurons, astrocytes, microglia, and myelin was performed. Analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficient, and simple linear regression model were used. RESULTS At day 50 post-rmTBI, lower cortical FA and q values were shown in the short-interval group (p ≤ 0.038). In contrast, higher FA and q values were shown for the long-interval group (p ≤ 0.039) in the corpus callosum. In the ipsilesional external capsule and internal capsule, no significant changes were found in FA, while lower L and q values were shown in the short-interval group (p ≤ 0.028) at day 90. The q values in the external capsule and internal capsule were negatively correlated with the number of microglial cells and the total number of astroglial cells (p ≤ 0.035). CONCLUSION Tensor scalar measurements, such as L and q values, are sensitive to exacerbated chronic injury induced by rmTBI with shorter inter-injury intervals and reflect long-term astrogliosis induced by the cumulative injury. RELEVANCE STATEMENT Tensor scalar measurements, including L and q values, are potential DTI metrics for detecting long-term and subtle injury following rmTBI; in particular, q values may be used for quantifying remote white matter (WM) changes following rmTBI. KEY POINTS The alteration of L and q values was demonstrated after chronic repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Changing q values were observed in the impact site and remote WM. The lower q values in the remote WM were associated with astrogliosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ching Cheng
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Feng Lu
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bao-Yu Hsieh
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Imaging and Intervention, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Hui Huang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chieh Jill Kao
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Meng Y, Li CX, Zhang X. Quantitative Evaluation of Oxygen Extraction Fraction Changes in the Monkey Brain during Acute Stroke by Using Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1008. [PMID: 37109537 PMCID: PMC10146121 DOI: 10.3390/life13041008] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) indicates the brain's oxygen consumption and can be estimated by using the quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) MRI technique. Recent studies have suggested that OEF alteration following stroke is associated with the viability of at-risk tissue. In the present study, the temporal evolution of OEF in the monkey brain during acute stroke was investigated using QSM. METHODS Ischemic stroke was induced in adult rhesus monkeys (n = 8) with permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) by using an interventional approach. Diffusion-, T2-, and T2*-weighted images were conducted on day 0, day 2, and day 4 post-stroke using a clinical 3T scanner. Progressive changes in magnetic susceptibility and OEF, along with their correlations with the transverse relaxation rates and diffusion indices, were examined. RESULTS The magnetic susceptibility and OEF in injured gray matter of the brain significantly increased during the hyperacute phase, and then decreased significantly on day 2 and day 4. Moreover, the temporal changes of OEF in gray matter were moderately correlated with mean diffusivity (MD) (r = 0.52; p = 0.046) from day 0 to day 4. Magnetic susceptibility in white matter progressively increased (from negative values to near zero) during acute stroke, and significant increases were seen on day 2 (p = 0.08) and day 4 (p = 0.003) when white matter was significantly degenerated. However, significant reduction of OEF in white matter was not seen until day 4 post-stroke. CONCLUSION The preliminary results demonstrate that QSM-derived OEF is a robust approach to examine the progressive changes of gray matter in the ischemic brain from the hyperacute phase to the subacute phase of stroke. The changes of OEF in gray matter were more prominent than those in white matter following stroke insult. The findings suggest that QSM-derived OEF may provide complementary information for understanding the neuropathology of the brain tissue following stroke and predicting stroke outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuguang Meng
- EPC Imaging Center, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Chun-Xia Li
- EPC Imaging Center, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- EPC Imaging Center, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases, Emory National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Havlicek DF, Furhang R, Nikulina E, Smith-Salzberg B, Lawless S, Severin SA, Mallaboeva S, Nayab F, Seifert AC, Crary JF, Bergold PJ. A single closed head injury in male adult mice induces chronic, progressive white matter atrophy and increased phospho-tau expressing oligodendrocytes. Exp Neurol 2023; 359:114241. [PMID: 36240881 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) acutely damages the brain; this injury can evolve into chronic neurodegeneration. While much is known about the chronic effects arising from multiple mild TBIs, far less is known about the long-term effects of a single moderate to severe TBI. We found that a single moderate closed head injury to mice induces diffuse axonal injury within 1-day post-injury (DPI). At 14 DPI, injured animals have atrophy of ipsilesional cortex, thalamus, and corpus callosum, with bilateral atrophy of the dorsal fornix. Atrophy of the ipsilesional corpus callosum is accompanied by decreased fractional anisotropy and increased mean and radial diffusivity that remains unchanged between 14 and 180 DPI. Injured animals show an increased density of phospho-tau immunoreactive (pTau+) cells in the ipsilesional cortex and thalamus, and bilaterally in corpus callosum. Between 14 and 180 DPI, atrophy occurs in the ipsilesional ventral fornix, contralesional corpus callosum, and bilateral internal capsule. Diffusion tensor MRI parameters remain unchanged in white matter regions with delayed atrophy. Between 14 and 180 DPI, pTau+ cell density increases bilaterally in corpus callosum, but decreases in cortex and thalamus. The location of pTau+ cells within the ipsilesional corpus callosum changes between 14 and 180 DPI; density of all cells increases including pTau+ or pTau- cells. >90% of the pTau+ cells are in the oligodendrocyte lineage in both gray and white matter. Density of thioflavin-S+ cells in thalamus increases by 180 DPI. These data suggest a single closed head impact produces multiple forms of chronic neurodegeneration. Gray and white matter regions proximal to the impact site undergo early atrophy. More distal white matter regions undergo chronic, progressive white matter atrophy with an increasing density of oligodendrocytes containing pTau. These data suggest a complex chronic neurodegenerative process arising from a single moderate closed head injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David F Havlicek
- School of Graduate Studies, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Rachel Furhang
- School of Graduate Studies, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Elena Nikulina
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Bayle Smith-Salzberg
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Siobhán Lawless
- School of Graduate Studies, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Sasha A Severin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Sevara Mallaboeva
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Fizza Nayab
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America
| | - Alan C Seifert
- Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - John F Crary
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Peter J Bergold
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, United States of America.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yendiki A, Aggarwal M, Axer M, Howard AF, van Cappellen van Walsum AM, Haber SN. Post mortem mapping of connectional anatomy for the validation of diffusion MRI. Neuroimage 2022; 256:119146. [PMID: 35346838 PMCID: PMC9832921 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a unique tool for the study of brain circuitry, as it allows us to image both the macroscopic trajectories and the microstructural properties of axon bundles in vivo. The Human Connectome Project ushered in an era of impressive advances in dMRI acquisition and analysis. As a result of these efforts, the quality of dMRI data that could be acquired in vivo improved substantially, and large collections of such data became widely available. Despite this progress, the main limitation of dMRI remains: it does not image axons directly, but only provides indirect measurements based on the diffusion of water molecules. Thus, it must be validated by methods that allow direct visualization of axons but that can only be performed in post mortem brain tissue. In this review, we discuss methods for validating the various features of connectional anatomy that are extracted from dMRI, both at the macro-scale (trajectories of axon bundles), and at micro-scale (axonal orientations and other microstructural properties). We present a range of validation tools, including anatomic tracer studies, Klingler's dissection, myelin stains, label-free optical imaging techniques, and others. We provide an overview of the basic principles of each technique, its limitations, and what it has taught us so far about the accuracy of different dMRI acquisition and analysis approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Yendiki
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States,Corresponding author (A. Yendiki)
| | - Manisha Aggarwal
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Markus Axer
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, Jülich, Germany,Department of Physics, University of Wuppertal Germany
| | - Amy F.D. Howard
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anne-Marie van Cappellen van Walsum
- Department of Medical Imaging, Anatomy, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherland,Cognition and Behaviour, Donders Institute for Brain, Nijmegen, the Netherland
| | - Suzanne N. Haber
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, United States,McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gatto RG, Jelescu IO, Vegh V. Editorial: Translatable Models and MRI Methods for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:919860. [PMID: 35600630 PMCID: PMC9117737 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.919860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo G. Gatto
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- *Correspondence: Rodolfo G. Gatto ; ; orcid.org/0000-0003-2170-6662
| | - Ileana O. Jelescu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ileana O. Jelescu ; orcid.org/0000-0002-3664-0195
| | - Viktor Vegh
- Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- ARC Training Centre for Innovation in Biomedical Imaging Technology (CIBIT), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Viktor Vegh
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hutchinson E, Osting S, Rutecki P, Sutula T. Diffusion Tensor Orientation as a Microstructural MRI Marker of Mossy Fiber Sprouting After TBI in Rats. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2021; 81:27-47. [PMID: 34865073 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlab123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics are highly sensitive to microstructural brain alterations and are potentially useful imaging biomarkers for underlying neuropathologic changes after experimental and human traumatic brain injury (TBI). As potential imaging biomarkers require direct correlation with neuropathologic alterations for validation and interpretation, this study systematically examined neuropathologic abnormalities underlying alterations in DTI metrics in the hippocampus and cortex following controlled cortical impact (CCI) in rats. Ex vivo DTI metrics were directly compared with a comprehensive histologic battery for neurodegeneration, microgliosis, astrocytosis, and mossy fiber sprouting by Timm histochemistry at carefully matched locations immediately, 48 hours, and 4 weeks after injury. DTI abnormalities corresponded to spatially overlapping but temporally distinct neuropathologic alterations representing an aggregate measure of dynamic tissue damage and reorganization. Prominent DTI alterations of were observed for both the immediate and acute intervals after injury and associated with neurodegeneration and inflammation. In the chronic period, diffusion tensor orientation in the hilus of the dentate gyrus became prominently abnormal and was identified as a reliable structural biomarker for mossy fiber sprouting after CCI in rats, suggesting potential application as a biomarker to follow secondary progression in experimental and human TBI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Hutchinson
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA (EH); and Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA (SO, PR, TS)
| | - Susan Osting
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA (EH); and Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA (SO, PR, TS)
| | - Paul Rutecki
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA (EH); and Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA (SO, PR, TS)
| | - Thomas Sutula
- From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA (EH); and Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA (SO, PR, TS)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Traumatic brain injury augurs ill for prolonged deficits in the brain's structural and functional integrity following controlled cortical impact injury. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21559. [PMID: 34732737 PMCID: PMC8566513 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00660-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous neuroimaging studies in rodents investigated effects of the controlled cortical impact (CCI) model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) within one-month post-TBI. This study extends this temporal window to monitor the structural–functional alterations from two hours to six months post-injury. Thirty-seven male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to TBI and sham groups, which were scanned at two hours, 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60 days, and six months following CCI or sham surgery. Structural MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were acquired to assess the dynamic structural, microstructural, and functional connectivity alterations post-TBI. There was a progressive increase in lesion size associated with brain volume loss post-TBI. Furthermore, we observed reduced fractional anisotropy within 24 h and persisted to six months post-TBI, associated with acutely reduced axial diffusivity, and chronic increases in radial diffusivity post-TBI. Moreover, a time-dependent pattern of altered functional connectivity evolved over the six months’ follow-up post-TBI. This study extends the current understanding of the CCI model by confirming the long-term persistence of the altered microstructure and functional connectivity, which may hold a strong translational potential for understanding the long-term sequelae of TBI in humans.
Collapse
|
8
|
Lazari A, Lipp I. Can MRI measure myelin? Systematic review, qualitative assessment, and meta-analysis of studies validating microstructural imaging with myelin histology. Neuroimage 2021; 230:117744. [PMID: 33524576 PMCID: PMC8063174 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.117744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent years have seen an increased understanding of the importance of myelination in healthy brain function and neuropsychiatric diseases. Non-invasive microstructural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) holds the potential to expand and translate these insights to basic and clinical human research, but the sensitivity and specificity of different MR markers to myelination is a subject of debate. To consolidate current knowledge on the topic, we perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that validate microstructural imaging by combining it with myelin histology. We find meta-analytic evidence for correlations between various myelin histology metrics and markers from different MRI modalities, including fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, macromolecular pool, magnetization transfer ratio, susceptibility and longitudinal relaxation rate, but not mean diffusivity. Meta-analytic correlation effect sizes range widely, between R2 = 0.26 and R2 = 0.82. However, formal comparisons between MRI-based myelin markers are limited by methodological variability, inconsistent reporting and potential for publication bias, thus preventing the establishment of a single most sensitive strategy to measure myelin with MRI. To facilitate further progress, we provide a detailed characterisation of the evaluated studies as an online resource. We also share a set of 12 recommendations for future studies validating putative MR-based myelin markers and deploying them in vivo in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Lazari
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Ilona Lipp
- Department of Neurophysics, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Soni N, Medeiros R, Alateeq K, To XV, Nasrallah FA. Diffusion Tensor Imaging Detects Acute Pathology-Specific Changes in the P301L Tauopathy Mouse Model Following Traumatic Brain Injury. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:611451. [PMID: 33716645 PMCID: PMC7943881 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.611451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been linked with tauopathy. However, imaging methods that can non-invasively detect tau-protein abnormalities following TBI need further investigation. This study aimed to investigate the potential of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to detect tauopathy following TBI in P301L mutant-tau-transgenic-pR5-mice. A total of 24 9-month-old pR5 mice were randomly assigned to sham and TBI groups. Controlled cortical injuries/craniotomies were performed for TBI/sham groups followed by DTI data acquisition on days 1 and 7 post-injury. DTI data were analyzed by using voxelwise analysis and track-based spatial statistics for gray matter and white matter. Further, immunohistochemistry was performed for total-tau and phosphorylated-tau, astrocytes, and microglia. To detect the association of DTI with these pathological markers, a correlation analysis was performed between DTI and histology findings. At day 1 post-TBI, DTI revealed a widespread reduction in fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity (AxD) in the TBI group compared to shams. On day 7, further reduction in FA, AxD, and mean diffusivity and increased radial diffusivity were observed. FA was significantly increased in the amygdala and cortex. Correlation results showed that in the ipsilateral hemisphere FA reduction was associated with increased phosphorylated-tau and glial-immunoreactivity, whereas in the contralateral regions, the FA increase was associated with increased immunostaining for astrocytes. This study is the first to exploit DTI to investigate the effect of TBI in tau-transgenic mice. We show that alterations in the DTI signal were associated with glial activity following TBI and would most likely reflect changes that co-occur with/without phosphorylated-tau. In addition, FA may be a promising measure to identify discrete pathological processes such as increased astroglia activation, tau-hyperphosphorylation or both in the brain following TBI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Neha Soni
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Medeiros
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Khawlah Alateeq
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Xuan Vinh To
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Fatima A Nasrallah
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Brett BL, Koch KM, Muftuler LT, Budde M, McCrea MA, Meier TB. Association of Head Impact Exposure with White Matter Macrostructure and Microstructure Metrics. J Neurotrauma 2021; 38:474-484. [PMID: 33003979 PMCID: PMC7875606 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2020.7376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior studies have reported white matter abnormalities associated with a history of cumulative concussion and/or repetitive head impacts (RHI) in contact sport athletes. Growing evidence suggests these abnormalities may begin as more subtle changes earlier in life in active younger athletes. We investigated the relationship between prior concussion and contact sport exposure with multi-modal white matter microstructure and macrostructure using magnetic resonance imaging. High school and collegiate athletes (n = 121) completed up to four evaluations involving neuroimaging. Linear mixed-effects models examined associations of years of contact sport exposure (i.e., RHI proxy) and prior concussion across multiple metrics of white matter, including total white matter volume, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics, diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics, and quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM). A significant inverse association between cumulative years of contact sport exposure and QSM was observed, F(1, 237.77) = 4.67, p = 0.032. Cumulative contact sport exposure was also associated with decreased radial diffusivity, F(1, 114.56) = 5.81, p = 0.018, as well as elevated fractional anisotropy, F(1, 115.32) = 5.40, p = 0.022, and radial kurtosis, F(1, 113.45) = 4.03, p = 0.047. In contrast, macroscopic white matter volume was not significantly associated with cumulative contact sport exposure (p > 0.05). Concussion history was not significantly associated with QSM, DTI, DKI, or white matter volume (all, p > 0.05). Cumulative contact sport exposure is associated with subtle differences in white matter microstructure, but not gross white matter macrostructure, in young active athletes. Longitudinal follow-up is required to assess the progression of these findings to determine their contribution to potential adverse effects later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin L. Brett
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma Research, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Kevin M. Koch
- Center for Neurotrauma Research, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Depertment of Radiology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Center for Imaging Research, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - L. Tugan Muftuler
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma Research, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Depertment of Radiology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Matthew Budde
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma Research, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Michael A. McCrea
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Neurology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma Research, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy B. Meier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Center for Neurotrauma Research, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
QSM as a new powerful tool for clinical practice in neuroimaging. J Neuroradiol 2021; 48:25-27. [PMID: 33549198 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurad.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
12
|
Keating CE, Cullen DK. Mechanosensation in traumatic brain injury. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 148:105210. [PMID: 33259894 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is distinct from other neurological disorders because it is induced by a discrete event that applies extreme mechanical forces to the brain. This review describes how the brain senses, integrates, and responds to forces under both normal conditions and during injury. The response to forces is influenced by the unique mechanical properties of brain tissue, which differ by region, cell type, and sub-cellular structure. Elements such as the extracellular matrix, plasma membrane, transmembrane receptors, and cytoskeleton influence its properties. These same components also act as force-sensors, allowing neurons and glia to respond to their physical environment and maintain homeostasis. However, when applied forces become too large, as in TBI, these components may respond in an aberrant manner or structurally fail, resulting in unique pathological sequelae. This so-called "pathological mechanosensation" represents a spectrum of cellular responses, which vary depending on the overall biomechanical parameters of the injury and may be compounded by repetitive injuries. Such aberrant physical responses and/or damage to cells along with the resulting secondary injury cascades can ultimately lead to long-term cellular dysfunction and degeneration, often resulting in persistent deficits. Indeed, pathological mechanosensation not only directly initiates secondary injury cascades, but this post-physical damage environment provides the context in which these cascades unfold. Collectively, these points underscore the need to use experimental models that accurately replicate the biomechanics of TBI in humans. Understanding cellular responses in context with injury biomechanics may uncover therapeutic targets addressing various facets of trauma-specific sequelae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn E Keating
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration, and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, USA
| | - D Kacy Cullen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Brain Injury and Repair, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center for Neurotrauma, Neurodegeneration, and Restoration, Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, USA.
| |
Collapse
|