Mapping microglia and astrocyte activation in vivo using diffusion MRI.
Raquel Garcia-HernandezAntonio Cerdán CerdáAlejandro Trouve CarpenaMark DrakesmithKristin KollerDerek K JonesSantiago CanalsSilvia De SantisPublished in: Science advances (2022)
While glia are increasingly implicated in the pathophysiology of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, available methods for imaging these cells in vivo involve either invasive procedures or positron emission tomography radiotracers, which afford low resolution and specificity. Here, we present a noninvasive diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method to image changes in glia morphology. Using rat models of neuroinflammation, degeneration, and demyelination, we demonstrate that diffusion-weighted MRI carries a fingerprint of microglia and astrocyte activation and that specific signatures from each population can be quantified noninvasively. The method is sensitive to changes in glia morphology and proliferation, providing a quantitative account of neuroinflammation, regardless of the existence of a concomitant neuronal loss or demyelinating injury. We prove the translational value of the approach showing significant associations between MRI and histological microglia markers in humans. This framework holds the potential to transform basic and clinical research by clarifying the role of inflammation in health and disease.
Keyphrases
- contrast enhanced
- diffusion weighted
- magnetic resonance imaging
- computed tomography
- positron emission tomography
- magnetic resonance
- diffusion weighted imaging
- high resolution
- inflammatory response
- neuropathic pain
- oxidative stress
- induced apoptosis
- healthcare
- mental health
- traumatic brain injury
- lipopolysaccharide induced
- public health
- cerebral ischemia
- lps induced
- signaling pathway
- genome wide
- deep learning
- cell death
- pet imaging
- pet ct
- cell proliferation
- gene expression
- spinal cord injury
- health promotion
- cell cycle arrest
- high density
- photodynamic therapy
- single molecule