Assessment of brain change by aging and neurodegeneration using transparent brain and diffusion MRI: 3 dimensional comparison of imaging with pathology

• Project/Area Number: 16K19853
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Radiation science
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Kanako 順天堂大学, 医学部, 助教 (80755520)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: 拡散MRI / NODDI / 透明脳 / 脳微細構造 / 加齢 / 変性 / DTI / DKI / 脊髄小脳変性症 / TBSS / マウス脳

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand change of microstructure and neural networks in the brain by aging, we performed basic research using mouse brain.
We compared imaging findings and pathological findings of normal mouse brain. A new method of diffusion MRI and a histological method to render the mouse brain transparent were used for analysis. Neurite density and degree of orientation dispersion of nerve fibers were compared between areas containing crossing fibers (crossing areas) and parallel fibers (parallel areas) in the anterior commissure and the hippocampus. Degree of orientation dispersion of nerve fibers was consistent with pathological findings. The results validated that this new diffusion MRI method has potential to assess microstructural change of the brain by aging at pathological level.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

難病といわれる種々の神経変性疾患の予後を改善するためには、画像による早期診断と正確な評価が重要な役割を果たす。そのためには、病理所見に対応した脳微細構造の評価が可能な画像診断法の開発が望まれている。
この研究では、最新の拡散MRIにより正常加齢による脳微細構造と脳内神経ネットワークの変化が解明可能であることが示され、神経変性疾患の脳内構造と比較するベースラインを確立する一歩となった。このような画像と病理の対比研究の蓄積により、将来的には、MRIにより生体の全脳を細胞レベルで評価し、疾患の病態解明や治療方針の決定に活用できる可能性がある。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] GHU-Paris Sainte-Anne/Paris Descartes Sorbonne University/Inst. of Psychiatry and Neurosciences(フランス)
• [Journal Article] Atlas of IDH Wild-Type Supratentorial Glioblastoma: Probabilistic Maps of Phenotype, Management, and Outcomes. (2019)
  • Author(s): Roux A, Roca P, Edjlali M, K Sato, Zanello M, Dezamis E, Gori P, Lion S, Fleury A, Dhermain F, Meder JF, Chrétien F, Lechapt E, Varlet P, Oppenheim C, Pallud J.
  • Journal Title: Radiology Volume: 293 Issue: 3 Pages: 633-643
  • DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2019190491
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Understanding microstructure of the brain by comparison of neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) with transparent mouse brain. (2017)
  • Author(s): Sato K, Kerever A, Kamagata K, Tsuruta K, Irie R, Tagawa K, Okazawa H, Arikawa-Hirasawa E, Nitta N, Aoki I, Aoki S.
  • Journal Title: Acta Radiologica Open Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Pages: 1-6
  • DOI: 10.1177/2058460117703816
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Presentation] ディープラーニングによる乳幼児脳MRIにおける髄鞘化程度推定の試み (2019)
  • Author(s): 和田昭彦、齋藤勇哉、入江隆介、藤田翔平、鎌形康司、前川朋子、佐藤香菜子、鈴木通真、堀正明、青木茂樹
  • Organizer: 第48回日本神経放射線学会，久留米，2019.2.14-16
• [Presentation] JF Meder. Bottom of sulcus dysplasia (BOSD): why they should be recognized? (2019)
  • Author(s): K Sato, C. Mellerio, F Chassoux, B Devaux, C. Oppenheim
  • Organizer: Journees Francophones de Radiologie (JFR), Paris, France, October.11-14 2019
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Advanced diffusion MR imaging (NODDI) : comparison with a transparent mouse brain (2016)
  • Author(s): Sato K, Kerever A, Kamagata K, Aoki S.
  • Organizer: Organization of Human brain Mapping
  • Place of Presentation: ジュネーブ
  • Year and Date: 2016-06-26
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Book] 「てんかんの画像診断」 日本医師会雑誌特集 てんかん診療の最前線 (2019)
  • Author(s): 明石敏昭、佐藤香菜子、青木茂樹.
  • Total Pages: 3
  • Publisher: 日本医師会