Myelin Imaging for Visualization and Clinical Application to Diagnosis of Demyelinating Disorders

• Project/Area Number: 18K15643
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Maekawa Tomoko 順天堂大学, 医学部, 非常勤助手 (30813448)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2021: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥780,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥180,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
• Keywords: Synthetic MRI / ミエリン / 髄鞘 / 多発性硬化症 / 脱髄疾患 / 脱髄

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Myelin plays an important role in neurotransmission, and its evaluation may be useful in assessing brain diseases. Recently, myelin imaging by MRI has been developed and applied clinically. In particular, synthetic MRI enables quantitative values to be obtained in a single imaging scan, and myelin maps can be created in addition to any weighted Images without prolonging the scan time. The purpose of this study is to establish the best method for noninvasive assessment of myelin content in the body by performing and comparing Synthetic MRI and other myelin imaging techniques. In addition, I aim to create an imaging biomarker that will enable the diagnosis of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, differentiation from other diseases, assessment of temporal changes, and determination of therapeutic efficacy.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

Synthetic MRI(SyMRI)と最新の拡散イメージングを組み合わせた解析で脱髄プラークではミエリンの方が軸索よりも慢性的な障害が強いことが示唆された。また、SyMRIで得られるmyelin volume fraction (SyMRIMVF)と従来法のミエリン評価には強い相関を見出した。
加えて、SyMRIによる脳組織容量とミエリン量の推定において造影剤の影響により見かけ上の脳組織容量が変化しミエリンは増加して計測されることを見出した。これらの研究成果から、SyMRIによるミエリンイメージングは非侵襲的な生体内のミエリン量の評価や脱髄疾患における経時的評価に有用であることが示された。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] Reims Champagne-Ardennes University(フランス)
• [Int'l Joint Research] SyntheticMR AB(スウェーデン)
• [Journal Article] Multiple sclerosis plaques may undergo continuous myelin degradation: a cross-sectional study with myelin and axon-related quantitative magnetic resonance imaging metrics (2021)
  • Author(s): Maekawa Tomoko、Hagiwara Akifumi、Yokoyama Kazumasa、Hori Masaaki、Andica Christina、Fujita Shohei、Kamagata Koji、Wada Akihiko、Abe Osamu、Tomizawa Yuji、Hattori Nobutaka、Aoki Shigeki
  • Journal Title: Neuroradiology Volume: 64 Issue: 3 Pages: 465-471
  • DOI: 10.1007/s00234-021-02781-0
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Myelin Measurement Using Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Correlation Study Comparing Various Imaging Techniques in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (2020)
  • Author(s): Saccenti Laetitia、Hagiwara Akifumi、Andica Christina、Yokoyama Kazumasa、Fujita Shohei、Kato Shimpei、Maekawa Tomoko、Kamagata Koji、Le Berre Alice、Hori Masaaki、Wada Akihiko、Tateishi Ukihide、Hattori Nobutaka、Aoki Shigeki
  • Journal Title: Cells Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Pages: 393-393
  • DOI: 10.3390/cells9020393
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Effect of Gadolinium on the Estimation of Myelin and Brain Tissue Volumes Based on Quantitative Synthetic MRI. (2019)
  • Author(s): Maekawa T, Hagiwara A, Hori M, Andica C, Haruyama T, Kuramochi M, Nakazawa M, Koshino S, Irie R, Kamagata K, Wada A, Abe O, Aoki S.
  • Journal Title: Am J Neuroradiol. Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Pages: 231-237
  • DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a5921
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] The Advantage of Synthetic MRI for the Visualization of Anterior Temporal Pole Lesions on Double Inversion Recovery (DIR), Phase-sensitive Inversion Recovery (PSIR), and Myelin Images in a Patient with CADASIL (2018)
  • Author(s): Wallaert L, Hagiwara A, Andica C, Hori M, Yamashiro K, Koshino S, Maekawa T, Kamagata K, Aoki S.
  • Journal Title: Magnetic Resonance in Medical Sciences Volume: 17 Issue: 4 Pages: 275-276
  • DOI: 10.2463/mrms.ci.2017-0110
  • NAID: 130007496908
  • ISSN: 1347-3182, 1880-2206
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Journal Article] Myelin Measurement: Comparison Between Simultaneous Tissue Relaxometry, Magnetization Transfer Saturation Index, and T(1)w/T(2)w Ratio Methods. (2018)
  • Author(s): Hagiwara A, Hori M, Kamagata K, Warntjes M, Matsuyoshi D, Nakazawa M, Ueda R, Andica C, Koshino S, Maekawa T, Irie R, Takamura T, Kumamaru KK, Abe O, Aoki S
  • Journal Title: Sci Rep. Volume: 8 Issue: 1 Pages: 10554-10554
  • DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28852-6
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access / Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Time-dependent Diffusion in Acute and Chronic Plaques of Multiple Sclerosis Investigated with Oscillating-gradient Spin-echo. (2023)
  • Author(s): Tomoko Maekawa
  • Organizer: 32th ISMRM International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Oscillating-gradient spin-echo法を用いた多発性硬化症の急性期脱髄プラークの拡散時間依存性の評価 (2022)
  • Author(s): 前川朋子
  • Organizer: 第50回日本磁気共鳴医学会大会
• [Presentation] Association of estimated time from the onset of multiple sclerosis plaques with myelin and axon-related quantitative MRI measurement. (2021)
  • Author(s): 前川朋子、萩原彰文、堀正明、Christina Andica、藤田翔平、明石敏昭、鎌形康司、和田昭彦、青木茂樹
  • Organizer: 30th ISMRM International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
• [Presentation] 多発性硬化症プラークの発生からの推定経過時間とミエリン・軸索のMRIによる定量評価の関係性 (2020)
  • Author(s): 前川朋子 , 萩原彰文 , 堀正明 , Christina Andica , 藤田翔平 , 明石敏昭 , 鎌形康司 , 和田昭彦 , 青木茂樹
  • Organizer: 第48回日本磁気共鳴医学会大会
• [Presentation] Pitfall of synthetic MRI: Effect of gadolinium on the estimation of brain tissue volumes and myelin based on rapid simultaneous relaxometry (2018)
  • Author(s): Maekawa T, Hagiwara A, Hori M, Kamagata K, Andica C, Haruyama T, Sato K, Koshino S, Irie R, Wada A, Aoki S
  • Organizer: International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Rapid Myelin Measurement: Comparison Between SyMRI (Simultaneous Tissue Relaxometry), Magnetization Transfer Saturation Index, and T1w/T2w Ratio Methods (2018)
  • Author(s): Hagiwara A, Hori M, Kamagata K, Nakazawa M, Andica C, Maekawa T, Koshino S, Irie R, Chougar L, Abe O, Aok S
  • Organizer: International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
  • Int'l Joint Research