Imaging of lactate metabolism using chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging and its application to pathological models

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K08172
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52040:Radiological sciences-related
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Saito Shigeyoshi 大阪大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (40583068)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 7T-MRI / 高磁場MRI / CESTイメージング / 乳酸 / ミトコンドリア病モデルマウス

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Mitochondrial disease is a designated intractable disease caused by mutations in mitochondria, cellular organelles, and is a disorder of energy metabolism that leads to abnormalities in skeletal muscle and the central nervous system, which require large amounts of energy. In mitochondrial diseases, aerobic energy metabolism is impaired and anaerobic energy metabolism is overused, resulting in the accumulation of lactic acid. In this study, lactic acid was used as the target chemical. In this study, the possibility of evaluation of lactate distribution assessment in the brain was verified by Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) imaging method for lactate using 7T-MRI.In this study, Leigh encephalopathy model mice were used as a model mouse for mitochondrial disease, and CEST imaging and MRS were used to detect early brain metabolic changes before lesions were detected on T2-weighted images using 7T-MRI.

Free Research Field

生体イメージング

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

乳酸を対象とした化学交換飽和イメージング法（Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer: CEST）により、脳内の乳酸分布評価が可能である。生体内の乳酸蓄積を非侵襲的に画像化できれば、生体の2次元的な乳酸分布、同じ個体で継時的な観察をすることが可能であり、ミトコンドリア症のみならず、虚血性疾患などへの応用も期待できる。