Neuroimaging Techniques to Assess Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis. (1st April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tommasin, Silvia; Giannì, Costanza; De Giglio, Laura; Pantano, Patrizia
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience. Volume 403(2019)
• Page Start: 4
• Page End: 16
• Publication Date: 2019-04-01
• Subjects: AD Axial Diffusivity -- BBB blood–brain-barrier -- CEST Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer -- CNS central nervous system -- CSF cerebrospinal fluid -- DBSI Diffusion Basis Spectrum Imaging -- DIR double inversion recovery -- DIS dissemination in space -- DIT dissemination in time -- EAE experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis -- FA Fractional Anisotropy -- fMRI Functional magnetic resonance imaging -- GM gray matter -- MD Mean Diffusivity -- MRI magnetic resonance imaging -- MRS magnetic resonance spectroscopy -- MS Multiple Sclerosis -- PET positron emission tomography -- RD Radial Diffusivity -- RR relapsing-remitting -- SNR signal-to-noise ratio -- SP secondary progressive -- SPIO Superparamagnetic ironoxide -- SWI Susceptibility weighted imaging -- TSPO translocator protein -- WM white matter; inflammation -- Multiple Sclerosis -- magnetic resonance imaging -- positron emission tomography; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurochimie -- Périodiques; Neurophysiologie -- Périodiques; Neurochemistry; Neurophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.07.055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4522

Abstract

Highlights: MS is an inflammatory disease that causes focal and diffuse damage to CNS. MRI is a powerful tool to allow early diagnosis and accurate monitoring of MS. Focal inflammation is radiologically detected as gadolinium-enhancing T1 lesions. Inflammation has been demonstrated to extend beyond the focal lesions. Advanced neuroimaging development has the aim of studying diffuse inflammation. Abstract: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that represents a leading cause of disability in young adults and is characterized by inflammation and degeneration of both white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM). Defining the presence or absence of inflammation on individual basis is a key point in choosing the therapy and monitoring the treatment response. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) represents the most sensitive non-invasive tool to monitor inflammation in the clinical practice. Indeed, in the early phase of inflammation MRI detects new lesions as extrusion of gadolinium contrast agents across the altered blood–brain-barrier (BBB). The occurrence of MRI lesions is used to confirm diagnosis and has been validated as surrogate marker of relapse to monitor response to treatments. However, focal gadolinium-enhancing lesions represent only an aspect of neuroinflammation. Recent studies have suggested the presence of a widespread inflammation of the central nervous system (CNS), which is mainly related to microglial cells activation occurring both at the edge of chronic focal lesions and throughout the normal-appearing brain tissue. New imaging techniques have been developed to study diffuse inflammation taking place outside the focal plaques. The scope of this review is to examine the various neuroimaging techniques and those biophysical quantities that can be non-invasively detected to enlighten the different aspects of neuroinflammation. Some techniques are commonly used in the clinical practice, while others are used in the research field to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease and the role of inflammation.