summary: Diffusion tensor imaging demonstrates an improved capability over standard magnetic resonance imaging to differentiate axon from myelin injury, but the increased cellularity and vasogenic oedema associated with inflammation cannot be separated from axon/myelin injury by diffusion tensor imaging, limiting its clinical applications. The authors have developed and assessed a novel diffusion imaging technique - diffusion basis spectrum imaging - to quantify baseline cellularity in the absence and presence of vasogenic oedema. An initial phantom study using fixed mouse trigeminal nerves juxtaposed with and without gel, followed by in vivo animal study in cuprizone treated mice, demonstrated that in vivo diffusion basis spectrum imaging can effectively separate the confounding effects of increased cellularity, allowing successful detection of immunohistochemically confirmed axonal injury and/or demyelination. The results suggest that diffusion basis spectrum imaging has potential as a future non-invasive biomarker for neuroinflammation.

authors: Wang Y, Wang Q, Haldar JP, Yeh FC, Xie M, Sun P, Tu TW, Trinkaus K, Klein RS, Cross AH, Song SK.

source: Brain. 2011 Dec;134(Pt 12):3587-98.

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