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Drug Discovery by Molecular Imaging and Monitoring Therapy Response in Lymphoma. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18081639. [PMID: 28749424 PMCID: PMC5578029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular imaging allows a noninvasive assessment of biochemical and biological processes in living subjects. Treatment strategies for malignant lymphoma depend on histology and tumor stage. For the last two decades, molecular imaging has been the mainstay diagnostic test for the staging of malignant lymphoma and the assessment of response to treatment. This technology enhances our understanding of disease and drug activity during preclinical and clinical drug development. Here, we review molecular imaging applications in drug development, with an emphasis on oncology. Monitoring and assessing the efficacy of anti-cancer therapies in preclinical or clinical models are essential and the multimodal molecular imaging approach may represent a new stage for pharmacologic development in cancer. Monitoring the progress of lymphoma therapy with imaging modalities will help patients. Identifying and addressing key challenges is essential for successful integration of molecular imaging into the drug development process. In this review, we highlight the general usefulness of molecular imaging in drug development and radionuclide-based reporter genes. Further, we discuss the different molecular imaging modalities for lymphoma therapy and their preclinical and clinical applications.
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Busato A, Fumene Feruglio P, Parnigotto PP, Marzola P, Sbarbati A. In vivo imaging techniques: a new era for histochemical analysis. Eur J Histochem 2016; 60:2725. [PMID: 28076937 PMCID: PMC5159782 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2016.2725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In vivo imaging techniques can be integrated with classical histochemistry to create an actual histochemistry of water. In particular, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), an imaging technique primarily used as diagnostic tool in clinical/preclinical research, has excellent anatomical resolution, unlimited penetration depth and intrinsic soft tissue contrast. Thanks to the technological development, MRI is not only capable to provide morphological information but also and more interestingly functional, biophysical and molecular. In this paper we describe the main features of several advanced imaging techniques, such as MRI microscopy, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, functional MRI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging and MRI with contrast agent as a useful support to classical histochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Busato
- University of Verona, Department of Computer Science.
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Tung YT, Huang PW, Chou YC, Lai CW, Wang HP, Ho HC, Yen CC, Tu CY, Tsai TC, Yeh DC, Wang JL, Chong KY, Chen CM. Lung tumorigenesis induced by human vascular endothelial growth factor (hVEGF)-A165 overexpression in transgenic mice and amelioration of tumor formation by miR-16. Oncotarget 2016; 6:10222-38. [PMID: 25912305 PMCID: PMC4496351 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.3390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many studies have shown that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), especially the human VEGF-A165 (hVEGF-A165) isoform, is a key proangiogenic factor that is overexpressed in lung cancer. We generated transgenic mice that overexpresses hVEGF-A165 in lung-specific Clara cells to investigate the development of pulmonary adenocarcinoma. In this study, three transgenic mouse strains were produced by pronuclear microinjection, and Southern blot analysis indicated similar patterns of the foreign gene within the genomes of the transgenic founder mice and their offspring. Accordingly, hVegf-A165 mRNA was expressed specifically in the lung tissue of the transgenic mice. Histopathological examination of the lung tissues of the transgenic mice showed that hVEGF-A165 overexpression induced bronchial inflammation, fibrosis, cysts, and adenoma. Pathological section and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analyses demonstrated a positive correlation between the development of pulmonary cancer and hVEGF expression levels, which were determined by immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and western blot analyses. Gene expression profiling by cDNA microarray revealed a set of up-regulated genes (hvegf-A165, cyclin b1, cdc2, egfr, mmp9, nrp-1, and kdr) in VEGF tumors compared with wild-type lung tissues. In addition, overexpressing hVEGF-A165 in Clara cells increases CD105, fibrogenic genes (collagen α1, α-SMA, TGF-β1, and TIMP1), and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α) in the lungs of hVEGF-A165-overexpressing transgenic mice as compared to wild-type mice. We further demonstrated that the intranasal administration of microRNA-16 (miR-16) inhibited lung tumor growth by suppressing VEGF expression via the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. In conclusion, hVEGF-A165 transgenic mice exhibited complex alterations in gene expression and tumorigenesis and may be a relevant model for studying VEGF-targeted therapies in lung adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Tang Tung
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Pin-Wu Huang
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ching Chou
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Wei Lai
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Po Wang
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Heng-Chien Ho
- Department of Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ching Yen
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Yen Tu
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Tung-Chou Tsai
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Dah-Cherng Yeh
- Department of General Surgery and Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Long Wang
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.,Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan
| | - Kowit-Yu Chong
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Laboratory Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan.,Molecular Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Mu Chen
- Department of Life Sciences and Agricultural Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.,Rong-Hsing Translational Medicine Center and iEGG Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
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Wang S, Li W, Xue Z, Lu Y, Narsinh K, Fan W, Li X, Bu Q, Wang F, Liang J, Wu K, Cao F. Molecular imaging of p53 signal pathway in lung cancer cell cycle arrest induced by cisplatin. Mol Carcinog 2012; 52:900-7. [PMID: 22674879 DOI: 10.1002/mc.21930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Revised: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Cisplatin is a commonly employed chemotherapy drug for lung malignancy. However its efficacy is limited by acquired drug resistance and lacking of an in vivo real-time monitoring approach. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cisplatin on lung adenocarcinoma cell line p53-RE-Fluc/A549 in vivo via non-invasive reporter gene by molecular imaging. For this study, we employed p53-RE-Fluc/A549 cells that overexpressed a vector with three tandem repeats of p53 response element followed by the luciferase reporter gene. P53 activity was evaluated by optical imaging and verified by Western blot after cells were exposed to 10 µM cisplatin for 72 h. The cell cycle was mainly blocked at the S- and G2/M-phases after cisplatin treatment, whereas no significant change was observed in cell apoptotic index. Increased expression of p21 and Bcl-2 as well as decreased expression of Bax were observed after cisplatin treatment by Western blotting. Longitudinal in vivo bioluminescent imaging (BLI) revealed that the p53 activity was increased from 24 to 48 h after transient cisplatin treatment in p53-RE-Fluc/A549-bearing nude mice. RNA sequencing further revealed that cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway genes, such as E2F1, CCNA2, CDK1, and CCNE2 were significantly downregulated after long-term cisplatin treatment. Thus, our study showed that cisplatin exerts its cytotoxic effect through blockage of the cell cycle and may be partly regulated by the p53 signaling pathway. Furthermore, molecular imaging is a useful tool to investigate the mechanism and evaluate the effect of chemotherapy drugs both in vivo and in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenxu Wang
- Cardiology and Molecular Imaging Department, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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Long-term assessment of contrast effects of gadofluorine M and gadofluorine P in magnetic resonance imaging of mice. Jpn J Radiol 2011; 30:86-91. [PMID: 22135114 DOI: 10.1007/s11604-011-0009-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 08/07/2011] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the long-term time course of the contrast effects after the intravenous injection of gadofluorine M or gadofluorine P in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Magnetic resonance images were acquired longitudinally after intravenous injection of 0.1 μmol Gd/g gadofluorine M into BALB/c mice. The contrast effects were also assessed in C57BL/6J mice injected with gadofluorine M, BALB/c mice injected with gadofluorine P, and BALB/c mice injected with a double dose of gadopentetate dimeglumine. RESULTS The injection of gadofluorine M into BALB/c mice caused prolonged contrast effects in the blood and other organs. The liver enhancement was especially long-lasting and still evident 6 days after injection. Strain-related differences in contrast kinetics of gadofluorine M were not observed between BALB/c mice and C57BL/6J mice. In comparison with gadofluorine M, clearances from the blood, liver, and kidney were more rapid and contrast enhancement in the spleen was generally lower for gadofluorine P. The enhancement in the gallbladder cavity, indicating biliary excretion, was evident only after gadofluorine P injection. Blood enhancement at 10 min was much weaker for gadopentetate dimeglumine. CONCLUSION Both gadofluorine M and gadofluorine P appear to be applicable to blood pool imaging and liver imaging in mice.
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Optical and magnetic resonance imaging as complementary modalities in drug discovery. Future Med Chem 2011; 2:317-37. [PMID: 21426169 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.09.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Imaging has the ability to study various biological and chemical processes noninvasively in living subjects in a longitudinal way. For this reason, imaging technologies have become an integral part of the drug-discovery and development program and are commonly used in following disease processes and drug action in both preclinical and clinical stages. As the domain of imaging sciences transitions from anatomical/functional to molecular applications, the development of molecular probes becomes crucial for the advancement of the field. This review summarizes the role of two complementary techniques, magnetic resonance and fluorescence optical imaging, in drug discovery. While the first approach exploits intrinsic tissue characteristics as the source of image contrast, the second necessitates the use of appropriate probes for signal generation. The anatomical, functional, metabolic and molecular information that becomes accessible through imaging can provide invaluable insights into disease mechanisms and mechanisms of drug action.
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Kiryu S, Inoue Y, Watanabe M, Ohtomo K. Effect of isoflurane anesthesia and hypothermia on the hepatic kinetics of Gd-EOB-DTPA: evaluation using MRI of conscious mice. J Magn Reson Imaging 2011; 34:354-60. [PMID: 21692139 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.22650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2011] [Accepted: 04/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop a method for body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of conscious mice and investigate the effect of isoflurane anesthesia and hypothermia on the hepatic kinetics of gadoxetate disodium (Gd-EOB-DTPA). MATERIALS AND METHODS Conscious or anesthetized mice were restrained on a holder and the rectal temperature was measured serially. Serial MRI of the liver was performed after intravenous injection of Gd-EOB-DTPA with or without temperature control. Three mice were studied for each condition. RESULTS The temperature dropped rapidly in anesthetized mice beside the MR unit. The decline was less prominent in conscious mice. The temperature decreased less in anesthetized mice and remained constant in conscious mice in the radiofrequency (RF) coil. The washout of Gd-EOB-DTPA was slower in anesthetized hypothermic mice than in conscious normothermic mice. Warmed anesthetized mice showed faster washout, and cooled conscious mice showed delayed washout. Severer hypothermia in anesthetized mice resulted in weaker initial enhancement and slower washout. CONCLUSION By separately manipulating the presence or absence of anesthesia and hypothermia, we demonstrated that washout of Gd-EOB-DTPA was delayed under hypothermia, regardless of anesthesia. Serial body MRI of conscious mice was feasible and allowed the evaluation of kinetics of a contrast agent, while excluding the possible effects of anesthesia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Kiryu
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Chou PCT, Shunmugavel A, El Sayed H, Desouki MM, Nguyen SA, Khan M, Singh I, Bilgen M. Preclinical use of longitudinal MRI for screening the efficacy of s-nitrosoglutathione in treating spinal cord injury. J Magn Reson Imaging 2011; 33:1301-11. [PMID: 21590998 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.22574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Cheng-te Chou
- Preclinical Imaging in Translational Research Laboratory, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Evaluation of lung inflammation induced by intratracheal administration of LPS in mice: comparison between MRI and histology. MAGNETIC RESONANCE MATERIALS IN PHYSICS BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2010; 23:93-101. [DOI: 10.1007/s10334-010-0203-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2009] [Revised: 02/03/2010] [Accepted: 02/04/2010] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Kiryu S, Inoue Y, Yoshikawa K, Shimada M, Watanabe M, Ohtomo K. Diet and gastrointestinal signal on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of mice. Magn Reson Imaging 2010; 28:273-80. [PMID: 20061108 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2009.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2009] [Revised: 10/26/2009] [Accepted: 10/27/2009] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of small animals, the gastrointestinal contents may give rise to intense signals on T1-weighted images. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal dietary preparation to reduce gastrointestinal signals in mice and to evaluate the usefulness of this approach. Images of the mouse trunk were obtained using a T1-weighted, three-dimensional fast low-angle shot sequence under various dietary conditions and were compared with respect to the gastrointestinal signals and image quality. The dietary preparation studied included giving alternative diets for 24 h, intestinal cleansing, and 6-h fasting. Mice with and without dietary preparation underwent MR lymphography using gadofluorine 8, and the visualization of abdominal lymph nodes was compared. In the absence of dietary preparation, hyperintense areas were conspicuous in the gastrointestinal system, whereas on the images taken from mice fed potato or sweet potato for 24 h before imaging, gastrointestinal hyperintensity was less prominent. This preparation also reduced artifactual signals and resulted in higher-quality images of the kidneys. Intestinal cleansing, which consisted of 24-h fasting and laxative intake, did not reduce the gastrointestinal signals and caused signal changes that were indicative of fatty liver development. Some of the abdominal lymph nodes of the mice that did not receive dietary preparation were visualized on MR lymphography source images but not on maximum intensity projection (MIP) images. In contrast, on the MIP images of mice fed potato, all the lymph nodes delineated on the source images were successfully visualized. In conclusion, feeding mice potato or sweet potato for 24 h before MR imaging reduces the gastrointestinal signals and image degradation due to artifacts. Appropriate dietary preparations facilitate the display of target structures on MIP images and are expected to enhance the capabilities of small animal MR imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeru Kiryu
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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12
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Noninvasive structural, functional, and molecular imaging in drug development. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2009; 13:360-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2009.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2009] [Accepted: 03/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Rodríguez I, Pérez-Rial S, González-Jimenez J, Pérez-Sánchez J, Herranz F, Beckmann N, Ruíz-Cabello J. Magnetic resonance methods and applications in pharmaceutical research. J Pharm Sci 2008; 97:3637-65. [PMID: 18228597 DOI: 10.1002/jps.21281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
This review presents an overview of some recent magnetic resonance (MR) techniques for pharmaceutical research. MR is noninvasive, and does not expose subjects to ionizing radiation. Some methods that have been used in pharmaceutical research MR include magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods, among them, diffusion-weighted MRI, perfusion-weighted MRI, functional MRI, molecular imaging and contrast-enhance MRI. Some applications of MR in pharmaceutical research include MR in metabonomics, in vivo MRS, studies in cerebral ischemia and infarction, degenerative joint diseases, oncology, cardiovascular disorders, respiratory diseases and skin diseases. Some of these techniques, such as cardiac and joint imaging, or brain fMRI are standard, and are providing relevant data routinely. Skin MR and hyperpolarized gas lung MRI are still experimental. In conclusion, considering the importance of finding and characterizing biomarkers for improved drug evaluation, it can be expected that the use of MR techniques in pharmaceutical research is going to increase in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Rodríguez
- Grupo de Resonancia Magnética, Instituto de Estudios Biofuncionales, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Paseo Juan XXIII 1, Madrid 28040, Spain
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Abstract
Conventional pharmacokinetic methods for studying ocular drug delivery are invasive and cannot be conveniently applied to humans. The advancement of MRI technology has provided new opportunities in ocular drug-delivery research. MRI provides a means to non-invasively and continuously monitor ocular drug-delivery systems with a contrast agent or compound labeled with a contrast agent. It is a useful technique in pharmacokinetic studies, evaluation of drug-delivery methods, and drug-delivery device testing. Although the current status of the technology presents some major challenges to pharmaceutical research using MRI, it has a lot of potential. In the past decade, MRI has been used to examine ocular drug delivery via the subconjunctival route, intravitreal injection, intrascleral injection to the suprachoroidal space, episcleral and intravitreal implants, periocular injections, and ocular iontophoresis. In this review, the advantages and limitations of MRI in the study of ocular drug delivery are discussed. Different MR contrast agents and MRI techniques for ocular drug-delivery research are compared. Ocular drug-delivery studies using MRI are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kevin Li
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
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Zhang L, Bhojani MS, Ross BD, Rehemtulla A. Enhancing Akt Imaging through Targeted Reporter Expression. Mol Imaging 2008. [DOI: 10.2310/7290.2008.00017a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Limin Zhang
- From the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiology and Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Mahaveer S. Bhojani
- From the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiology and Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Brian D. Ross
- From the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiology and Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Alnawaz Rehemtulla
- From the Departments of Radiation Oncology and Radiology and Center for Molecular Imaging, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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Hildebrandt IJ, Su H, Weber WA. Anesthesia and Other Considerations for in Vivo Imaging of Small Animals. ILAR J 2008; 49:17-26. [DOI: 10.1093/ilar.49.1.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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17
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Beckmann N, Cannet C, Karmouty-Quintana H, Tigani B, Zurbruegg S, Blé FX, Crémillieux Y, Trifilieff A. Lung MRI for experimental drug research. Eur J Radiol 2007; 64:381-96. [PMID: 17931813 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2007.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2007] [Revised: 07/31/2007] [Accepted: 08/01/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Current techniques to evaluate the efficacy of potential treatments for airways diseases in preclinical models are generally invasive and terminal. In the past few years, the flexibility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain anatomical and functional information of the lung has been explored with the scope of developing a non-invasive approach for the routine testing of drugs in models of airways diseases in small rodents. With MRI, the disease progression can be followed in the same animal. Thus, a significant reduction in the number of animals used for experimentation is achieved, as well as minimal interference with their well-being and physiological status. In addition, under certain circumstances the duration of the observation period after disease onset can be shortened since the technique is able to detect changes before these are reflected in parameters of inflammation determined using invasive procedures. The objective of this article is to briefly address MRI techniques that are being used in experimental lung research, with special emphasis on applications. Following an introduction on proton techniques and MRI of hyperpolarized gases, the attention is shifted to the MRI analysis of several aspects of lung disease models, including inflammation, ventilation, emphysema, fibrosis and sensory nerve activation. The next subject concerns the use of MRI in pharmacological studies within the context of experimental lung research. A final discussion points towards advantages and limitations of MRI in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Beckmann
- Discovery Technologies, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Lichtstr. 35, WSJ-386.2.09, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Zhang L, Lee KC, Bhojani MS, Khan AP, Shilman A, Holland EC, Ross BD, Rehemtulla A. Molecular imaging of Akt kinase activity. Nat Med 2007; 13:1114-9. [PMID: 17694068 DOI: 10.1038/nm1608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2007] [Accepted: 05/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The serine/threonine kinase Akt mediates mitogenic and anti-apoptotic responses that result from activation of multiple signaling cascades. It is considered a key determinant of tumor aggressiveness and is a major target for anticancer drug development. Here, we describe a new reporter molecule whose bioluminescence activity within live cells and in mice can be used to measure Akt activity. Akt activity in cultured cells and tumor xenografts was monitored quantitatively and dynamically in response to activation or inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinase, inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, or direct inhibition of Akt. The results provide unique insights into the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of agents that modulate Akt activity, revealing the usefulness of this reporter for rapid dose and schedule optimization in the drug development process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limin Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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Beckmann N, Kneuer R, Gremlich HU, Karmouty-Quintana H, Blé FX, Müller M. In vivo mouse imaging and spectroscopy in drug discovery. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2007; 20:154-85. [PMID: 17451175 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.1153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Imaging modalities such as micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), micro-positron emission tomography (micro-PET), high-resolution MRI, optical imaging, and high-resolution ultrasound have become invaluable tools in preclinical pharmaceutical research. They can be used to non-invasively investigate, in vivo, rodent biology and metabolism, disease models, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs. The advantages and limitations of each approach usually determine its application, and therefore a small-rodent imaging laboratory in a pharmaceutical environment should ideally provide access to several techniques. In this paper we aim to illustrate how these techniques may be used to obtain meaningful information for the phenotyping of transgenic mice and for the analysis of compounds in murine models of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Beckmann
- Discovery Technologies, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Lichtstrasse 35, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Inoue Y, Nomura Y, Haishi T, Yoshikawa K, Seki T, Tsukiyama-Kohara K, Kai C, Okubo T, Ohtomo K. Imaging living mice using a 1-T compact MRI system. J Magn Reson Imaging 2007; 24:901-7. [PMID: 16969790 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.20713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine the feasibility of imaging living mice with a 1-T compact MRI system and investigate appropriate imaging techniques for use in routine animal experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS An MRI system consisting of a 1-T permanent magnet and compact console was used. Images of the entire trunks of living mice were obtained on the system using a T1-weighted three-dimensional fast low-angle shot (3D FLASH) sequence, and image quality was evaluated in relation to imaging techniques. RESULTS Restraint of respiratory motion improved the image quality. Decreasing the slice thickness reduced artificial inhomogeneity in signal intensity (SI). Substantial effects of TR and FA on image quality were also demonstrated. With the determined techniques, images covering the entire trunk with a voxel size of 0.26x0.26x0.52 mm were acquired in an acquisition time of five minutes 28 seconds and a total experiment time of <20 minutes, and various organs and subcutaneous tumors were clearly visualized. CONCLUSION The compact MRI system provides images of living mice with acceptable quality in a reasonable time. Considering its convenience, it appears to be suitable for use in routine mouse experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Inoue
- Department of Radiology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Beckmann N, Cannet C, Zurbruegg S, Haberthür R, Li J, Pally C, Bruns C. Macrophage Infiltration Detected at MR Imaging in Rat Kidney Allografts: Early Marker of Chronic Rejection? Radiology 2006; 240:717-24. [PMID: 16837667 DOI: 10.1148/radiol.2403050873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate detection of iron-loaded macrophages at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging as a noninvasive means to monitor early signs of chronic allograft rejection in the life-supporting Fisher-to-Lewis rat kidney transplantation model. MATERIALS AND METHODS Experiments followed the Swiss federal regulations of animal protection. Male Fisher (n = 37) and Lewis (n = 77) rats were used. After removal of a native recipient kidney and transplantation of a donor kidney, the recipient rat's contralateral kidney was removed. Allografts and control syngeneic grafts comprised, respectively, kidneys from Fisher and Lewis donors transplanted into Lewis rats. Recipients were imaged by using a gradient-echo MR sequence 24 hours after intravenous administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) particles. Biochemical analyses of blood and urine, as well as assessments of Banff scores (reference standard for histologic classification of graft rejection), were performed. Statistical tests used were analysis of variance for multiple comparisons with Bonferroni tests, Mann-Whitney tests, and Pearson correlations with Bonferroni corrections. RESULTS A SPIO dose-dependent decrease in cortical MR signal intensity occurred in allografts between 8 and 16 weeks after transplantation. A strong significant negative correlation (P = .005 for 0.3 mL/kg SPIO dose, P = .003 for 1.0 mL/kg SPIO dose) was found between MR signal intensity and Banff scores, which deteriorated over the experimental period. Proteinuria occurred at 16 weeks. Blood and urine creatinine levels remained unchanged up to week 28. CONCLUSION This MR imaging method is more robust than the usually adopted creatinine clearance method for the detection of early signs of allograft chronic rejection in the Fisher-to-Lewis rat kidney transplantation model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Beckmann
- Departments of Discovery Technologies and Transplantation Research, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Lichtstrasse 35, WSJ-386.2.09, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Salgado-Pineda P, Delaveau P, Falcon C, Blin O. Brain T1 intensity changes after levodopa administration in healthy subjects: a voxel-based morphometry study. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2006; 62:546-51. [PMID: 16796705 PMCID: PMC1885173 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2006.02695.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To test T1 intensity variations induced by levodopa administration in the regional fixation area in the human brain. METHOD Using non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique [T1-weighted sequence MPRAGE; TE/TR/TI = 5/25/800 ms; impulsion angle = 15 degrees; field of view = 256 x 230 x 180 mm3; acquisition matrix = 256 x 192 x 104; reconstruction matrix = 256 x 256 x 128), we tested changes in the T1 MRI signal intensity resulting in changes in the grey matter automatic classification after administration of a single dose of 100 mg of levodopa by a voxel-based morphometry method (VBM) in 12 healthy subjects. RESULTS The VBM analysis demonstrated an increased number of voxels attributed to grey matter after levodopa administration in an anatomical cluster which included substantia nigra, tegmental ventral area and subthalamic nucleus bilaterally, the principal origin and first relay nuclei of projections in brain dopaminergic systems (t = 8.61; corrected for all grey matter volume P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Our results suggest that levodopa administration could induce an MRI T1 signal intensity variation that is not evident to the naked eye, but is detectable by measuring local signal intensities. Possible clinical applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Salgado-Pineda
- Institut des Neurosciences Cognitives de la Méditerranée, Faculté de Médecine, UMR 6193CNRS Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France
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Hedlund LW, Johnson GA. Morphology of the small-animal lung using magnetic resonance microscopy. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2006; 2:481-3, 501-2. [PMID: 16352752 PMCID: PMC2713336 DOI: 10.1513/pats.200507-074ds] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Small-animal imaging with magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) has become an important tool in biomedical research. When MRM is used to image perfusion-fixed and "stained" whole mouse specimens, cardiopulmonary morphology can be visualized, nondestructively, in exquisite detail in all three dimensions. This capability can be a valuable tool for morphologic phenotyping of different mouse strains commonly used in genomics research. When these imaging techniques are combined with specialized methods for biological motion control and animal support, the lungs of the live, small animal can be imaged. Although in vivo imaging may not achieve the high resolution possible with a fixed specimen, dynamic functional studies and survival studies that follow the progression of pulmonary change related to disease or environmental exposure are possible. By combining conventional proton imaging with gas imaging, using hyperpolarized 3He, it is possible to image the tissue and gas compartments of the lung. This capability is illustrated in studies on an emphysema model in rats and on radiation damage of the lung. With further improvements in imaging and animal handling technology, we will be able to image faster and at higher resolutions, making MRM an even more valuable research tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence W Hedlund
- Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Box 3302, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Sosnovik D, Weissleder R. Magnetic resonance and fluorescence based molecular imaging technologies. PROGRESS IN DRUG RESEARCH. FORTSCHRITTE DER ARZNEIMITTELFORSCHUNG. PROGRES DES RECHERCHES PHARMACEUTIQUES 2005; 62:83-115. [PMID: 16329255 DOI: 10.1007/3-7643-7426-8_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David Sosnovik
- Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Silva MD, Johnson M, Cvet D, Robertson R, Kupperman E, Reimer C, Hibner B, Chandra S. Perspectives on molecular and anatomical imaging in drug discovery. Biotechniques 2005; 39:S26-32. [PMID: 20158501 DOI: 10.2144/000112092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Silva
- Imaging Sciences, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139 , USA.
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Chandra S, Muir C, Silva M, Carr S. Imaging Biomarkers in Drug Development: An Overview of Opportunities and Open Issues. J Proteome Res 2005; 4:1134-7. [PMID: 16083263 DOI: 10.1021/pr0500915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sudeep Chandra
- Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 45 Sydney Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Pien HH, Fischman AJ, Thrall JH, Sorensen AG. Using imaging biomarkers to accelerate drug development and clinical trials. Drug Discov Today 2005; 10:259-66. [PMID: 15708744 DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6446(04)03334-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that human medical imaging can help answer key questions that arise during the drug development process. Imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and positron emission tomography can offer significant insights into the bioactivity, pharmacokinetics and dosing of drugs, in addition to supporting registration applications. In this review, examples from oncology, neurology, psychiatry, infectious diseases and inflammatory diseases are used to illustrate the role imaging can play. We conclude with some remarks concerning new developments that will be required to significantly advance the field of pharmaco-imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Homer H Pien
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Marzola P, Lanzoni A, Nicolato E, Di Modugno V, Cristofori P, Osculati F, Sbarbati A. 1H MRI of pneumococcal pneumonia in a murine model. J Magn Reson Imaging 2005; 22:170-4. [PMID: 15971184 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.20354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To detect and quantify pulmonary lesions due to pneumococcal pneumonia in a murine model by (1)H MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pneumonia was induced in mice (N = 5) by intranasal administration of about 1 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU) of Streptococcus pneumonie. A group of noninfected animals (N = 5) was used as a control group. MRI was performed, 48 hours after infection induction, at 4.7 T. ECG-gated gradient-echo (GRE) sequences with TE = 5 msec were used. After MRI examination, the animals were sacrificed for histological examination. RESULTS Lungs appeared at MRI as regions with signal intensity (SI) at the level of the noise. Lesions appeared as hyperintense regions over the background and were localized mainly in the apical part of the lungs, in the medial and peribronchial regions. The anatomical localization of the lesions was confirmed by histology. The total lesion volume quantified by MRI data correlated with the total lesion volume quantified by histology. CONCLUSION This work shows that standard (1)H MRI allows detection and quantification of lesions due to pneumococcal pneumonia in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquina Marzola
- Department of Morphological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Verona, Italy
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Rudin M, Allegrini P, Beckmann N, Gremlich HU, Kneuer R, Laurent D, Rausch M, Stoeckli M. Noninvasive imaging in drug discovery and development. ERNST SCHERING RESEARCH FOUNDATION WORKSHOP 2004:47-75. [PMID: 15248516 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-07310-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M Rudin
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Analytical and Imaging Sciences Unit, Basel, Switzerland.
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Beckmann N, Laurent D, Tigani B, Panizzutti R, Rudin M. Magnetic resonance imaging in drug discovery: lessons from disease areas. Drug Discov Today 2004; 9:35-42. [PMID: 14761804 DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6446(04)02943-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Imaging technologies are presently receiving considerable attention in the pharmaceutical area owing to their potential to accelerate the drug discovery and development process. One of the principal imaging modalities is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The multiparametric nature of MRI enables anatomical, functional and even molecular information to be obtained non-invasively from intact organisms at high spatial resolution, thereby enabling a comprehensive characterization of a disease state and the corresponding drug intervention. The non-invasiveness of MRI strengthens the link between pre-clinical and clinical drug studies, making the technique attractive for pharmaceutical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Beckmann
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Discovery Technologies, Analytics and Imaging Sciences Unit, Lichstr. 35, WSJ-386.209, CH-4002 Basel Switzerland.
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Abstract
The human vestibular organ transmits sensory information to various components of the central nervous system related to head movement and, obviously, among these components, to its terminal region(s) in the vestibular parts of the cerebral cortex. Study of vestibular structures dates back to historical epochs when primitive considerations on cerebral global function were made without knowledge of a cerebral cortical region related to vestibular function. At the time of Menière in the 19th century, patients with vertigo were defined as having cerebral congestion. Cerebral mapping and computational anatomy in the 20th century significantly expanded our knowledge of cerebral structure and its function and the concept of cerebral processing of a variety of types of information, including that generated by the vestibular system. These modern techniques include nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography. These techniques have allowed researchers to define the cortical representation of the vestibular system in human beings and in other species, a representation generally assumed to be located in various cerebral temporal and parietal regions. Although vestibular activation has been recorded in frontal lobe regions, the main vestibular cortical zone has been defined as being located in the parietal lobe; others have recognized a vestibular cortical function in the insula.
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Rudin M, Beckmann N, Rausch M. Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Biomedical Research: Imaging of Drugs and Drug Effects. Methods Enzymol 2004; 385:240-56. [PMID: 15130743 DOI: 10.1016/s0076-6879(04)85014-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Rudin
- Analytical and Imaging Sciences Unit, Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
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Marzola P, Osculati F, Sbarbati A. High field MRI in preclinical research. Eur J Radiol 2003; 48:165-70. [PMID: 14680907 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2003.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2003] [Revised: 08/11/2003] [Accepted: 08/13/2003] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
High fields magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiments on humans have been historically limited by the so called "penetration effect" of B1 and by the power deposition in living tissues. The first effect refers to the non-homogeneous value of B1 field inside the sample (important when the wavelength of the r.f. field approaches the dimension of the sample i.e. when the Larmor frequency increase above 10-20 MHz) and the second refers to the increase in the power deposition in tissues when the Larmor frequency increases. Both phenomena are less important in animals, because of the smaller dimensions of animal bodies and the less stringent safety requirements. As a result, animal instruments were developed at high fields earlier compared with human ones. Today the great majority of imagers designed for animal studies operate at fields of 4.7 T or higher. The main advantages in high fields stand in higher signal to noise ratio (and consequent increase in space resolution or decrease in acquisition time) and higher frequency separation between metabolite peaks in in vivo spectroscopy. Disadvantages are in the higher cost of magnets and electronics, in shortening of T2 relaxation time, paralleled by a lengthening in T1 relaxation time, and in greater importance of susceptibility and chemical shift artefacts. Recent developments in applications of MRI (and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, MRS) in preclinical studies, as for example functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), microscopy, diffusion-weighted (DW) spectroscopy and molecular imaging, pose increasing requirements to technical aspects of MRI instruments (increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), space resolution and chemical shift) and consequently push toward higher magnetic fields. In this paper the above mentioned developments are reviewed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquina Marzola
- Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Università di Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy
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Beckmann N, Tigani B, Mazzoni L, Fozard JR. Techniques: Magnetic resonance imaging of the lung provides potential for non-invasive preclinical evaluation of drugs. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2003; 24:550-4. [PMID: 14559408 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2003.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Beckmann
- Discovery Technologies Center, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Lichtstrasse 35, WSJ-386.2.09, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Beckmann N, Falk R, Zurbrügg S, Dawson J, Engelhardt P. Macrophage infiltration into the rat knee detected by MRI in a model of antigen-induced arthritis. Magn Reson Med 2003; 49:1047-55. [PMID: 12768583 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.10480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) MR images were obtained from the knees of rats in a model of antigen-induced arthritis, elicited by the intraarticular administration of methylated bovine serum albumin (mBSA) to previously immunized rats. Superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (SPIO) were administered i.v. 24 hr before each imaging session. Starting 4 days postantigen injection, images from arthritic knees exhibited distinctive signal attenuation in the synovium. This signal attenuation was significantly smaller in knees from animals treated with dexamethasone, a glucocorticosteroid, and completely absent in contralateral knees that had been challenged with vehicle. A significant negative correlation was found between the MRI signal intensity in the synovium and the histologically determined iron content in macrophages located in the same region. These results suggest the feasibility of detecting macrophage infiltration into the knee synovium in this model of antigen-induced arthritis by labeling the cells with SPIO. This readout could provide an early marker of disease progression, before more aggressive changes like cartilage and bone erosion take place. Monitoring early changes associated with arthritis can have an impact in preclinical studies by shortening the duration of the experimental period and by facilitating the investigation of novel immunomodulatory therapies acting on macrophages. Also, the approach can be potentially adapted to clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Beckmann
- Central Technologies, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
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Pathak SD, Ng L, Wyman B, Fogarasi S, Racki S, Oelund JC, Sparks B, Chalana V. Quantitative image analysis: software systems in drug development trials. Drug Discov Today 2003; 8:451-8. [PMID: 12801797 DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6446(03)02698-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Multi-dimensional image analysis is being used increasingly to arrive at surrogate end-points for drug development trials. Various imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and ultrasound are used to analyze treatments for diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, osteoarthritis, and Alzheimer's disease. However, extracting information from images can be tedious and is prone to high user variability. The medical image analysis community is moving towards advanced software systems specifically designed for drug development trials. These systems can automatically identify the anatomy of interest in medical images (segmentation methods), can compare the anatomy over time or between patients (registration methods) and allow the quantitative extraction of anatomical features and the integration of the data and results into a database management system, automatically tracking the changes made to the data (audit trail generation). In this article, we present a case study using a prototype system that is used for quantifying multiple sclerosis lesions from multivariate MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayan D Pathak
- Insightful Corporation, 1700 Westlake Ave. N, Suite 500, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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Beckmann N, Cannet C, Fringeli-Tanner M, Baumann D, Pally C, Bruns C, Zerwes HG, Andriambeloson E, Bigaud M. Macrophage labeling by SPIO as an early marker of allograft chronic rejection in a rat model of kidney transplantation. Magn Reson Med 2003; 49:459-67. [PMID: 12594748 DOI: 10.1002/mrm.10387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Anatomical and functional information (renography, perfusion) was obtained by MRI in a life-supporting transplantation model, in which Lewis rats received kidneys from Fisher 344 donors. Renography and perfusion analyses were carried out with Gd-DOTA and small particles of iron oxide (SPIO), respectively. Starting 12 weeks posttransplantation, images from grafts of untreated recipients exhibited distinctive signal attenuation in the cortex. Animals treated with cyclosporin (Sandimmune Neoral; Novartis Pharma, Basel, Switzerland) to prevent acute rejection showed a signal attenuation in the cortex at 33 weeks posttransplantation, while kidneys from rats treated additionally with everolimus (Certican; Novartis), a rapamycin derivative, had no changes in anatomical appearance. A significant negative correlation was found between the MRI cortical signal intensity and the histologically determined iron content in macrophages located in the cortex. Renography revealed a significantly reduced functionality of the kidneys of untreated controls 33 weeks after transplantation, while no significant changes in perfusion were observed in any group of rats. These results suggest the feasibility, by labeling macrophages with SPIO, of detecting signs of graft rejection significantly earlier than when changes in function occur. Monitoring early changes associated with chronic rejection can have an impact in preclinical studies by shortening the duration of the experimental period and by facilitating the investigation of novel immunomodulatory therapies for transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Beckmann
- Central Technologies, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Rudin
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
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Beckmann N, Tigani B, Sugar R, Jackson AD, Jones G, Mazzoni L, Fozard JR. Noninvasive detection of endotoxin-induced mucus hypersecretion in rat lung by MRI. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2002; 283:L22-30. [PMID: 12060557 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00373.2001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we detected a signal in the lungs of Brown Norway rats after intratracheal administration of endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)]. The signal had two components: one, of diffuse appearance and higher intensity, was particularly prominent up to 48 h after LPS; the second, showing an irregular appearance and weaker intensity, was predominant later. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis indicated that generalized granulocytic (especially neutrophilic) inflammation was a major contributor to the signal at the early time points, with mucus being a major factor contributing at the later time points. The facts that animals can breathe freely during data acquisition and that neither respiration nor cardiac triggering is applied render this MRI approach attractive for the routine testing of anti-inflammatory drugs. In particular, the prospect of noninvasively detecting a sustained mucus hypersecretory phenotype in the lung brings an important new perspective to models of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolau Beckmann
- Central Technologies, Novartis Pharma, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Tigani B, Schaeublin E, Sugar R, Jackson AD, Fozard JR, Beckmann N. Pulmonary inflammation monitored noninvasively by MRI in freely breathing rats. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2002; 292:216-21. [PMID: 11890695 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2002.6633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A detailed analysis has been carried out of the correlation between the signals detected by MRI in the rat lung after allergen or endotoxin challenge and parameters of inflammation determined in the broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. MRI signals after allergen correlated highly significantly with the BAL fluid eosinophil number, eosinophil peroxidase activity and protein concentration. Similar highly significant correlations were seen when the anti-inflammatory glucocorticosteroid, budesonide, manifested against allergen. In contrast, following endotoxin challenge, mucus was the sole BAL fluid parameter that correlated significantly with the long lasting signal detected by MRI. Since edema is an integral component of pulmonary inflammation, MRI provides a noninvasive means of monitoring the course of the inflammatory response and should prove invaluable in profiling anti-inflammatory drugs in vivo. Further, the prospect of noninvasively detecting a sustained mucus hypersecretory phenotype in the lung brings an important new perspective to models of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Tigani
- Central Technologies, Novartis Pharma AG, Lichtstrasse 35, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland
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Beckmann N, Tigani B, Mazzoni L, Fozard JR. MRI of lung parenchyma in rats and mice using a gradient-echo sequence. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2001; 14:297-306. [PMID: 11477650 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Signal of lung parenchymal tissue from the living rat and mouse lung was detected at 4.7 T with a good signal-to-noise ratio and motion-suppressed artifacts using a short TE gradient-echo sequence. Neither cardiac nor respiratory gating were applied, and animals respired freely during data collection. Mean T(2)* relaxation times of parenchyma in the anterior, middle and posterior regions of both lungs ranged between 403 and 657 micros and 397 and 751 micros, respectively for the rat and mouse. For the rat in the prone position, there was a gradient in T(2)* values, from the posterior to the anterior regions of both lungs. In the supine position, however, T(2)* values were larger in the posterior and in the anterior portions. For the mouse in both prone and supine positions, there was a tendential gradient in T(2)* from the anterior to the posterior portions. The robustness of the approach renders it well suited for routine applications, e.g. in pharmacological studies concerning asthma models in small rodents. The method was applied to lung inflammation models involving challenge with ovalbumin or lipopolysaccharide.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Beckmann
- Core Technologies Area, Novartis Pharma AG, Analytics and Imaging Sciences Unit, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Beckmann N, Gentsch C, Baumann D, Bruttel K, Vassout A, Schoeffter P, Loetscher E, Bobadilla M, Perentes E, Rudin M. Non-invasive, quantitative assessment of the anatomical phenotype of corticotropin-releasing factor-overexpressing mice by MRI. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2001; 14:210-216. [PMID: 11357187 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
High resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was applied to quantify alterations in thymus and adrenal volumes, as well as body fat in genetically engineered corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF)-overexpressing mice. When compared to the organs in age-matched wild-type animals, the adrenals in CRF-overexpressing male mice were significantly enlarged and the thymus volume in females was significantly smaller. The fat content was significantly larger in CRF-overexpressing mice. The anatomical alterations observed in the MRI studies were in perfect line with post-mortem data (weights of organs). Furthermore, the observed interstrain differences are in agreement with recently published data on (i) the effect of continuous, intraventricular infusion of CRF in rats and (ii) the presence of atrophic adrenals in CRF-knockout mice. The present studies demonstrate that MRI can provide reliable measures of relatively small structures such as the adrenal glands and the thymus in mice. This makes MRI an attractive, non-terminal tool to monitor in laboratory animals, including transgenic mice, the consequence of continuous stress on relevant organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Beckmann
- Core Technologies Area, Novartis Pharma AG, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
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Ross B, Bluml S. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the human brain. THE ANATOMICAL RECORD 2001; 265:54-84. [PMID: 11323770 DOI: 10.1002/ar.1058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 267] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance (MR; synonymous with NMR = nuclear magnetic resonance) is a universal physical technique best known for non-invasive detection and anatomical mapping of water protons (H). MR-spectroscopy (MRS) records protons from tissue chemicals other than water, intrinsic phosphorus containing metabolites, sodium, potassium, carbon, nitrogen, and fluorine. MRS is therefore an imaging technique with the potential to record human and animal biochemistry in vivo. As a result of wide availability of MRI equipment in research laboratories and hospitals, MRS is a serious competitor with PET to define normal body composition and its perturbation by pharmacological and pathological events. This article describes practical aspects of in vivo MRS with particular emphasis on the brain, where novel metabolites have been described. A survey of these new aspects of neurochemistry emphasize their practical utility as neuronal and axonal markers, measures of energy status, membrane constituents, and osmolytes, as well as some xenobiotics, such as alcohol. The concept of multinuclear in vivo MRS is illustrated by diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of several human brain disorders. Although these methods are currently most frequently encountered in human studies, as well as with transgenic and knockout mouse models, MRS adds a new dimension to anatomic and histopathologic descriptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ross
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
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