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Annesley SJ, Missailidis D, Heng B, Josev EK, Armstrong CW. Unravelling shared mechanisms: insights from recent ME/CFS research to illuminate long COVID pathologies. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:443-458. [PMID: 38443223 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating chronic illness often triggered by an initiating acute event, mainly viral infections. The transition from acute to chronic disease remains unknown, but interest in this phenomenon has escalated since the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-COVID-19 illness, termed 'long COVID' (LC). Both ME/CFS and LC share many clinical similarities. Here, we present recent findings in ME/CFS research focussing on proposed disease pathologies shared with LC. Understanding these disease pathologies and how they influence each other is key to developing effective therapeutics and diagnostic tests. Given that ME/CFS typically has a longer disease duration compared with LC, with symptoms and pathologies evolving over time, ME/CFS may provide insights into the future progression of LC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Annesley
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, VIC, Australia.
| | - Daniel Missailidis
- Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, La Trobe University, VIC, Australia
| | - Benjamin Heng
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Human and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Elisha K Josev
- Neurodisability & Rehabilitation, Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher W Armstrong
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Jensen MA, Dafoe ML, Wilhelmy J, Cervantes L, Okumu AN, Kipp L, Nemat-Gorgani M, Davis RW. Catalytic Antibodies May Contribute to Demyelination in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Biochemistry 2024; 63:9-18. [PMID: 38011893 PMCID: PMC10765373 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Here we report preliminary data demonstrating that some patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatiguesyndrome (ME/CFS) may have catalytic autoantibodies that cause the breakdown of myelin basic protein (MBP). We propose that these MBP-degradative antibodies are important to the pathophysiology of ME/CFS, particularly in the occurrence of white matter disease/demyelination. This is supported by magnetic resonance imagining studies that show these findings in patients with ME/CFS and could explain symptoms of nerve pain and muscle weakness. In this work, we performed a series of experiments on patient plasma samples where we isolated and characterized substrate-specific antibodies that digest MBP. We also tested glatiramer acetate (copaxone), an FDA approved immunomodulator to treat multiple sclerosis, and found that it inhibits ME/CFS antibody digestion of MBP. Furthermore, we found that aprotinin, which is a specific serine protease inhibitor, specifically prevents breakdown of MBP while the other classes of protease inhibitors had no effect. This coincides with the published literature describing catalytic antibodies as having serine protease-like activity. Postpandemic research has also provided several reports of demyelination in COVID-19. Because COVID-19 has been described as a trigger for ME/CFS, demyelination could play a bigger role in patient symptoms for those recently diagnosed with ME/CFS. Therefore, by studying proteolytic antibodies in ME/CFS, their target substrates, and inhibitors, a new mechanism of action could lead to better treatment and a possible cure for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Anthony Jensen
- Stanford
Genome Technology Center, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Miranda Lee Dafoe
- Stanford
Genome Technology Center, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Julie Wilhelmy
- Stanford
Genome Technology Center, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Layla Cervantes
- Stanford
Genome Technology Center, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Anna N Okumu
- Stanford
Genome Technology Center, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Lucas Kipp
- Department
of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Mohsen Nemat-Gorgani
- Stanford
Genome Technology Center, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
| | - Ronald Wayne Davis
- Stanford
Genome Technology Center, Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
- Department
of Genetics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, United States
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Josev EK, Chen J, Seal M, Scheinberg A, Cole RC, Rowe K, Lubitz L, Knight SJ. What lies beneath: White matter microstructure in pediatric myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome using diffusion MRI. J Neurosci Res 2023; 101:1572-1585. [PMID: 37331007 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies in adults with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) suggest that changes in brain white matter microstructural organization may correlate with core ME/CFS symptoms, and represent a potential biomarker of disease. However, this has yet to be investigated in the pediatric ME/CFS population. We examined group differences in macrostructural and microstructural white matter properties, and their relationship with clinical measures, between adolescents recently diagnosed with ME/CFS and healthy controls. Forty-eight adolescents (25 ME/CFS, 23 controls, mean age 16 years) underwent brain diffusion MRI, and a robust multi-analytic approach was used to evaluate white and gray matter volume, regional brain volume, cortical thickness, fractional anisotropy, mean/axial/radial diffusivity, neurite dispersion and density, fiber density, and fiber cross section. From a clinical perspective, adolescents with ME/CFS showed greater fatigue and pain, poorer sleep quality, and poorer performance on cognitive measures of processing speed and sustained attention compared with controls. However, no significant group differences in white matter properties were observed, with the exception of greater white matter fiber cross section of the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus in the ME/CFS group compared with controls, which did not survive correction for intracranial volume. Overall, our findings suggest that white matter abnormalities may not be predominant in pediatric ME/CFS in the early stages following diagnosis. The discrepancy between our null findings and white matter abnormalities identified in the adult ME/CFS literature could suggest that older age and/or longer illness duration influence changes in brain structure and brain-behavior relationships that are not yet established in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisha K Josev
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jian Chen
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Marc Seal
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Developmental Imaging, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Adam Scheinberg
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca C Cole
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine Rowe
- Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lionel Lubitz
- Department of General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah J Knight
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Kimura Y, Sato W, Maikusa N, Ota M, Shigemoto Y, Chiba E, Arizono E, Maki H, Shin I, Amano K, Matsuda H, Yamamura T, Sato N. Free-water-corrected diffusion and adrenergic/muscarinic antibodies in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. J Neuroimaging 2023; 33:845-851. [PMID: 37243973 DOI: 10.1111/jon.13128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Free-water-corrected diffusion tensor imaging (FW-DTI), a new analysis method for diffusion MRI, can indicate neuroinflammation and degeneration. There is increasing evidence of autoimmune etiology in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We used FW-DTI and conventional DTI to investigate microstructural brain changes related to autoantibody titers in patients with ME/CFS. METHODS We prospectively examined 58 consecutive right-handed ME/CFS patients who underwent both brain MRI including FW-DTI and a blood analysis of autoantibody titers against β1 adrenergic receptor (β1 AdR-Ab), β2 AdR-Ab, M3 acetylcholine receptor (M3 AchR-Ab), and M4 AchR-Ab. We investigated the correlations between these four autoantibody titers and three FW-DTI indices-free water (FW), FW-corrected fractional anisotropy (FAt), and FW-corrected mean diffusivity-as well as two conventional DTI indices-fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity. The patients' age and gender were considered as nuisance covariates. We also evaluated the correlations between the FW-DTI indices and the performance status and disease duration. RESULTS Significant negative correlations between the serum levels of several autoantibody titers and DTI indices were identified, mainly in the right frontal operculum. The disease duration showed significant negative correlations with both FAt and FA in the right frontal operculum. The changes in the FW-corrected DTI indices were observed over a wider extent compared to the conventional DTI indices. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate the value of using DTI to assess the microstructure of ME/CFS. The abnormalities of right frontal operculum may be a diagnostic marker for ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukio Kimura
- Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Wakiro Sato
- Department of Immunology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Norihide Maikusa
- Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
- Institute for Diversity Adaptation of Human Mind, University of Tokyo, Komaba, Japan
| | - Miho Ota
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoko Shigemoto
- Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Emiko Chiba
- Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Elly Arizono
- Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Maki
- Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Isu Shin
- Sekimachi Medical Clinic, Nerima, Japan
| | | | - Hiroshi Matsuda
- Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
- Drug Discovery and Cyclotron Research Center, Southern TOHOKU Research Institute for Neuroscience, Koriyama, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamamura
- Department of Immunology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
| | - Noriko Sato
- Department of Radiology, National Center Hospital of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Japan
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Sun J, Xu S, Tian D, Duan Y, Xu X, Lv S, Cao G, Shi FD, Chard D, Barkhof F, Zhuo Z, Zhang X, Liu Y. Periventricular gradients in NAWM abnormalities differ in MS, NMOSD and MOGAD. Mult Scler Relat Disord 2023; 75:104732. [PMID: 37167759 DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2023.104732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Sun
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Siyao Xu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Decai Tian
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Yunyun Duan
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Xiaolu Xu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Shan Lv
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Guanmei Cao
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Fu-Dong Shi
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China; Department of Neurology and Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Declan Chard
- NMR Research Unit, Queen Square MS Centre, Department of Neuroinflammation, UCL Institute of Neurology, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals (UCLH) Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | - Frederik Barkhof
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam 1007 MB, the Netherlands; Queen Square Institute of Neurology and Center for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zhizheng Zhuo
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China.
| | - Xinghu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Yaou Liu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100070, China; Tiantan Image Research Center, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing 100070, China.
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Román CAF, Wylie GR, DeLuca J, Yao B. Associations of White Matter and Basal Ganglia Microstructure to Cognitive Fatigue Rate in Multiple Sclerosis. Front Neurol 2022; 13:911012. [PMID: 35860487 PMCID: PMC9289668 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.911012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatigue, including cognitive fatigue, is one of the most debilitating symptoms reported by persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). Cognitive fatigue has been associated with disruptions in striato-thalamo-cortical and frontal networks, but what remains unknown is how the rate at which pwMS become fatigued over time relates to microstructural properties within the brain. The current study aims to fill this gap in knowledge by investigating how cognitive fatigue rate relates to white matter and basal ganglia microstructure in a sample of 62 persons with relapsing-remitting MS. Participants rated their level of cognitive fatigue at baseline and after each block (x7) of a within-scanner cognitive fatigue inducing task. The slope of the regression line of all eight fatigue ratings was designated as “cognitive fatigue rate.” Diffusional kurtosis imaging maps were processed using tract-based spatial statistics and regional analyses (i.e., basal ganglia) and associated with cognitive fatigue rate. Results showed cognitive fatigue rate to be related to several white matter tracts, with many having been associated with basal ganglia connectivity or the previously proposed “fatigue network.” In addition, cognitive fatigue rate was associated with the microstructure within the putamen, though this did not survive multiple comparisons correction. Our approach of using cognitive fatigue rate, rather than trait fatigue, brings us closer to understanding how brain pathology may be impacting the experience of fatigue in the moment, which is crucial for developing interventions. These results hold promise for continuing to unpack the complex construct that is cognitive fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina A. F. Román
- Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, NJ, United States
| | - Glenn R. Wylie
- Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, NJ, United States
- Department of Veterans Affairs, The War Related Illness and Injury Center, New Jersey Healthcare System, East Orange, NJ, United States
| | - John DeLuca
- Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, NJ, United States
- Department of Neurology, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, United States
- *Correspondence: John DeLuca
| | - Bing Yao
- Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, NJ, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, NJ, United States
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Thapaliya K, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Staines D, Su J, Barnden L. Alteration of Cortical Volume and Thickness in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:848730. [PMID: 35527811 PMCID: PMC9072664 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.848730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients suffer from neurocognitive impairment. In this study, we investigated cortical volumetric and thickness changes in ME/CFS patients and healthy controls (HC). We estimated mean surface-based cortical volume and thickness from 18 ME/CFS patients who met International Consensus Criteria (ICC) and 26 HC using FreeSurfer. Vertex-wise analysis showed significant reductions in the caudal middle frontal gyrus (p = 0.0016) and precuneus (p = 0.013) thickness in ME/CFS patients compared with HC. Region based analysis of sub-cortical volumes found that amygdala volume (p = 0.002) was significantly higher in ME/CFS patients compared with HC. We also performed interaction-with-group regressions with clinical measures to test for cortical volume and thickness correlations in ME/CFS with opposite slopes to HC (abnormal). ME/CFS cortical volume and thickness regressions with fatigue, heart-rate variability, heart rate, sleep disturbance score, respiratory rate, and cognitive performance were abnormal. Our study demonstrated different cortical volume and thickness in ME/CFS patients and showed abnormal cortical volume and thickness regressions with key symptoms of ME/CFS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Thapaliya
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Center for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Kiran Thapaliya,
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Jiasheng Su
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
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8
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Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging in Psychiatric Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review and a Technical Note. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 3:10-21. [PMID: 36712566 PMCID: PMC9874146 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
While major psychiatric disorders lack signature diagnostic neuropathologies akin to dementias, classic postmortem studies have established microstructural involvement, i.e., cellular changes in neurons and glia, as a key pathophysiological finding. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques allow mapping of cellular tissue architecture and microstructural abnormalities in vivo, which holds promise for advancing our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying psychiatric disorders. Here, we performed a systematic review of case-control studies using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) to assess brain microstructure in psychiatric disorders and a selective review of technical considerations in NODDI. Of the 584 potentially relevant articles, 18 studies met the criteria to be included in this systematic review. We found a general theme of abnormal gray and white matter microstructure across the diagnostic spectrum. We also noted significant variability in patterns of neurite density and fiber orientation within and across diagnostic groups, as well as associations between brain microstructure and phenotypical variables. NODDI has been successfully used to detect subtle microstructure abnormalities in patients with psychiatric disorders. Given that NODDI indices may provide a more direct link to pathophysiological processes, this method may not only contribute to advancing our mechanistic understanding of disease processes, it may also be well positioned for next-generation biomarker development studies.
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9
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Thapaliya K, Marshall-Gradisnik S, Staines D, Barnden L. Diffusion tensor imaging reveals neuronal microstructural changes in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6214-6228. [PMID: 34355438 PMCID: PMC9291819 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) patients suffer from a variety of physical and neurological complaints indicating the central nervous system plays a role in ME/CFS pathophysiology. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been used to study microstructural changes in neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we evaluated DTI parameters to investigate microstructural abnormalities in ME/CFS patients. We estimated DTI parameters in 25 ME/CFS patients who met Fukuda criteria (ME/CFSFukuda ), 18 ME/CFS patients who met International Consensus Criteria (ICC) (ME/CFSICC ) only and 26 healthy control (HC) subjects. In addition to voxel-based DTI-parameter group comparisons, we performed voxel-based DTI-parameter interaction-with-group regressions with clinical and autonomic measures to test for abnormal regressions. Group comparisons between ME/CFSICC and HC detected significant clusters (a) with decreased axial diffusivity (p = .001) and mean diffusivity (p = .01) in the descending cortico-cerebellar tract in the midbrain and pons and (b) with increased transverse diffusivity in the medulla. The mode of anisotropy was significantly decreased (p = .001) in a cluster in the superior longitudinal fasciculus region. Voxel-based group comparisons between ME/CFSFukuda and HC did not detect significant clusters. For ME/CFSICC and HC, DTI parameter interaction-with-group regressions were abnormal for the clinical measures of information processing score, SF36 physical, sleep disturbance score and respiration rate in both grey and white matter regions. Our study demonstrated that DTI parameters are sensitive to microstructural changes in ME/CFSICC and could potentially act as an imaging biomarker of abnormal pathophysiology in ME/CFS. The study also shows that strict case definitions are essential in investigation of the pathophysiology of ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.,Centre for Advanced Imaging, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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10
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Addiego FM, Zajur K, Knack S, Jamieson J, Rayhan RU, Baraniuk JN. Subcortical brain segment volumes in Gulf War Illness and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Life Sci 2021; 282:119749. [PMID: 34214570 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
AIMS There is controversy about brain volumes in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Gulf War Illness (GWI). Subcortical regions were assessed because of significant differences in blood oxygenation level dependent signals in the midbrain between these diseases. MATERIALS AND METHOD Magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient echo (MPRAGE) images from 3 Tesla structural magnetic resonance imaging scans from sedentary control (n = 34), CFS (n = 38) and GWI (n = 90) subjects were segmented in FreeSurfer. Segmented subcortical volumes were regressed against intracranial volume and age, then iteratively analyzed by multivariate general linear modeling with disease status, gender and demographics as independent co-variates. KEY FINDINGS The optimal model for all subjects used disease status and gender as fixed factors with independent variables eliminated after iteration. Volumes of anterior and midanterior corpus callosum were significantly larger in GWI than CFS. Gender was a significant variable for many segment volumes, and so female and male subjects were analyzed separately. CFS females had smaller left putamen, right caudate and left cerebellum white matter than control women. CFS males had larger left hippocampus than GWI males. Orthostatic status and posttraumatic distress syndrome were not significant covariates. SIGNIFICANCE CFS and GWI were appropriate "illness controls" for each other. The different patterns of adjusted segment volumes suggested that sexual dimorphisms contributed to pathological changes. Previous volumetric studies may need to be reevaluated to account for gender differences. The findings are framed by comparison to the spectrum of magnetic resonance imaging outcomes in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristina Zajur
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA
| | - Sarah Knack
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA
| | - Jessie Jamieson
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA
| | - Rakib U Rayhan
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA
| | - James N Baraniuk
- Pain Fatigue Research Alliance, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20007-2197, USA.
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11
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Alterations in high-order diffusion imaging in veterans with Gulf War Illness is associated with chemical weapons exposure and mild traumatic brain injury. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 89:281-290. [PMID: 32745586 PMCID: PMC7755296 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2020.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The complex etiology behind Gulf War Illness (GWI) has been attributed to the combined exposure to neurotoxicant chemicals, brain injuries, and some combat experiences. Chronic GWI symptoms have been shown to be associated with intensified neuroinflammatory responses in animal and human studies. To investigate the neuroinflammatory responses and potential causes in Gulf War (GW) veterans, we focused on the effects of chemical/biological weapons (CBW) exposure and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) during the war. We applied a novel MRI diffusion processing method, Neurite density imaging (NDI), on high-order diffusion imaging to estimate microstructural alterations of brain imaging in Gulf War veterans with and without GWI, and collected plasma proinflammatory cytokine samples as well as self-reported health symptom scores. Our study identified microstructural changes specific to GWI in the frontal and limbic regions due to CBW and mTBI, and further showed distinctive microstructural patterns such that widespread changes were associated with CBW and more focal changes on diffusion imaging were observed in GW veterans with an mTBI during the war. In addition, microstructural alterations on brain imaging correlated with upregulated blood proinflammatory cytokine markers TNFRI and TNFRII and with worse outcomes on self-reported symptom measures for fatigue and sleep functioning. Taken together, these results suggest TNF signaling mediated inflammation affects frontal and limbic regions of the brain, which may contribute to the fatigue and sleep symptoms of the disease and suggest a strong neuroinflammatory component to GWI. These results also suggest exposures to chemical weapons and mTBI during the war are associated with different patterns of peripheral and central inflammation and highlight the brain regions vulnerable to further subtle microscale morphological changes and chronic signaling to nearby glia.
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Kamiya K, Hori M, Aoki S. NODDI in clinical research. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 346:108908. [PMID: 32814118 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion MRI (dMRI) has proven to be a useful imaging approach for both clinical diagnosis and research investigating the microstructures of nervous tissues, and it has helped us to better understand the neurophysiological mechanisms of many diseases. Though diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has long been the default tool to analyze dMRI data in clinical research, acquisition with stronger diffusion weightings beyond the DTI regimen is now possible with modern clinical scanners, potentially enabling even more detailed characterization of tissue microstructures. To take advantage of such data, neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) has been proposed as a way to relate the dMRI signal to tissue features via biophysically inspired modeling. The number of reports demonstrating the potential clinical utility of NODDI is rapidly increasing. At the same time, the pitfalls and limitations of NODDI, and general challenges in microstructure modeling, are becoming increasingly recognized by clinicians. dMRI microstructure modeling is a rapidly evolving field with great promise, where people from different scientific backgrounds, such as physics, medicine, biology, neuroscience, and statistics, are collaborating to build novel tools that contribute to improving human healthcare. Here, we review the applications of NODDI in clinical research and discuss future perspectives for investigations toward the implementation of dMRI microstructure imaging in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouhei Kamiya
- Department of Radiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Radiology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Radiology, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Masaaki Hori
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Radiology, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeki Aoki
- Department of Radiology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
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Maksoud R, du Preez S, Eaton-Fitch N, Thapaliya K, Barnden L, Cabanas H, Staines D, Marshall-Gradisnik S. A systematic review of neurological impairments in myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome using neuroimaging techniques. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232475. [PMID: 32353033 PMCID: PMC7192498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myalgic encephalomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a multi-system illness characterised by a diverse range of debilitating symptoms including autonomic and cognitive dysfunction. The pathomechanism remains elusive, however, neurological and cognitive aberrations are consistently described. This systematic review is the first to collect and appraise the literature related to the structural and functional neurological changes in ME/CFS patients as measured by neuroimaging techniques and to investigate how these changes may influence onset, symptom presentation and severity of the illness. METHODS A systematic search of databases Pubmed, Embase, MEDLINE (via EBSCOhost) and Web of Science (via Clarivate Analytics) was performed for articles dating between December 1994 and August 2019. Included publications report on neurological differences in ME/CFS patients compared with healthy controls identified using neuroimaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography and electroencephalography. Article selection was further refined based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. A quality assessment of included publications was completed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. RESULTS A total of 55 studies were included in this review. All papers assessed neurological or cognitive differences in adult ME/CFS patients compared with healthy controls using neuroimaging techniques. The outcomes from the articles include changes in gray and white matter volumes, cerebral blood flow, brain structure, sleep, EEG activity, functional connectivity and cognitive function. Secondary measures including symptom severity were also reported in most studies. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest widespread disruption of the autonomic nervous system network including morphological changes, white matter abnormalities and aberrations in functional connectivity. However, these findings are not consistent across studies and the origins of these anomalies remain unknown. Future studies are required confirm the potential neurological contribution to the pathology of ME/CFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah Maksoud
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Stanley du Preez
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Natalie Eaton-Fitch
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Kiran Thapaliya
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Leighton Barnden
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Hélène Cabanas
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Donald Staines
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik
- National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Consortium Health International for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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Yasuno F, Makinodan M, Takahashi M, Matsuoka K, Yoshikawa H, Kitamura S, Ishida R, Kishimoto N, Miyasaka T, Kichikawa K, Kishimoto T. Microstructural Anomalies Evaluated by Neurite Orientation Dispersion and Density Imaging Are Related to Deficits in Facial Emotional Recognition via Perceptual-Binding Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:729-740. [PMID: 32048810 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The integration of visual features is important for recognizing objects as a coherent whole, a key domain of difficulty in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We tested the hypothesis that ASD patients exhibit difficulties in facial emotional recognition via perceptual binding difficulties due to weak coherence. We assessed 18 ASD and 27 typically developing individuals for their ability to identify emotional expressions from faces in pictures moving behind a narrow vertical and horizontal slit. In this task, only a single local piece of facial information was provided at any one time through the slit. Using a voxel-based analysis of neurite-orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), we examined the relationship between NODDI index values at each voxel and the behavioral performance of ASD patients in the slit-viewing paradigm. ASD patients demonstrated impaired recognition of facial emotional expression only in horizontal slit-viewing. This deficit was associated with deficits in communication ability. Voxel-based analysis revealed significant negative correlations between behavioral deficits in horizontal slit-viewing and NODDI index values in clusters including the ventral occipital complex region, superior temporal/parietal association areas, and forceps major of the corpus callosum. Our results indicated deficits for the first time in perceptual integration of facial expression across hemispheres in ASD patients due to microstructural disturbances in the corpus callosum and areas related to viewing of the human face. This may underscore the difficulties faced by ASD patients in understanding the emotions of other people, contributing to impairments in communication ability in ASD patients. Autism Res 2020, 13: 729-740. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: We assessed ASD and typically developing individuals for their ability to identify emotional expressions from faces in pictures moving behind a narrow vertical and horizontal slit. ASD patients demonstrated impaired recognition of facial emotional expression only in horizontal slit-viewing. Voxel-based analysis revealed significant negative correlations between behavioral deficits and NODDI index values in clusters including the corpus callosum. Our results indicated deficits in perceptual integration of facial expression across hemispheres in ASD patients potentially resulting from microstructural disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumihiko Yasuno
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Manabu Makinodan
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Masato Takahashi
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Kiwamu Matsuoka
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | | | | | - Rio Ishida
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
| | - Naoko Kishimoto
- Department of Psychiatry, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan
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