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Obrecht M, Zurbruegg S, Accart N, Lambert C, Doelemeyer A, Ledermann B, Beckmann N. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound elastography in the context of preclinical pharmacological research: significance for the 3R principles. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1177421. [PMID: 37448960 PMCID: PMC10337591 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1177421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The 3Rs principles-reduction, refinement, replacement-are at the core of preclinical research within drug discovery, which still relies to a great extent on the availability of models of disease in animals. Minimizing their distress, reducing their number as well as searching for means to replace them in experimental studies are constant objectives in this area. Due to its non-invasive character in vivo imaging supports these efforts by enabling repeated longitudinal assessments in each animal which serves as its own control, thereby enabling to reduce considerably the animal utilization in the experiments. The repetitive monitoring of pathology progression and the effects of therapy becomes feasible by assessment of quantitative biomarkers. Moreover, imaging has translational prospects by facilitating the comparison of studies performed in small rodents and humans. Also, learnings from the clinic may be potentially back-translated to preclinical settings and therefore contribute to refining animal investigations. By concentrating on activities around the application of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound elastography to small rodent models of disease, we aim to illustrate how in vivo imaging contributes primarily to reduction and refinement in the context of pharmacological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Obrecht
- Diseases of Aging and Regenerative Medicines, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Zurbruegg
- Neurosciences Department, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nathalie Accart
- Diseases of Aging and Regenerative Medicines, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Lambert
- Diseases of Aging and Regenerative Medicines, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Arno Doelemeyer
- Diseases of Aging and Regenerative Medicines, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Birgit Ledermann
- 3Rs Leader, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nicolau Beckmann
- Diseases of Aging and Regenerative Medicines, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
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Crowe LA, Montecucco F, Carbone F, Friedli I, Hachulla AL, Braunersreuther V, Mach F, Vallée JP. 4D cardiac imaging at clinical 3.0T provides accurate assessment of murine myocardial function and viability. Magn Reson Imaging 2017; 44:46-54. [PMID: 28827099 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2017.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 07/22/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We validate a 4D strategy tailored for 3T clinical systems to simultaneously quantify function and infarct size in wild type mice after ischemia/reperfusion, with improved spatial and temporal resolution by comparison to previous published protocols using clinical field MRI systems. METHODS C57BL/6J mice underwent 60min ischemia/reperfusion (n=14) or were controls without surgery (n=6). Twenty-four hours after surgery mice were imaged with gadolinium injection and sacrificed for post-mortem MRI and histology with serum also taken for Troponin I levels. The double ECG- and respiratory-triggered 3D FLASH (Fast Low Angle Shot) gradient echo (GRE) cine sequence had an acquired isotropic resolution of 344μm, TR/TE of 7.8/2.9ms and acquisition time 25-35min. The conventional 2D FLASH cine sequence had the same in-plane resolution of 344μm, 1mm slice thickness and TR/TE 11/5.4ms for an acquisition time of 20-25min plus 5min for planning. Left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) volumes were measured and functional parameters compared 2D to 3D, left to right and for inter and intra observer reproducibility. MRI infarct volume was compared to histology. RESULTS For the function evaluation, the 3D cine outperformed 2D cine for spatial and temporal resolution. Protocol time for the two methods was equivalent (25-35min). Flow artifacts were reduced (p=0.008) and epi/endo-cardial delineation showed good intra and interobserver reproducibility. Paired t-test comparing ejection volume left to right showed no significant difference for 3D (p=0.37), nor 2D (p=0.30) and correlation slopes of left to right EV were 1.17 (R2=0.75) for 2D and 1.05 (R2=0.50) for 3D. Quantifiable 'late gadolinium enhancement' infarct volume was seen only with the 3D cine and correlated to histology (R2=0.89). Left ejection fraction and MRI-measured infarct volume correlated (R2>0.3). CONCLUSIONS The 4D strategy, with contrast injection, was validated in mice for function and infarct quantification from a single scan with minimal slice planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Crowe
- Division of Radiology, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 4 rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Fabrizio Montecucco
- First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 6 viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genoa, Italy; IRCCS AOU San Martino - IST, Genova, 10 Largo Rosanna Benzi, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Federico Carbone
- First Clinic of Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 6 viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
| | - Iris Friedli
- Division of Radiology, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 4 rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Anne-Lise Hachulla
- Division of Radiology, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 4 rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Vincent Braunersreuther
- Division of Pathology, Department of Genetics and Laboratory Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 4 rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - François Mach
- Division of Cardiology, Foundation for Medical Researches, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Geneva, 64 avenue de la Roseraie, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Jean-Paul Vallée
- Division of Radiology, Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 4 rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
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Braunersreuther V, Montecucco F, Pelli G, Galan K, Proudfoot AE, Belin A, Vuilleumier N, Burger F, Lenglet S, Caffa I, Soncini D, Nencioni A, Vallée JP, Mach F. Treatment with the CC chemokine-binding protein Evasin-4 improves post-infarction myocardial injury and survival in mice. Thromb Haemost 2013; 110:807-25. [PMID: 23925450 DOI: 10.1160/th13-04-0297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/03/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Chemokines trigger leukocyte trafficking and are implicated in cardiovascular disease pathophysiology. Chemokine-binding proteins, called "Evasins" have been shown to inhibit both CC and CXC chemokine-mediated bioactivities. Here, we investigated whether treatment with Evasin-3 (CXC chemokine inhibitor) and Evasin-4 (CC chemokine inhibitor) could influence post-infarction myocardial injury and remodelling. C57Bl/6 mice were submitted in vivo to left coronary artery permanent ligature and followed up for different times (up to 21 days). After coronary occlusion, three intraperitoneal injections of 10 μg Evasin-3, 1 μg Evasin-4 or equal volume of vehicle (PBS) were performed at 5 minutes, 24 hours (h) and 48 h after ischaemia onset. Both anti-chemokine treatments were associated with the beneficial reduction in infarct size as compared to controls. This effect was accompanied by a decrease in post-infarction myocardial leukocyte infiltration, reactive oxygen species release, and circulating levels of CXCL1 and CCL2. Treatment with Evasin-4 induced a more potent effect, abrogating the inflammation already at one day after ischaemia onset. At days 1 and 21 after ischaemia onset, both anti-chemokine treatments failed to significantly improve cardiac function, remodelling and scar formation. At 21-day follow-up, mouse survival was exclusively improved by Evasin-4 treatment when compared to control vehicle. In conclusion, we showed that the selective inhibition of CC chemokines (i.e. CCL5) with Evasin-4 reduced cardiac injury/inflammation and improved survival. Despite the inhibition of CXC chemokine bioactivities, Evasin-3 did not affect mouse survival. Therefore, early inhibition of CC chemokines might represent a promising therapeutic approach to reduce the development of post-infarction heart failure in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Braunersreuther
- Fabrizio Montecucco, MD, PhD, Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospital, Foundation for Medical Researches, 64 Avenue Roseraie, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, Tel.: +41 223827238, Fax: +41 223827245, E-mail:
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