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Quevenco FC, Schreiner SJ, Preti MG, van Bergen JMG, Kirchner T, Wyss M, Steininger SC, Gietl A, Leh SE, Buck A, Pruessmann KP, Hock C, Nitsch RM, Henning A, Van De Ville D, Unschuld PG. GABA and glutamate moderate beta-amyloid related functional connectivity in cognitively unimpaired old-aged adults. Neuroimage Clin 2019; 22:101776. [PMID: 30927605 PMCID: PMC6439267 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Revised: 02/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Effects of beta-amyloid accumulation on neuronal function precede the clinical manifestation of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by years and affect distinct cognitive brain networks. As previous studies suggest a link between beta-amyloid and dysregulation of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, we aimed to investigate the impact of GABA and glutamate on beta-amyloid related functional connectivity. Methods 29 cognitively unimpaired old-aged adults (age = 70.03 ± 5.77 years) were administered 11C-Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) positron-emission tomography (PET), and MRI at 7 Tesla (7T) including blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI) at rest for measuring static and dynamic functional connectivity. An advanced 7T MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) sequence based on the free induction decay acquisition localized by outer volume suppression’ (FIDLOVS) technology was used for gray matter specific measures of GABA and glutamate in the posterior cingulate and precuneus (PCP) region. Results GABA and glutamate MR-spectra indicated significantly higher levels in gray matter than in white matter. A global effect of beta-amyloid on functional connectivity in the frontal, occipital and inferior temporal lobes was observable. Interactive effects of beta-amyloid with gray matter GABA displayed positive PCP connectivity to the frontomedial regions, and the interaction of beta-amyloid with gray matter glutamate indicated positive PCP connectivity to frontal and cerebellar regions. Furthermore, decreased whole-brain but increased fronto-occipital and temporo-parietal dynamic connectivity was found, when GABA interacted with regional beta-amyloid deposits in the amygdala, frontal lobe, hippocampus, insula and striatum. Conclusions GABA, and less so glutamate, may moderate beta-amyloid related functional connectivity. Additional research is needed to better characterize their interaction and potential impact on AD. Combined ultra-high fieldstrength FIDLOVS MRSI at 7 Tesla with 11C-PIB PET. Assessment of gray matter specific levels of GABA and glutamate. Identification of interactive effects of GABA, glutamate and beta-Amyloid. GABA may moderate dysfunctional beta-Amyloid effects on pre-clinical brain pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- F C Quevenco
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S J Schreiner
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M G Preti
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Université de Genève, Switzerland; Institute of Bioengineering, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - J M G van Bergen
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - T Kirchner
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Wyss
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S C Steininger
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Gietl
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - S E Leh
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Buck
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich (USZ), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - K P Pruessmann
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - C Hock
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - R M Nitsch
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Henning
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tubingen, Germany
| | - D Van De Ville
- Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Université de Genève, Switzerland; Institute of Bioengineering, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - P G Unschuld
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich (PUK), Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland.
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van Bergen JMG, Li X, Quevenco FC, Gietl AF, Treyer V, Meyer R, Buck A, Kaufmann PA, Nitsch RM, van Zijl PCM, Hock C, Unschuld PG. Simultaneous quantitative susceptibility mapping and Flutemetamol-PET suggests local correlation of iron and β-amyloid as an indicator of cognitive performance at high age. Neuroimage 2018; 174:308-316. [PMID: 29548847 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of β-amyloid plaques is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and recently published data suggest that increased brain iron burden may reflect pathologies that synergistically contribute to the development of cognitive dysfunction. While preclinical disease stages are considered most promising for therapeutic intervention, the link between emerging AD-pathology and earliest clinical symptoms remains largely unclear. In the current study we therefore investigated local correlations between iron and β-amyloid plaques, and their possible association with cognitive performance in healthy older adults. 116 older adults (mean age 75 ± 7.4 years) received neuropsychological testing to calculate a composite cognitive score of performance in episodic memory, executive functioning, attention, language and communication. All participants were scanned on a combined PET-MRI instrument and were administered T1-sequences for anatomical mapping, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) for assessing iron, and 18F-Flutemetamol-PET for estimating β-amyloid plaque load. Biological parametric mapping (BPM) was used to generate masks indicating voxels with significant (p < 0.05) correlation between susceptibility and 18F-Flutemetamol-SUVR. We found a bilateral pattern of clusters characterized by a statistical relationship between magnetic susceptibility and 18F-Flutemetamol-SUVR, indicating local correlations between iron and β-amyloid plaque deposition. For two bilateral clusters, located in the frontal and temporal cortex, significant relationships (p<0.05) between local β-amyloid and the composite cognitive performance score could be observed. No relationship between whole-cortex β-amyloid plaque load and cognitive performance was observable. Our data suggest that the local correlation of β-amyloid plaque load and iron deposition may provide relevant information regarding cognitive performance of healthy older adults. Further studies are needed to clarify pathological correlates of the local interaction of β-amyloid, iron and other causes of altered magnetic susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M G van Bergen
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - X Li
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - F C Quevenco
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A F Gietl
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - V Treyer
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - R Meyer
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Buck
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - P A Kaufmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - R M Nitsch
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - P C M van Zijl
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - C Hock
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - P G Unschuld
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland
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van Bergen JMG, Li X, Hua J, Schreiner SJ, Steininger SC, Quevenco FC, Wyss M, Gietl AF, Treyer V, Leh SE, Buck F, Nitsch RM, Pruessmann KP, van Zijl PCM, Hock C, Unschuld PG. Colocalization of cerebral iron with Amyloid beta in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35514. [PMID: 27748454 PMCID: PMC5066274 DOI: 10.1038/srep35514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) MRI at 7 Tesla and 11-Carbon Pittsburgh-Compound-B PET were used for investigating the relationship between brain iron and Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque-load in a context of increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), as reflected by the Apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE-e4) allele and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in elderly subjects. Carriers of APOE-e4 with normal cognition had higher cortical Aβ-plaque-load than non-carriers. In MCI an association between APOE-e4 and higher Aβ-plaque-load was observable both for cortical and subcortical brain-regions. APOE-e4 and MCI was also associated with higher cortical iron. Moreover, cerebral iron significantly affected functional coupling, and was furthermore associated with increased Aβ-plaque-load (R2-adjusted = 0.80, p < 0.001) and APOE-e4 carrier status (p < 0.001) in MCI. This study confirms earlier reports on an association between increased brain iron-burden and risk for neurocognitive dysfunction due to AD, and indicates that disease-progression is conferred by spatial colocalization of brain iron deposits with Aβ-plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M G van Bergen
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - X Li
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - J Hua
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - S J Schreiner
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland.,Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - S C Steininger
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland.,Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - F C Quevenco
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - M Wyss
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - A F Gietl
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland.,Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - V Treyer
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - S E Leh
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland.,Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - F Buck
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Zürich and University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - R M Nitsch
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland.,Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - K P Pruessmann
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - P C M van Zijl
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.,F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - C Hock
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
| | - P G Unschuld
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland.,Hospital for Psychogeriatric Medicine, University of Zürich, Switzerland
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van Bergen JMG, Hua J, Unschuld PG, Lim IAL, Jones CK, Margolis RL, Ross CA, van Zijl PCM, Li X. Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping Suggests Altered Brain Iron in Premanifest Huntington Disease. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2016; 37:789-96. [PMID: 26680466 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a4617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In patients with premanifest (nonsymptomatic) and advanced Huntington disease, changes in brain iron levels in the basal ganglia have been previously reported, especially in the striatum. Quantitative susceptibility mapping by using MR phase imaging allows in vivo measurements of tissue magnetic susceptibility, which has been shown to correlate well with iron levels in brain gray matter and is believed to be more specific than other imaging-based iron measures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of magnetic susceptibility as a biomarker of disease progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifteen subjects with premanifest Huntington disease and 16 age-matched healthy controls were scanned at 7T. Magnetic susceptibility, effective relaxation, and tissue volume in deep gray matter structures were quantified and compared with genetic and clinical measures. RESULTS Subjects with premanifest Huntington disease showed significantly higher susceptibility values in the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus, indicating increased iron levels in these structures. Significant decreases in magnetic susceptibility were found in the substantia nigra and hippocampus. In addition, significant volume loss (atrophy) and an increase effective relaxation were observed in the caudate nucleus and putamen. Susceptibility values in the caudate nucleus and putamen were found to be inversely correlated with structure volumes and directly correlated with the genetic burdens, represented by cytosine-adenine-guanine repeat age-product-scaled scores. CONCLUSIONS The significant magnetic susceptibility differences between subjects with premanifest Huntington disease and controls and their correlation with genetic burden scores indicate the potential use of magnetic susceptibility as a biomarker of disease progression in premanifest Huntington disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M G van Bergen
- From the Departments of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.) F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - J Hua
- From the Departments of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.) F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - P G Unschuld
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (P.G.U., R.L.M., C.A.R.) Division of Psychiatry Research and Psychogeriatric Medicine (P.G.U.), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - I A L Lim
- From the Departments of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.) F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - C K Jones
- From the Departments of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.) F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - R L Margolis
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (P.G.U., R.L.M., C.A.R.) Neurology (R.L.M., C.A.R.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - C A Ross
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (P.G.U., R.L.M., C.A.R.) Neurology (R.L.M., C.A.R.), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - P C M van Zijl
- From the Departments of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.) F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - X Li
- From the Departments of Radiology and Radiological Sciences (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.) F.M. Kirby Research Center for Functional Brain Imaging (J.M.G.v.B., J.H., I.A.L.L., C.K.J., P.C.M.v.Z., X.L.), Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland
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