Volume 80, Issue 6 pp. 2655-2669
Full Paper

Assessment of renal fibrosis in murine diabetic nephropathy using quantitative magnetization transfer MRI

Feng Wang

Feng Wang

Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee

Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

Feng Wang and Daisuke Katagiri contributed equally to this work.

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Daisuke Katagiri

Daisuke Katagiri

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

Feng Wang and Daisuke Katagiri contributed equally to this work.

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Ke Li

Ke Li

Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee

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Keiko Takahashi

Keiko Takahashi

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

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Suwan Wang

Suwan Wang

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

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Shinya Nagasaka

Shinya Nagasaka

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

Department of Analytic Human Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

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Hua Li

Hua Li

Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee

Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

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C. Chad Quarles

C. Chad Quarles

Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee

Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

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Ming-Zhi Zhang

Ming-Zhi Zhang

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

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Akira Shimizu

Akira Shimizu

Department of Analytic Human Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

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John C. Gore

John C. Gore

Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, Nashville, Tennessee

Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

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Raymond C. Harris

Raymond C. Harris

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

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Takamune Takahashi

Corresponding Author

Takamune Takahashi

Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee

Correspondence Takamune Takahashi, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, S-3223 MCN, 1161 21st Avenue S., Nashville, TN, 37232. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this author
First published: 30 May 2018
Citations: 27

Funding information: This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants DK79341, DK114809, DK97332, DK76169 (pilot project), and DK20593 (pilot program), and by Uehara Memorial Foundation, Kanae Foundation, and Nippon Medical School Grant-in-Aid for Overseas Training Program

Abstract

Purpose

Renal fibrosis is a hallmark of progressive renal disease; however, current clinical tests are insufficient for assessing renal fibrosis. Here we evaluated the utility of quantitative magnetization transfer MRI in detecting renal fibrosis in a murine model of progressive diabetic nephropathy (DN).

Methods

The db/db eNOS-/- mice, a well-recognized model of progressive DN, and normal wild-type mice were imaged at 7T. The quantitative magnetization transfer data were collected in coronal plane using a 2D magnetization transfer prepared spoiled gradient echo sequence with a Gaussian-shaped presaturation pulse. Parameters were derived using a two-pool fitting model. A normal range of cortical pool size ratio (PSR) was defined as Mean±2SD of wild-type kidneys (N = 20). The cortical regions whose PSR values exceeded this threshold (threshold PSR) were assessed. The correlations between the PSR-based and histological (collagen IV or picrosirius red stain) fibrosis measurements were evaluated.

Results

Compared with wild-type mice, moderate increases in mean PSR values and scattered clusters of high PSR region were observed in cortex of DN mouse kidneys. Abnormally high PSR regions (% area) that were detected by the threshold PSR were significantly increased in renal cortexes of DN mice. These regions progressively increased on aging and highly correlated with histological fibrosis measures, while the mean PSR values correlated much less.

Conclusion

Renal fibrosis in DN can be assessed by the quantitative magnetization transfer MRI and threshold analysis. This technique may be used as a novel imaging biomarker for DN and other renal diseases.

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