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DTI metrics can be used as biomarkers to determine the therapeutic effect of stem cells in acute peripheral nerve injury
Author(s) -
Chen YueYao,
Zhang Xiang,
Lin XiaoFeng,
Zhang Fang,
Duan XiaoHui,
Zheng ChuShan,
Chen MeiWei,
Wang DongYe,
Zeng WeiKe,
Shen Jun
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.25395
Subject(s) - fractional anisotropy , medicine , diffusion mri , sciatic nerve , peripheral , saline , nerve injury , peripheral nerve injury , mesenchymal stem cell , anesthesia , pathology , nuclear medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , radiology
Purpose To determine the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics as biomarkers for the therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in acute peripheral nerve injury. Materials and Methods Forty‐four adult rats received subepineurial microinjection of MSCs (n = 22) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS, n = 22) 1 week after the sciatic nerve trunk crush injury. Sequential fat‐suppressed T2‐weighted imaging, T2 measurement, DTI and sciatic nerve functional assessment were performed at a 3.0 Tesla MR unit over an 8‐week follow‐up, with histological assessments performed at regular intervals. The sciatic nerve function index, T2 value, and DTI metrics, including fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity, radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity values of the distal stumps of crushed nerves were measured and compared between the two groups. Results Nerves treated with MSCs showed better functional recovery and exhibited more pronounced nerve regeneration compared with nerves treated with PBS. T2 values in nerves treated with MSCs or PBS showed a similar change pattern ( P = 0.174), while FA and RD values in nerves treated with MSCs showed more rapid return (one week earlier) to baseline level than nerves treated with PBS ( P = 0.045; 0.035). Nerves treated with MSCs had higher FA and lower RD values than nerves treated with PBS during the period from 2 to 3 weeks after surgery ( P ≤ 0.0001, 0.004; P = 0.004, 0.006). Conclusion FA and RD values derived from DTI might be used as sensitive biomarkers for detecting the therapeutic effect of stem cells in acute peripheral nerve crush injuries. Level of Evidence: 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:855–862.