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Cardiomyocyte death: insights from molecular and microstructural magnetic resonance imaging
Natalia C Berry1, David E Sosnovik
1Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 5404, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA.
Abstract:
Cardiomyocytes can die via necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy. Although the molecular signals and pathways underlying these processes have been well elucidated, the pathophysiology of cardiomyocyte death remains incompletely understood. This review describes the development and application of novel imaging techniques to detect and characterize cardiomyocyte death noninvasively in vivo. It focuses on molecular and microstructural magnetic resonance images (MRIs) and their respective abilities to image cellular events such as apoptosis, inflammation, and myofiber architecture. These in vivo imaging techniques have the potential to provide novel insights into the mechanisms of cardiomyocyte death and to help guide the development of novel cardioprotective therapies.
Insights
Novel imaging techniques, including molecular and microstructural magnetic resonance images (MRIs), noninvasively detect cardiomyocyte death. This advances understanding of heart muscle cell death mechanisms and aids cardioprotective therapy development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Biomedical Imaging
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Cardiomyocyte death occurs through necrosis, apoptosis, and autophagy.
- The precise pathophysiology of cardiomyocyte death requires further elucidation.
- Existing knowledge of molecular pathways is extensive but incomplete.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel noninvasive in vivo imaging techniques for detecting cardiomyocyte death.
- To focus on molecular and microstructural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications.
- To explore the potential of these techniques in understanding heart muscle cell death.
Main Methods:
- Description of molecular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Description of microstructural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Application of MRI to image cellular events like apoptosis and inflammation.
Main Results:
- Molecular and microstructural MRIs can characterize cardiomyocyte death noninvasively.
- These techniques visualize cellular events including apoptosis, inflammation, and myofiber architecture.
- In vivo imaging provides a new window into cardiomyocyte death mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Novel in vivo imaging techniques offer significant potential for studying cardiomyocyte death.
- These advanced MRI methods can provide crucial insights into heart muscle pathophysiology.
- This research may guide the development of new cardioprotective therapies.
