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Effect of disease progression on liver apparent diffusion coefficient values in a murine model of NASH at 11.7 Tesla
Stephan W Anderson1, Jorge A Soto, Holly N Milch
1Boston University Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Boston, MA, USA. stephan.anderson@bmc.org
Purpose:
To evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of liver in a murine model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis using 11.7 Tesla (T) MRI.
Materials And Methods:
This animal study was IACUC approved. Seventeen male C57BL/6 mice were divided into control (n = 3) and experimental groups (n = 14) fed a methionine-deficient choline-deficient (MCD) diet to induce steatohepatitis. Livers underwent ex vivo diffusion-weighted MR imaging and ADC maps were calculated. A pathologist determined subjective scores of steatosis, classified from 0 to 3. Digital image analysis was used to determine percentage areas of steatosis. Graphs comparing ADC to subjective and digital image analysis (DIA) determinations of steatosis were plotted.
Results:
Subjective assessments of steatosis ranged up to values of 3 and DIA determined areas of steatosis to range up to approximately 16%. ADC values approximated 800 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s (range, 749-811 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s, mean 786 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s) in controls and 500 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s (range, 478-733 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s, mean 625 × 10(-6) mm(2) /s) in experimental mice. Moderate correlation between ADC and subjective scores of steatosis (R = -0.56) was observed. Strong correlation between ADC values and percentage areas of steatosis was between ADC values and percentage areas of steatosis was observed greater (R = -0.81) and very strong correlation was observed with the exclusion of a single outlying data point (R = -0.91).
Conclusion:
Based on the comparison of ADC values and steatosis determinations by DIA, increasing degrees of steatosis are seen to result in decreased hepatic ADC values.
Insights
Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values decrease in the liver as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) progresses. This finding, measured using high-field MRI in mice, shows a strong correlation between ADC and steatosis severity.
Area of Science:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Hepatology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive liver disease.
- Accurate non-invasive assessment of hepatic steatosis is crucial for diagnosis and management.
- Diffusion-weighted MRI offers a potential method for evaluating liver tissue characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and the degree of steatosis in a murine model of NASH.
- To evaluate the utility of 11.7 Tesla (T) MRI for assessing liver changes in NASH.
Main Methods:
- A methionine-deficient choline-deficient (MCD) diet was used to induce NASH in 14 male C57BL/6 mice.
- Control group consisted of 3 mice on a standard diet.
- Ex vivo diffusion-weighted MRI was performed, and ADC maps were generated.
- Steatosis was quantified using both subjective pathologist scores and digital image analysis (DIA).
Main Results:
- ADC values were significantly lower in mice with NASH (mean 625 × 10⁻⁶ mm²/s) compared to controls (mean 786 × 10⁻⁶ mm²/s).
- A strong negative correlation was observed between hepatic ADC values and the percentage of steatosis determined by DIA (R = -0.81, R = -0.91 with outlier exclusion).
- Moderate correlation was found between ADC values and subjective steatosis scores (R = -0.56).
Conclusions:
- Hepatic ADC values decrease with increasing severity of steatosis in NASH.
- Diffusion-weighted MRI at 11.7T can effectively detect and quantify liver steatosis in a preclinical model.
- ADC measurements show promise as a non-invasive biomarker for NASH.
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