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Updated: Apr 9, 2026
From Fast Fluorescence Imaging to Molecular Diffusion Law on Live Cell Membranes in a Commercial Microscope
Published on: October 9, 2014
Time-Dependent Influence of Cell Membrane Permeability on MR Diffusion Measurements
Hua Li1,2, Xiaoyu Jiang1,3, Jingping Xie1
1Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Purpose:
To investigate the influence of cell membrane permeability on diffusion measurements over a broad range of diffusion times.
Methods:
Human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells were cultured and treated with saponin to selectively alter cell membrane permeability, resulting in a broad physiologically relevant range of 0.011-0.044 μm/ms. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were acquired with the effective diffusion time (Δeff ) ranging from 0.42 to 3000 ms. Cosine-modulated oscillating gradient spin echo (OGSE) measurements were performed to achieve short Δeff from 0.42 to 5 ms, while stimulated echo acquisitions were used to achieve long Δeff from 11 to 2999 ms. Computer simulations were also performed to support the experimental results.
Results:
Both computer simulations and experiments in vitro showed that the influence of membrane permeability on diffusion MR measurements is highly dependent on the choice of diffusion time, and it is negligible only when the diffusion time is at least one order of magnitude smaller than the intracellular exchange lifetime.
Conclusion:
The influence of cell membrane permeability on the measured ADCs is negligible in OGSE measurements at moderately high frequencies. By contrast, cell membrane permeability has a significant influence on ADC and quantitative diffusion measurements at low frequencies such as those sampled using conventional pulsed gradient methods.
Insights
Cell membrane permeability significantly impacts diffusion MRI measurements, especially at longer diffusion times. Minimizing this influence requires diffusion times much shorter than the intracellular exchange lifetime for accurate results.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Cell membrane permeability is a critical factor influencing diffusion measurements in biological tissues.
- Understanding this influence is crucial for accurate interpretation of diffusion MRI data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how cell membrane permeability affects diffusion measurements across various diffusion times.
- To determine the optimal diffusion time for minimizing the impact of membrane permeability.
Main Methods:
- Human K562 cells were treated with saponin to alter membrane permeability.
- Diffusion MRI measurements were performed using oscillating gradient spin echo (OGSE) and stimulated echo acquisition modes.
- Effective diffusion times ranged from 0.42 to 3000 ms, complemented by computer simulations.
Main Results:
- The impact of membrane permeability on diffusion measurements is strongly dependent on the diffusion time.
- This influence becomes negligible only when the diffusion time is significantly shorter than the intracellular exchange lifetime.
Conclusions:
- Cell membrane permeability minimally affects apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurements using OGSE at higher frequencies.
- Conversely, membrane permeability significantly influences ADC values obtained with conventional pulsed gradient methods at lower frequencies.
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