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Published on: June 4, 2015
Multiparametric Imaging of Organ System Interfaces
Katrien Vandoorne1, Matthias Nahrendorf2
1From the Center for Systems Biology (K.V., M.N.) and Department of Imaging (K.V., M.N.), Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston; and Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston (M.N.).
Insights
Multiparametric imaging reveals how interconnected systems influence cardiovascular diseases. This approach quanties interactions, aiding in the discovery of new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for complex heart and artery conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular research
- Systems biology
- Medical imaging
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases arise from genetic and environmental factors impacting the heart and arteries.
- Blood vessels act as communication channels between organs, influenced by nervous and metabolic systems.
- Understanding these systemic interactions is crucial for comprehending cardiovascular disease development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of interfacing systems in cardiovascular disease using multiparametric imaging.
- To quantify the complex interplay between cardiovascular organs and other bodily systems.
- To identify potential biomarker combinations for understanding and diagnosing cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing noninvasive multiparametric imaging techniques.
- Employing advanced imaging modalities like positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging and multichannel optical imaging.
- Simultaneously sampling multiple biomarkers to study system interactions.
Main Results:
- Multiparametric imaging allows for the study of distinct processes within interfacing systems.
- Quantification of interactions between systems like immune, nervous, and hematopoietic with cardiovascular organs.
- Potential for discovering clinically relevant biomarker combinations for cardiovascular disease.
Conclusions:
- Noninvasive multiparametric imaging is a key tool for understanding the complex dynamics of cardiovascular disease.
- Mapping interconnected systems through imaging can decipher disease complexity.
- This approach can aid in monitoring novel therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular conditions.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular diseases are a consequence of genetic and environmental risk factors that together generate arterial wall and cardiac pathologies. Blood vessels connect multiple systems throughout the entire body and allow organs to interact via circulating messengers. These same interactions facilitate nervous and metabolic system's influence on cardiovascular health. Multiparametric imaging offers the opportunity to study these interfacing systems' distinct processes, to quantify their interactions, and to explore how these contribute to cardiovascular disease. Noninvasive multiparametric imaging techniques are emerging tools that can further our understanding of this complex and dynamic interplay. Positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging and multichannel optical imaging are particularly promising because they can simultaneously sample multiple biomarkers. Preclinical multiparametric diagnostics could help discover clinically relevant biomarker combinations pivotal for understanding cardiovascular disease. Interfacing systems important to cardiovascular disease include the immune, nervous, and hematopoietic systems. These systems connect with classical cardiovascular organs, such as the heart and vasculature, and with the brain. The dynamic interplay between these systems and organs enables processes, such as hemostasis, inflammation, angiogenesis, matrix remodeling, metabolism, and fibrosis. As the opportunities provided by imaging expand, mapping interconnected systems will help us decipher the complexity of cardiovascular disease and monitor novel therapeutic strategies.
