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Updated: Feb 28, 2026
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Multiple Sclerosis at 7.0 Tesla
Published on: February 19, 2021
Assessment of ferritin content in multiple sclerosis brains using temperature-induced R*2 changes
Christoph Birkl1, Daniele Carassiti2, Fariha Hussain2
1Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Purpose:
Current MRI techniques cannot reliably assess iron content in white matter due to the confounding diamagnetic effect of myelin. The purpose of this study was to validate with histology a novel iron mapping technique that uses the temperature dependency of the paramagnetic susceptibility in multiple sclerosis (MS) brains, where white matter has been reported to show significant variations in iron content.
Methods:
We investigated post mortem brain tissue from three MS patients and one control subject. Temperature-dependent R2* relaxometry was performed between 4°C and 37°C. The resulting temperature coefficient ( TcR2*) maps were compared with immunohistochemical stains for ferritin light chain.
Results:
Good agreement between TcR2* maps and ferritin staining was found by way of visual comparison and quantitative analysis. The highest iron concentrations were detected at the edge of MS lesions and in the basal ganglia. For all regions, except the subcortical U-fibers, there was a significant negative correlation between the TcR2* values and the ferritin count.
Conclusion:
This study provides further evidence that TcR2* may be a reliable measure of white matter iron content due to the elimination of myelin-induced susceptibility changes and is well suited for further research into neurological diseases with distortions of the iron homeostasis. Magn Reson Med 79:1609-1615, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Insights
A new MRI technique accurately measures white matter iron content by utilizing temperature-dependent susceptibility, overcoming myelin interference. This method shows promise for studying iron in neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS).
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Biophysics
- Histopathology
Background:
- Current MRI methods struggle to quantify white matter iron due to myelin's diamagnetic effect.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) brains exhibit altered white matter iron concentrations, necessitating reliable measurement techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate a novel iron mapping technique using temperature-dependent paramagnetic susceptibility.
- To compare this technique with histological iron staining in post mortem MS brains.
Main Methods:
- Post mortem brain tissue from MS patients and controls was analyzed.
- Temperature-dependent R2* relaxometry was performed across a temperature range (4°C–37°C).
- Results were compared with immunohistochemical ferritin light chain staining.
Main Results:
- The novel temperature coefficient (TcR2*) maps showed good agreement with ferritin staining.
- Elevated iron concentrations were observed at MS lesion edges and in basal ganglia.
- A significant negative correlation existed between TcR2* values and ferritin counts, excluding subcortical U-fibers.
Conclusions:
- The TcR2* technique offers a reliable method for assessing white matter iron content, unaffected by myelin.
- This approach is suitable for investigating iron dysregulation in neurological disorders.
- Findings support TcR2* as a valuable tool in neurodegenerative disease research.
