Multiple sclerosis normal-appearing white matter: Pathology-imaging correlations

Natalia M. Moll, Anna M. Rietsch, Smitha Thomas, Amy J. Ransohoff, Jar-Chi Lee, Robert Fox, Ansi Chang, Richard M. Ransohoff, Elizabeth Fisher
2011 Annals of Neurology  
Objective-To determine the pathologic basis of subtle abnormalities in magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) parameters observed in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) in multiple sclerosis (MS) brains. Methods-Brain tissues were obtained through a rapid post-mortem protocol that included in situ MRI. Four types of MRI-defined regions of interest (ROIs) were analyzed: (1) Regions that were abnormal on all images ("T2T1MTR lesions"); (2) NAWM regions with
more » ... -abnormal MTR located close to white matter lesions ("sa-WM Close"); (3) NAWM regions with slightlyabnormal MTR located far from lesions ("sa-WM Far"); and (4) NAWM regions with normal MTR ("NAWM"). Immunohistochemical analysis for each ROI comprised immunostaining for myelin, axonal markers, activated microglia/macrophages, astrocytes, plasma proteins and blood vessels. Results-Forty-eight ROIs from four secondary progressive MS brains were analyzed. Sa-WM Close ROIs were associated with significantly more axonal swellings. There were more enlarged MHCII(+) microglia and macrophages detected in sa-WM Far, sa-WM Close, and T2T1MTR lesions than in NAWM. Across all ROIs, MTR and DTI measures were moderately correlated with myelin density, axonal area and axonal counts. Excluding T2T1MTR lesions from analysis revealed that MTR and DTI measures in non-lesional WM were correlated with activated microglia, but not with axonal or myelin integrity. Interpretation-The pathologic substrates for MRI abnormalities in NAWM vary based on distance from focal WM lesions. Close to WM lesions, axonal pathology and microglial activation CORRESPONDING AUTHOR may explain subtle MRI changes. Distant from lesions, microglial activation associated with proximity to cortical lesions might underlie MRI abnormalities.
doi:10.1002/ana.22521 pmid:22162059 pmcid:PMC3241216 fatcat:h32nvfr4dvcclcxmkh4yzcrcdu