radiology news
MR detects pancreatic islet inflammation in type 1 diabetes
CONTEXT: In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system mistakenly launches an attack on insulin-producing beta cells, sending T cells to invade pancreatic islets. Until recently, physicians could track type 1 diabetes only by monitoring blood levels of antibodies directed against pancreatic islet proteins. The test, however, usually detected type 1 diabetes late in its progression, after most islet beta cells had been destroyed and autoimmune processes had been played out. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston's Joslin Diabetes Center are using magnetofluorescence contrast nanoparticles, monitored with high-field MR, to devise a better test. It measures the permeability of the small blood vessels surrounding and within the islets, an early marker of this inflammation.
RESULTS: The technique has been successfully tested on a mouse model. For imaging, long-circulating magnetofluorescent nanoparticles were used. They consist of a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) core, a crosslinked dextran coating, and amino groups to which Alexa-488 fluorochrome is attached. Transgenic mice were imaged with an 8.5T micro-MR scanner 24 hours after contrast injection. Contrast accumulation was monitored in vivo, and a positive correlation between probe accumulation and insulitis was documented.
IMAGE: Higher MR relativities were measured in the pancreas of normal mice compared with diabetic mice 24 hours after contrast injection. (Image reprinted with permission of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science)
IMPLICATIONS: This imaging strategy may prove invaluable in helping identify early insulitis and for monitoring therapeutic interventions aimed at stopping its progression. MGH has already safely used the method in human clinical trials to detect the spread of prostate cancers to the lymph nodes.
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CONTEXT: In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system mistakenly launches an attack on insulin-producing beta cells, sending T cells to invade pancreatic islets. Until recently, physicians could track type 1 diabetes only by monitoring blood levels of antibodies directed against pancreatic islet proteins. The test, however, usually detected type 1 diabetes late in its progression, after most islet beta cells had been destroyed and autoimmune processes had been played out. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston's Joslin Diabetes Center are using magnetofluorescence contrast nanoparticles, monitored with high-field MR, to devise a better test. It measures the permeability of the small blood vessels surrounding and within the islets, an early marker of this inflammation.
RESULTS: The technique has been successfully tested on a mouse model. For imaging, long-circulating magnetofluorescent nanoparticles were used. They consist of a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) core, a crosslinked dextran coating, and amino groups to which Alexa-488 fluorochrome is attached. Transgenic mice were imaged with an 8.5T micro-MR scanner 24 hours after contrast injection. Contrast accumulation was monitored in vivo, and a positive correlation between probe accumulation and insulitis was documented.
IMAGE: Higher MR relativities were measured in the pancreas of normal mice compared with diabetic mice 24 hours after contrast injection. (Image reprinted with permission of Proceedings of the National Academy of Science)
IMPLICATIONS: This imaging strategy may prove invaluable in helping identify early insulitis and for monitoring therapeutic interventions aimed at stopping its progression. MGH has already safely used the method in human clinical trials to detect the spread of prostate cancers to the lymph nodes.
u get the latest on sumer's radiology site
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Reviewed by Sumer Sethi
on
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
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Sumer Sethi
Unique blend of academic excellence and entrepreneurship, heading leading firms in India- Teleradiology Providers, pioneering company providing teleradiology services and DAMS (Delhi Academy of Medical Sciences) Premier test preparation institute in India for MD/MS/MCI preparation. He has also been an invited faculty member at various conferences, including Teleradiology in IRIA 2008 and 2011, Hospital Build Middle East, Congress of the Brain Tumor Radiology in Neuro-oncology Society. Dr. Sethi is Editor-in-Chief of Internet Journal of Radiology. He has a keen interest in Web 2.0 technologies and in maintaining his famous radiology blog, which has been featured in multiple international journals.
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