The early stages of osteoarthritis (OA) are associated with loss of proteoglycans (PGs), breakdown of the collagen matrix, and change in water content. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is routinely used in the diagnosis of OA because of its high spatial resolution and excellent soft tissue contrast. Recent research has focused on establishing correlations between quantitative MRI measurements (T1, T2, T1r, and water content) and the biochemical properties of articular cartilage. While emphasis has been placed on the changes seen in cartilage, OA is a multifactorial disease involving different tissues and when one joint tissue deteriorates, it is likely to affect others and contribute to failure of the oint as a whole. A particular problem arises in MRI assessment because many joint tissues such as menisci, ligaments and tendons have T2s of only a few milliseconds. As a result they show little or no signal with conventional clinical spin echo (SE) or gradient echo (GE) sequences, which have typical echo times (TEs) of several milliseconds or longer. The lack of signal means that it is difficult or impossible to accurately measure their T1, T2, T1r and water content. Furthermore, water is present in both bound and free compartments within joint tissues. The bound water components have shorter T2s and are usually inaccessible with conventional clinical pulse sequences. We have developed UTE sequences with nominal TEs of 8 s which are 100-1000 times shorter than the TEs of conventional sequences, and allow us to detect water signals from MR invisible tissues in the knee joint. In addition we have developed a spin-lock prepared UTE sequence to measure T1r, a T2-prepared UTE sequence to measure T2, a UTE PD sequence to measure water content, and UTE bi-component analysis to quantify the fractions of bound and free water components in the principal tissues of the knee joint. In this proposal, we will evaluate the sensitivity of both UTE and clinical sequences for evaluating PG depletion as well as changes in collagen microstructure and water content by studying relatively normal cadaveric patellae (n=40) and menisci (n=40) before and after sequential enzymatic treatment (Aim 1). Then we will compare UTE and clinical sequences for quantitative diagnosis of OA in cadaveric knees with normal (n=20) appearance as well as mild (n=20) and moderate (n=20) disease (Aim 2). Finally we will characterize patterns of knee joint degeneration in a cross sectional assessment of four groups of human subjects: normal controls (n=20), patients at risk of OA with knee pain but normal radiographs (n=20), patients with mild OA (n=20), and patients with moderate OA (n=20). We will correlate the UTE and conventional MR measurements with Kellgren-Lawrence, WOMAC, Tegner-Lysholm and IKDC clinical scores (Aim 3). Successful completion of the proposed work will provide new opportunities to characterize OA in a much more comprehensive and systematic way than has been possible with conventional clinical pulse sequences. This is likely to have a major impact on early detection in OA, monitoring disease progression, and assessing response to therapy.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of this project is to evaluate panels of ultrashort echo time (UTE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based biomarkers, including UTE T1?, T2, and total, bound and free water content in the principal tissues of the knee joint, and apply these to the study of osteoarthritis (OA).

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR062581-03
Application #
8914349
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-DTCS-A (81))
Program Officer
Lester, Gayle E
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2017-08-31
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$397,143
Indirect Cost
$140,922
Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Radiation-Diagnostic/Oncology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804355790
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093
Ma, Ya-Jun; Chang, Eric Y; Carl, Michael et al. (2018) Quantitative magnetization transfer ultrashort echo time imaging using a time-efficient 3D multispoke Cones sequence. Magn Reson Med 79:692-700
Ma, Ya-Jun; Lu, Xing; Carl, Michael et al. (2018) Accurate T1 mapping of short T2 tissues using a three-dimensional ultrashort echo time cones actual flip angle imaging-variable repetition time (3D UTE-Cones AFI-VTR) method. Magn Reson Med 80:598-608
Ma, Ya-Jun; Tadros, Anthony; Du, Jiang et al. (2018) Quantitative two-dimensional ultrashort echo time magnetization transfer (2D UTE-MT) imaging of cortical bone. Magn Reson Med 79:1941-1949
Ma, Ya-Jun; Carl, Michael; Searleman, Adam et al. (2018) 3D adiabatic T1? prepared ultrashort echo time cones sequence for whole knee imaging. Magn Reson Med 80:1429-1439
Nguyen, S; Lu, X; Ma, Y et al. (2018) Musculoskeletal ultrasound for intra-articular bleed detection: a highly sensitive imaging modality compared with conventional magnetic resonance imaging. J Thromb Haemost 16:490-499
Zhu, Yanchun; Cheng, Xin; Ma, Yajun et al. (2018) Rotator cuff tendon assessment using magic-angle insensitive 3D ultrashort echo time cones magnetization transfer (UTE-Cones-MT) imaging and modeling with histological correlation. J Magn Reson Imaging 48:160-168
Ma, Ya-Jun; Zhao, Wei; Wan, Lidi et al. (2018) Whole knee joint T1 values measured in vivo at 3T by combined 3D ultrashort echo time cones actual flip angle and variable flip angle methods. Magn Reson Med :
Lu, Xing; Ma, Yajun; Chang, Eric Y et al. (2018) Simultaneous quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and R2* for high iron concentration quantification with 3D ultrashort echo time sequences: An echo dependence study. Magn Reson Med 79:2315-2322
Park, C Kevin; Zlomislic, Vinko; Du, Jiang et al. (2018) Nonoperative Management of a Severe Proximal Rectus Femoris Musculotendinous Injury in a Recreational Athlete: A Case Report. PM R 10:1417-1421
Chen, Bimin; Zhao, Yinghua; Cheng, Xin et al. (2018) Three-dimensional ultrashort echo time cones (3D UTE-Cones) magnetic resonance imaging of entheses and tendons. Magn Reson Imaging 49:4-9

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