Gharaylou Zeinab, Sahraian Mohammad Ali, Hadjighassem Mahmoudreza, Kohanpour Mohsen, Doosti Rozita, Nahardani Shima, Moghadasi Abdorreza Naser
Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Front Neurol. 2021 Aug 16;12:678245. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.678245. eCollection 2021.
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is a noninvasive, quantitative MRI technique that measures white matter (WM) integrity. Many brain dimensions are heritable, including white matter integrity measured with DTI. Family studies are valuable to provide insights into the interactive effects of non-environmental factors on multiple sclerosis (MS). To examine the contribution of familial factors to the diffusion signals across WM microstructure, we performed DTI and calculated neurite orientation dispersion plus density imaging (NODDI) diffusion parameters in two patient groups comprising familial and sporadic forms of multiple sclerosis and their unaffected relatives. We divided 111 subjects (49 men and 62 women: age range 19-60) into three groups conforming to their MS history. The familial MS group included 30 participants (patients; = 16, healthy relatives; = 14). The sporadic group included 41 participants (patients; = 10, healthy relatives; = 31). Forty age-matched subjects with no history of MS in their families were defined as the control group. To study white matter integrity, two methods were employed: one for calculating the mean of DTI, FA, and MD parameters on 18 tracts using Tracts Constrained by Underlying Anatomy (TRACULA) and the other for whole brain voxel-based analysis using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) on NDI and ODI parameters derived from NODDI and DTI parameters. Voxel-based analysis showed considerable changes in FA, MD, NDI, and ODI in the familial group when compared with the control group, reflecting widespread impairment of white matter in this group. The analysis of 18 tracts with TRACULA revealed increased MD and FA reduction in more tracts (left and right ILF, UNC, and SLFT, forceps major and minor) in familial MS patients vs. the control group. There were no significant differences between the patient groups. We found no consequential changes in healthy relatives of both patient groups in voxel-based and tract analyses. Considering the multifactorial etiology of MS, familial studies are of great importance to clarify the effects of certain predisposing factors on demyelinating brain pathology.
扩散张量成像（DTI）是一种无创的定量磁共振成像技术，用于测量白质（WM）的完整性。许多脑维度是可遗传的，包括用DTI测量的白质完整性。家族研究对于深入了解非环境因素对多发性硬化症（MS）的交互作用很有价值。为了研究家族因素对整个白质微结构扩散信号的贡献，我们对两组患者进行了DTI检查，并计算了神经突方向离散度加密度成像（NODDI）扩散参数，这两组患者分别为家族性和散发性多发性硬化症患者及其未受影响的亲属。我们将111名受试者（49名男性和62名女性，年龄范围19 - 60岁）根据其MS病史分为三组。家族性MS组包括30名参与者（患者16名，健康亲属14名）。散发性组包括41名参与者（患者10名，健康亲属31名）。40名年龄匹配且家族中无MS病史的受试者被定义为对照组。为了研究白质完整性，采用了两种方法：一种是使用基于解剖结构约束的轨迹（TRACULA）计算18条轨迹上DTI、FA和MD参数的平均值，另一种是对从NODDI和DTI参数导出的NDI和ODI参数，使用基于轨迹的空间统计（TBSS）进行全脑体素分析。基于体素的分析显示，与对照组相比，家族性组的FA、MD、NDI和ODI有显著变化，反映出该组白质广泛受损。用TRACULA对18条轨迹的分析显示，与对照组相比，家族性MS患者更多轨迹（左右下纵束、钩束和上纵束、大脑镰和小脑镰）的MD增加且FA降低。两组患者之间无显著差异。在基于体素和轨迹的分析中，我们发现两组患者的健康亲属均无相应变化。考虑到MS的多因素病因，家族研究对于阐明某些易感因素对脱髓鞘脑病理的影响非常重要。
