Date of Award
2006
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Medical Biophysics
Supervisor
Dr. Paula Foster
Second Advisor
Dr. Greg Dekaban
Third Advisor
Dr. Steve Karlik
Abstract
The thesis herein addresses an important, yet unresolved, problem in the field of cellular MRI. The natural ability of macrophages to engulf foreign particles has made them ideal candidates for taking up cellular MR labels in vivo. In multiple sclerosis, macrophage populations in the circulation increase substantially as they home to the CNS where they cause a massive and destructive inflammatory response. Labeling macrophages in the circulation and being able detect and track them in the CNS can significantly improve the prognosis of MS and thus aid in the correct identification of a treatment plan. However, it remains unknown whether it is indeed labeled macrophages from the circulation that are detected on MR images or whether they are different cell populations actively involved in MS. In the present thesis, two novel methods are used to determine the source of the MR label in the CNS. One study utilizes a transgenic mouse where peripheral macrophages express the green fluorescent protein while other cell populations do not. Another study utilizes clodronate liposomes to deplete the’ macrophage population in the circulation prior to injection of the MR label. By using the mentioned two approaches it was determined that the source of label on MR images is largely attributed to peripheral macrophages from the circulation. The findings illustrated in this thesis will have a major impact on our understanding of neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis and on the development of diseasemodifying therapies.
Recommended Citation
Oweida, Ayman J., "Cellular Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 1.5T: Application to Imaging Neuroinflammation in Experimental Models of Multiple Sclerosis" (2006). Digitized Theses. 4909.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/4909