Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging
Abstract Besides exchanging nutrients, gases, and wastes, placenta is an intermediary between maternal and fetal immune systems. However, no method exists to safely image and monitor placental inflammation during pregnancy. We customized a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) method, diffusion basis spe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | npj Women's Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-024-00049-5 |
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| author | Zhexian Sun Wenjie Wu Zezhen Xiang Hansong Gao Weina Ju Cherilyn Uhm Ian S. Hagemann Pamela K. Woodard Nanbert Zhong Alison G. Cahill Qing Wang Yong Wang |
| author_facet | Zhexian Sun Wenjie Wu Zezhen Xiang Hansong Gao Weina Ju Cherilyn Uhm Ian S. Hagemann Pamela K. Woodard Nanbert Zhong Alison G. Cahill Qing Wang Yong Wang |
| author_sort | Zhexian Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Besides exchanging nutrients, gases, and wastes, placenta is an intermediary between maternal and fetal immune systems. However, no method exists to safely image and monitor placental inflammation during pregnancy. We customized a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) method, diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI), to measure immune cells in placenta. We validated placental DBSI in simulations and ex-vivo specimens, then applied it to 202 MRI scans from 82 patients whose placentas were classified as non-inflammation (n = 70) or inflammation (n = 12). Our method imaged the 3D distribution of immune cells, revealing significantly greater infiltration in the inflammation placentas from early (2.8% ± 0.7% vs. 4.8% ± 0.65%, p < 0.01) to late pregnancy (4.75% ± 0.9% vs. 7.25% ± 2.13%, p < 0.01). DBSI detects elevated immune cell infiltration associated with placental inflammation and enables non-invasive imaging of placental inflammation, offering early detection and monitoring throughout pregnancy, facilitating personalized care and potentially improving pregnancy outcomes without ionizing radiation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e47166a8510040668f4bf6fd4dbe7022 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2948-1716 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | npj Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-e47166a8510040668f4bf6fd4dbe70222025-08-20T01:48:08ZengNature Portfolionpj Women's Health2948-17162025-01-013111010.1038/s44294-024-00049-5Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imagingZhexian Sun0Wenjie Wu1Zezhen Xiang2Hansong Gao3Weina Ju4Cherilyn Uhm5Ian S. Hagemann6Pamela K. Woodard7Nanbert Zhong8Alison G. Cahill9Qing Wang10Yong Wang11Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St LouisDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St LouisDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St LouisDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St LouisNew York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental DisabilitiesNew York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental DisabilitiesDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St LouisDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St LouisNew York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental DisabilitiesDepartment of Women’s Health, Dell Medical School, University of TexasMallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Washington University in St LouisDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St LouisAbstract Besides exchanging nutrients, gases, and wastes, placenta is an intermediary between maternal and fetal immune systems. However, no method exists to safely image and monitor placental inflammation during pregnancy. We customized a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) method, diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI), to measure immune cells in placenta. We validated placental DBSI in simulations and ex-vivo specimens, then applied it to 202 MRI scans from 82 patients whose placentas were classified as non-inflammation (n = 70) or inflammation (n = 12). Our method imaged the 3D distribution of immune cells, revealing significantly greater infiltration in the inflammation placentas from early (2.8% ± 0.7% vs. 4.8% ± 0.65%, p < 0.01) to late pregnancy (4.75% ± 0.9% vs. 7.25% ± 2.13%, p < 0.01). DBSI detects elevated immune cell infiltration associated with placental inflammation and enables non-invasive imaging of placental inflammation, offering early detection and monitoring throughout pregnancy, facilitating personalized care and potentially improving pregnancy outcomes without ionizing radiation.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-024-00049-5 |
| spellingShingle | Zhexian Sun Wenjie Wu Zezhen Xiang Hansong Gao Weina Ju Cherilyn Uhm Ian S. Hagemann Pamela K. Woodard Nanbert Zhong Alison G. Cahill Qing Wang Yong Wang Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging npj Women's Health |
| title | Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging |
| title_full | Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging |
| title_fullStr | Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging |
| title_short | Quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging |
| title_sort | quantitative and longitudinal assessment of human placental inflammation using diffusion basis spectrum imaging |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44294-024-00049-5 |
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