Magnetic Resonance Molecular Microimaging

该研究项目是最雄心勃勃的提案之一，旨在开发基于配体的 MRI 分子成像，而这个目标30多年来一直困扰着世界科学家。正如我们所承诺的那样，我们的研究团队成功地开发出了这样一种“梦想”的成像方法。该技术利用 O17（一种稳定的氧同位素）、标记的特定配体及其与其共价质子的 JJ 邻位偶联。该方法被项目总监称为 JJ 邻位耦合质子交换 (JJVCPE) 成像。我们应用这种方法利用 H2O17 研究水分子动力学，并利用 O17-PiB 体内研究 β-淀粉样蛋白成像。研究表明，大脑胶质细胞中富含的水通道蛋白-4 (AQP-4) 在通过 Virchow-Robin 间隙的间质流动中发挥着重要作用。该系统的紊乱对于β-淀粉样蛋白的清除至关重要，在阿尔茨海默病的发病机制中发挥着重要作用。

The research project was one of the most ambitious proposals aiming to develop ligand based MRI molecular imaging, a goal that has eluded world scientists for more than 30 years. Our research team successfully developed such a "dream" imaging method as we promised. The technique utilized O17, a stable isotope of oxygen, labeled specific ligand and its JJ vicinal coupling to its covalent proton. The method was termed JJ Vicinal Coupling Proton Exchange (JJVCPE) imaging by the project director. We applied this method to study water molecule dynamics utilizing H2O17, and beta-amyloid imaging utilizing O17-PiB in vivo. The studies showed that aquaporin-4 (AQP-4), abundant in glia in brain, plays a major role in the interstitional flow through the Virchow-Robin space. The disturbance in this system, which is critical for beta-amyloid clearance, plays a major role in the pathogentesis of Alzheimer disease.