Abstract #0279

Multi-Parametric MRI Characterization of Enzymatically Degraded Articular Cartilage

Elli-Noora Salo¹,², Mikko J. Nissi,²³, Timo Liimatainen⁴, Shalom Michaeli³, Silvia Mangia³, Jutta Ellermann³, Miika T. Nieminen¹,⁵

¹Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland; ²Department of Applied Physics, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; ³Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States; ⁴Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A. I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland; ⁵Department of Medical Technology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland

The purpose of this study was to compare various MRI parameters, (T₁, T₂, dGEMRIC index, T_1sat, continuous-wave T_1ρ, adiabatic T_1ρ and T_2ρ, and RAFF), after selective degradation of cartilage glycosaminoglycan and collagen. The MRI parameters exhibited different responses to the enzyme treatments: While native T₁ and the dGEMRIC index detected significant differences between control and glycosaminoglycan-depleted tissue, the majority of parameters showed a significant change after collagenase treatment. Significant correlations were observed between the MRI parameters and the biomechanical properties of the tissue, indicating MRI parameters as markers of the functional properties of cartilage.