Abstract #1264

Role of Neuroinflammation in MEMRI Signal Enhancement

Aditya N. Bade¹, Biyun Zhou², Santhi Gorantla¹, Jiangtao Luo³, Howard E. Gendelman¹, Michael Douglas Boska⁴, Yutong Liu⁴

¹Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha., Omaha, NE, United States; ²Anesthesiology Department, Tongji Medical College, Huanzhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; ³Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha., Omaha, NE, United States; ⁴Department of Radiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha., Omaha, NE, United States

Mn2+ enhanced MRI (MEMRI) can be used to detect a number of neuropathological events. However, the mechanisms for Mn2+ signal enhancement in inflammatory pathobiological states remains controversial. Here, we applied intracranial LPS injection to create an inflammatory lesion and quantified signal enhancement after Mn2+ treatment. Combined with our previous in-vitro study of Mn2+ uptake in activated glial cells and neurons, we conclude that activated glia do not directly induce signal enhancement in MEMRI, but signal enhancement in MEMRI results from the increased neuronal activity induced by gliosis, mainly astrogliosis, stimulating neuronal Mn2+ uptake.