We validate that time-lapse MRI is able to resolve and follow single immune cells patrolling the brain vasculature. For that reason, we simulate motion-dependent contrast based on artificial k-space, imitate migrating cells with a rotating phantom system, and track iron-labeled monocytes in vivo with repeated T2* weighted imaging. Furthermore, we show that time-lapse MRI allows to differentiate between different motion patterns non-invasively and with whole-brain coverage, and to study altered motion behavior upon inflammatory stimulus and the onset of immune responses distant from the site of inflammation.
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