A Multimodal Imaging Analysis of Subcortical Gray Matter in Fragile X Premutation Jun Y. Wang, Randi J. Hagerman, Susan M. Rivera 2012 International Fragile X Conference Center for Mind and Brain
Subcortical Gray Matter Main structures Thalamus, putamen, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus Important for motor function High iron concentration Risk of oxidative stress Likely affected in Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) Progressive intention tremor and gait ataxia Zinc and iron dysregulation causing mitochondrial dysfunction 1 Reduced gray matter density in the thalamus 2 1. Napoli et al. 2011. Hum Mol Genet 20:3079-3092. 2. Hashimoto et al. 2011. Brain 134:863-878. 2
A Multimodal Imaging Study of Subcortical Gray Matter visualizing structures T1-high resolution structural organization diffusion tensor imaging water and iron content diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) 1 Control Brain dissection of the white matter Bammer et al. 2003. Eur J Radiol. 45:223-234. fiber tracts FXTAS Iron stain of the striatum Connor et al. 2001. Pediatr Neurol. 25:118-129. 1. Pfefferbaum et al. 2010. Neurobiol Aging 31:482-493. 3
A Multimodal Imaging Study of Subcortical Gray Matter visualizing structures T1-high resolution structural organization diffusion tensor imaging fractional anisotropy (FA) water and iron content diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) 1 Subcortical gray matter: FA = 0.2-0.5 internal capsule Control FA > 0.5 CSF FA = ~0 splenium mean diffusivity (MD) Control Low MD High MD FXTAS FXTAS 1. Pfefferbaum et al. 2010. Neurobiol Aging 31:482-493. 4
Methods Participants: 61 males, age 47-81 years 14 controls 11 non-fxtas premutation FXTAS stage 1 0-1 36 FXTAS patients FXTAS stage 2-5 Stage Clinical Description 0 Normal function 1 Subtle tremor/balance problems with no interference in daily living 2 Minor tremor/balance problems with minor interference in daily living 3 Moderate tremor/balance problems with significant interference in daily living 4 Severe tremor/balance problems requiring a cane or walker 5 Use of a wheelchair on a daily basis 6 Bedridden 1. Tassone & Hagerman. 2012. Results Probl Cell Differ. 54:337-357. 5
Methods Image processing Automatic segmentations FIRST FMRIB s Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool University of Oxford FA, MD, and DWI generation DTI Studio Johns Hopkins Medical Institute Register images to T1 Freesurfer Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging Apply segmentations T1 MD a control, 70 years old a stage 4 patient, 71 years old 6
Methods Statistics Group comparisons and correlation with FXTAS stage Multiple linear regression Age and total cranial volume (for volume only) as covariates Multiple comparisons Corrected using false discovery rate (5%) 7
FXTAS: Volume & DWI 18 150 Volume (1,000 mm3) 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 DWI 120 90 60 30 0 Thal Caud Puta Pall 0 Thal Caud Puta Pall FXTAS vs. NC Thalamus Caudate Putamen Pallidus Volume DWI 8
Volume, DWI, FA Showed High Correlation with FXTAS Stage Putamen Volume (1,000 mm 3 ) 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Partial r 2 = 0.47, P < 0.001-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 Putamen DWI 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Partial r 2 = 0.14, P = 0.011-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 FXTAS Stage FXTAS Stage With Stage Thalamus Caudate Putamen Pallidus Volume DWI FA Why positive? Negative correlation; Positive correlation 9
FA in Caudate with FXTAS Stage 0.5 0.4 Caudate FA 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 Partial r 2 = 0.28, P < 0.001-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 FXTAS Stage Iron stain of the striatum Connor et al. 2001.Pediatr Neurol. 25:118-129. Frontal-striatal pathway In the head of the caudate Imaging measurements associated with FA volume, r = -0.55, p < 0.001 MD, r = -0.49, p < 0.001 DWI, r = -0.29, p = 0.051 Preferential loss of cells, but relatively spared frontal-striatal pathway? 10
Conclusions Involvement of all 4 structures in FXTAS Volume atrophy and possibly iron deposition FXTAS vs. NC Thalamus Caudate Putamen Pallidus Volume DWI Measurements correlated with FXTAS stage With Stage Thalamus Caudate Putamen Pallidus Volume DWI FA Useful for tracking FXTAS progression Negative correlation Positive correlation 11
Acknowledgement Research participants and families Patrick Adams Image and data collection Danielle Harvey Statistical support NIH funding TL1DA024854 to J.Y.W. RL1AG032115 to R.J.H. UL1DE0199583 to R.J.H. HD036071 to R.J.H. MH078041 to S.M.R. NS062412to S.M.R. 12