Longitudinal PET-MRI reveals β-amyloid deposition and rCBF dynamics and connects vascular amyloidosis to quantitative loss of perfusion

Nat Med. 2014 Dec;20(12):1485-92. doi: 10.1038/nm.3734. Epub 2014 Nov 10.

Abstract

The dynamics of β-amyloid deposition and related second-order physiological effects, such as regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF), are key factors for a deeper understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We present longitudinal in vivo data on the dynamics of β-amyloid deposition and the decline of rCBF in two different amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mouse models of AD. Using a multiparametric positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging approach, we demonstrate that in the presence of cerebral β-amyloid angiopathy (CAA), β-amyloid deposition is accompanied by a decline of rCBF. Loss of perfusion correlates with the growth of β-amyloid plaque burden but is not related to the number of CAA-induced microhemorrhages. However, in a mouse model of parenchymal β-amyloidosis and negligible CAA, rCBF is unchanged. Because synaptically driven spontaneous network activity is similar in both transgenic mouse strains, we conclude that the disease-related decline of rCBF is caused by CAA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism*
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Animals
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / metabolism
  • Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy / pathology*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / pathology*
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Multimodal Imaging
  • Perfusion Imaging
  • Plaque, Amyloid / diagnostic imaging
  • Plaque, Amyloid / metabolism
  • Plaque, Amyloid / pathology*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles

Substances

  • 2-(4'-(methylamino)phenyl)-6-hydroxybenzothiazole
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Benzothiazoles
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thiazoles