Imaging genetics in multiple sclerosis: A volumetric and diffusion tensor MRI study ofAPOE[epsilon]4

Evidence linking the [straight epsilon]4 allele ofAPOEto more severe brain MRI abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been conflicting and limited to studies of lesion load and whole brain atrophy. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the [straight epsilon]4 allele ofAPOEi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2011-10, Vol.58 (3), p.724
Main Authors: Ghaffar, Omar, Lobaugh, Nancy J, Szilagyi, Gregory M, Reis, Marciano, O'Connor, Paul, Feinstein, Anthony
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Biomarkers
Brain research
Diffusion
Gender
Genetics
Inventory
Medical research
Multiple sclerosis
Neurosciences
Patients
Studies
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Summary:Evidence linking the [straight epsilon]4 allele ofAPOEto more severe brain MRI abnormalities in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been conflicting and limited to studies of lesion load and whole brain atrophy. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the [straight epsilon]4 allele ofAPOEis associated with more extensive brain pathology in MS using structural and diffusion tensor MRI. Using a case-control design, 43 MS patients with the [straight epsilon]4 allele and 47 [straight epsilon]4 negative MS patients underwent structural and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at 3T. Hypo- and hyperintense lesion volumes, whole brain and medial temporal volumes, and DTI parameters (fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD)) in normal-appearing brain tissue and lesions were compared between the groups. [straight epsilon]4+ and [straight epsilon]4- MS patients were well-matched on demographic characteristics, disease variables, and proportions receiving disease-modifying therapy. [straight epsilon]4+ and [straight epsilon]4- patients did not differ on any MRI or DTI measure. This study refutes a role for the [straight epsilon]4 allele in MRI abnormalities in MS, particularly those linking [straight epsilon]4 to greater T1 hypointense lesion volume and brain atrophy. Previous work on this putative gene-MRI relationship is extended by comparing DTI measures within lesions and normal-appearing brain tissue. A lack of differences in medial temporal regions, areas that have been linked to [straight epsilon]4-associated changes in health and disease, further supports the conclusion that that [straight epsilon]4 is not associated with more subtle MRI markers of brain pathology in MS.
ISSN:1053-8119
1095-9572
DOI:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.06.024