目的通过狼疮肾炎(LN)小鼠模型,探讨功能性磁共振成像(MRI)在评估肾功能损害、肾脏病理改变及肾内缺氧状态中的作用。方法自发性LN模型MRL/lpr小鼠13只,对照组C57BL/6小鼠10只,检测尿白蛋白/肌酐比值(ACR)、血肌酐(Scr)、抗ds.DNA抗体和补体c3水平;14-16周龄小鼠处死前进行肾脏横断面T1加权像(T1WI)、T2加权像(T2WI)、扩散加权成像(DWI)及血氧水平依赖法(BOLD)成像。处死前1h腹腔注射缺氧探针,采用免疫组化、Western印迹法检测小鼠肾组织中缺氧探针(Hypoxyprobe^TM-1)、缺氧诱导因子1饯(HIF—1α)和血红素加氧酶1(HO-1)的分布。结果MRL/lpr小鼠的尿ACR、Scr和抗ds—DNA抗体水平均显著高于对照组,LN模型小鼠肾组织中Hypoxyprobe^TM-1、HIF-1α和HO-1广泛分布,且在肾髓质的小管间质呈弥漫分布,并与肾小管间质病变密切相关。肾脏功能MRI示LN组平均表观扩散系数(ADC)为(1.52±0.27)×10-3 mm2/s,皮质和髓质R2*值分别为(30.95±4.59)/s和(23.43±3.06)/s,均低于对照组(P分别为0.037、0.030、0.043)。当b=500s/mm2和800s/mm2时,髓质ADC值与尿ACR呈负相关(r=-0.364,P=0.032;r=0.329,P=0.050),皮质ADC值与血肌酐亦呈负相关(r=-0.814,P=0.014;r=-0.755,P=0.031),平均R2*值与尿ACR、肾小管间质病变程度及肾组织缺氧指标表达均呈负相关(均P〈0.05)。结论肾内缺氧可能在LN肾小管间质病变发生中具有重要作用。无创性的功能性MRI可监测LN小鼠的肾功能变化、肾脏病理改变及肾内缺氧情况。
Objective To investigate the utility of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of renal hypoxia in an experimental model of mice with lupus nephritis (LN). Methods MRL/lpr mice (n= 13) were studied and C57BL/6 mice (n=10) served as controls. Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR), serum creatinine (Scr), anti-ds-DNA antibody, and complement C3 levels were measured. The mice underwent coronal echo-planar DWI and BOLD MRI of the kidneys when they were 14-16 weeks old. Hypoxyprobe was administered intraperitoneally to the mice 1 hour before they were sacrificed.The distribution of HypoxyprobeTM-1, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α(HIF-1α) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in renal tissues was detected by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting. Results Urinary ACR, Scr and anti-ds-DNA antibody levels in MRL/lpr mice were significantly higher than that in C57BL/6 mice. It was found that HypoxyprobeTM-1, HIF-1α and HO-1 distributed widely in the renal tissue of MRL/lpr mice, and closely associated with the renal tubulointerstitial lesion. The mean apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value of kidneys in MRL/lpr mice was (1.52±0.27)×10-3 mm2/s, and the mean R2* values of the renal cortex and medulla were (30.95±4.59)/s and (23.43 ±3.06)/s respectively, all significantly lower than that in C57BL/6 mice (P=0.037, P=0.030 and P=0.043, respectively). The ADC of medulla was negatively correlated with urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (r=-0.364, P=0.032; r=-0.329, P=0.050), the ADC of cortex was negatively correlated with the level of serum creatinine (r=-0.814, P=0.014; r=-0.755, P=0.031) when b value was 500 s/mm2 and 800 s/mm2, and the mean R2* value was negatively correlated with the degree of tubulointerstitial lesions and the expression of hypoxia parameters (all P 〈 0.05). Conclusions Renal hypoxia may play an important role in renal tubulointersti