Anagrafe della ricerca

Skeletal muscle (SM) is the most abundant tissue in the human body and plays important roles in relevant functional aspects (e.g., movement, posture, and balance under voluntary control). SM is composed of myofibers that are broadly classified into slow twitch (Type I) and fast twitch (Type II) fibers. SM fiber types can have a profound impact on physio-pathological conditions affecting SM – such as sarcopenia in aging people or induced by spinal cord injury, or even more severe neuromuscular diseases like dystrophies - and their study can improve the diagnosis/prognosis of such conditions. In particular, SM microstructure assessment can help improve rehabilitation programs and exercise training effectiveness, thanks to a more personalized intervention. Currently, the gold standard approach to study SM fiber composition is invasive and needs the use of biopsy to obtain biological samples to be further analyzed through histology and immunohistochemistry procedures. The idea of this project is to propose Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), with its advanced diffusion and perfusion techniques, as a non-invasive tool for muscle microstructure study. Proper modeling of perfusion and diffusion processes in SM could allow defining an MR acquisition/processing protocol able to exploit type I and II fibers' morphological and functional differences, particularly in size and number of bedewing capillaries. Most of the advanced MRI tools are currently focused on central nervous system applications and optimized for that target. Some promising MRI techniques have been recently proposed to characterize SM in terms of its microstructural properties related to diffusion and perfusion, but their ability to unravel the actual fiber type composition is still suboptimal. Within the PNRR framework that fosters interactions between research institutions and universities, young researchers’ involvement, basic research for new technologies with a focus on health, the NINFEA project aims at exploring novel MR methods based on joint diffusion and perfusion parameters for SM fibers characterization with a potential impact on the optimization of rehabilitation for functional recovery. NINFEA involves a CNR and two complementary academic units, headed by under 40 researchers; the recruitment of four junior fellows is expected. During the project, at first, state-of-the-art models will be exploited and estimated parameters will be integrated through a multivariate regression on type I/II fiber percentage. Furthermore, novel multicompartment multivariate models explicitly modeling type I/II fibers contribute to diffusion and perfusion will be proposed and used to develop novel ad-hoc data acquisition and processing protocols. Preclinical high field MRI sessions will be conducted to optimize pulse sequences and validate the developed methodologies. Finally, a feasibility study in a clinical scenario using a 3T MRI scanner will be performed.

• C.N.R. - CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE - Coordinatore
• POLITECNICO DI TORINO - AMMINISTRAZIONE CENTRALE
• UNIVERSITA' DI MILANO BICOCCA