title: MRI tools for assessment of microstructure and nephron function of the kidney.
abstract: MRI can provide excellent detail of renal structure and function. Recently, novel MR contrast mechanisms and imaging tools have been developed to evaluate microscopic kidney structures including the tubules and glomeruli. Quantitative MRI can assess local tubular function and is able to determine the concentrating mechanism of the kidney noninvasively in real time. Measuring single nephron function is now a near possibility. In parallel to advancing imaging techniques for kidney microstructure is a need to carefully understand the relationship between the local source of MRI contrast and the underlying physiological change. The development of these imaging markers can impact the accurate diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. This study reviews the novel tools to examine kidney microstructure and local function and demonstrates the application of these methods in renal pathophysiology.
authors.affiliation: Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah; lukenxie@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3712-5558
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; and.|Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Chunlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Center for In Vivo Microscopy, Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; and.
authors.forename: G Allan
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Jeff Lei
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Utah Center for Advanced Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
authors.forename: Vivian S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009399:Nephrons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: cationized ferritin agents; gadolinium-based contrast agent; glomerular microstructure; kidney concentrating mechanism; kidney microstructure; magnetic resonance imaging; nephron architecture; quantitative susceptibility mapping; susceptibility tensor imaging