Characterization of liver inflammation in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis using MRI cytometry

Motivation: Addressing the unmet need for non-invasive non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) diagnosis. Goal(s): Assessing MRI cytometry’s potential for quantifying alterations in cell sizes and cell densities linked to inflammation, a critical factor in NASH diagnosis. Approach: Histology-based simulations were used to assess MRI cytometry's performance across various SNR levels in normal and NASH liver tissues. Additionally, used MRI cytometry to distinguish healthy liver from NASH with a clinical 3T scanner. Results: Both simulations and in vivo data revealed increased cell density and reduced cell sizes in inflammatory areas compared to steatosis and healthy liver tissues. Impact: Findings of this study establish a strong foundation for future investigations into the role of non-invasive assessment of liver cellular characteristics in diagnosing NASH, with the ultimate goal of reducing the necessity for liver biopsy.