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Synchrotron-based phase-contrast micro-CT as a tool for understanding pulmonary vascular pathobiology and the 3-D microanatomy of alveolar capillary dysplasia

Norvik, Christian LU ; Westöö, Christian Karl LU ; Peruzzi, Niccolò LU ; Lovric, Goran ; van der Have, Oscar LU orcid ; Mokso, Rajmund LU ; Jeremiasen, Ida LU ; Brunnström, Hans LU orcid ; Galambos, Csaba and Bech, Martin LU orcid , et al. (2020) In American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 318(1). p.65-75
Abstract

This study aimed to explore the value of synchrotron-based phase-contrast microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) in pulmonary vascular pathobiology. The microanatomy of the lung is complex with intricate branching patterns. Tissue sections are therefore difficult to interpret. Recruited intrapulmonary bronchopulmonary anastomoses (IBAs) have been described in several forms of pulmonary hypertension, including alveolar capillary dysplasia with misaligned pulmonary veins (ACD/MPV). Here, we examine paraffin-embedded tissue using this nondestructive method for high-resolution three-dimensional imaging. Blocks of healthy and ACD/MPV lung tissue were used. Pulmonary and bronchial arteries in the ACD/MPV block had been preinjected with dye. One... (More)

This study aimed to explore the value of synchrotron-based phase-contrast microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) in pulmonary vascular pathobiology. The microanatomy of the lung is complex with intricate branching patterns. Tissue sections are therefore difficult to interpret. Recruited intrapulmonary bronchopulmonary anastomoses (IBAs) have been described in several forms of pulmonary hypertension, including alveolar capillary dysplasia with misaligned pulmonary veins (ACD/MPV). Here, we examine paraffin-embedded tissue using this nondestructive method for high-resolution three-dimensional imaging. Blocks of healthy and ACD/MPV lung tissue were used. Pulmonary and bronchial arteries in the ACD/MPV block had been preinjected with dye. One section per block was stained, and areas of interest were marked to allow precise beam-alignment during image acquisition at the X02DA TOMCAT beamline (Swiss Light Source). A ×4 magnifying objective coupled to a 20-µm thick scintillating material and a sCMOS detector yielded the best trade-off between spatial resolution and field-of-view. A phase retrieval algorithm was applied and virtual tomographic slices and video clips of the imaged volumes were produced. Dye injections generated a distinct attenuation difference between vessels and surrounding tissue, facilitating segmentation and three-dimensional rendering. Histology and immunohistochemistry post-imaging offered complementary information. IBAs were confirmed in ACD/MPV, and the MPVs were positioned like bronchial veins/venules. We demonstrate the advantages of using synchrotron-based phase-contrast micro-CT for three-dimensional characterization of pulmonary microvascular anatomy in paraffin-embedded tissue. Vascular dye injections add additional value. We confirm intrapulmonary shunting in ACD/MPV and provide support for the hypothesis that MPVs are dilated bronchial veins/venules.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
alveolar capillary dysplasia, imaging, lung, pulmonary hypertension, synchrotron, tomography
in
American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology
volume
318
issue
1
pages
65 - 75
publisher
American Physiological Society
external identifiers
  • scopus:85077016585
  • pmid:31596108
ISSN
1522-1504
DOI
10.1152/ajplung.00103.2019
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
93f930a4-8be6-4af0-9300-af12fbdc31a5
date added to LUP
2020-01-03 10:41:57
date last changed
2024-04-02 21:19:11
@article{93f930a4-8be6-4af0-9300-af12fbdc31a5,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study aimed to explore the value of synchrotron-based phase-contrast microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) in pulmonary vascular pathobiology. The microanatomy of the lung is complex with intricate branching patterns. Tissue sections are therefore difficult to interpret. Recruited intrapulmonary bronchopulmonary anastomoses (IBAs) have been described in several forms of pulmonary hypertension, including alveolar capillary dysplasia with misaligned pulmonary veins (ACD/MPV). Here, we examine paraffin-embedded tissue using this nondestructive method for high-resolution three-dimensional imaging. Blocks of healthy and ACD/MPV lung tissue were used. Pulmonary and bronchial arteries in the ACD/MPV block had been preinjected with dye. One section per block was stained, and areas of interest were marked to allow precise beam-alignment during image acquisition at the X02DA TOMCAT beamline (Swiss Light Source). A ×4 magnifying objective coupled to a 20-µm thick scintillating material and a sCMOS detector yielded the best trade-off between spatial resolution and field-of-view. A phase retrieval algorithm was applied and virtual tomographic slices and video clips of the imaged volumes were produced. Dye injections generated a distinct attenuation difference between vessels and surrounding tissue, facilitating segmentation and three-dimensional rendering. Histology and immunohistochemistry post-imaging offered complementary information. IBAs were confirmed in ACD/MPV, and the MPVs were positioned like bronchial veins/venules. We demonstrate the advantages of using synchrotron-based phase-contrast micro-CT for three-dimensional characterization of pulmonary microvascular anatomy in paraffin-embedded tissue. Vascular dye injections add additional value. We confirm intrapulmonary shunting in ACD/MPV and provide support for the hypothesis that MPVs are dilated bronchial veins/venules.</p>}},
  author       = {{Norvik, Christian and Westöö, Christian Karl and Peruzzi, Niccolò and Lovric, Goran and van der Have, Oscar and Mokso, Rajmund and Jeremiasen, Ida and Brunnström, Hans and Galambos, Csaba and Bech, Martin and Tran-Lundmark, Karin}},
  issn         = {{1522-1504}},
  keywords     = {{alveolar capillary dysplasia; imaging; lung; pulmonary hypertension; synchrotron; tomography}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{65--75}},
  publisher    = {{American Physiological Society}},
  series       = {{American Journal of Physiology: Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology}},
  title        = {{Synchrotron-based phase-contrast micro-CT as a tool for understanding pulmonary vascular pathobiology and the 3-D microanatomy of alveolar capillary dysplasia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00103.2019}},
  doi          = {{10.1152/ajplung.00103.2019}},
  volume       = {{318}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}