Cited by 10Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and ApplicationsSingle-cell and spatial transcriptomicsFunctional Brain Connectivity Studies

A spatial imaging-transcriptomics paradigm for deciphering the molecular basis of microscopic MRI in the normal brain and Alzheimer’s disease

Open access
Shen, Yiqi, Shen, Yao, Wang, Menglei, Jin, Kaiyu, Yang, Penghui, Cao, Zuozhen, Zhu, Qinfeng, Zhao, Zhiyong +7 more·2025·Cell Reports

Abstract

Imaging genomics offers powerful links between genetics and neuroimaging phenotypes, but conventional methods often lack spatial correspondence. We introduce spatial imaging-transcriptomics, a paradigm that directly integrates magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spatially resolved transcriptomics (ST) with matched resolution from the same brain through spatially co-registered maps. We apply this framework to wild-type and Alzheimer's disease (AD) mouse models to uncover the molecular underpinnings of diffusion MRI. In the normal brain, fractional anisotropy (FA) correlates with myelination processes and oligodendrocytes, whereas diffusivity indices are associated with neurons. Furthermore, we identified the genetic basis for observed cortical gradients in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In the AD mouse model, reduced FA is linked to myelin and oligodendrocyte change and β-amyloid deposition. Critically, imaging-defined disease foci can guide differential gene expression analysis to uncover AD-specific genetic alterations. The spatial imaging-transcriptomics paradigm provides an unprecedented high-resolution bridge between neuroimaging and transcriptomics, benefitting the decipherment of complex molecular events in brain disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.celrep.2025.116073

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  • Most prior work has focused on DTI metrics and linear associations, which may not fully capture compartment-specific microstructural changes.

    “most prior work has focused on DTI metrics and linear associations, 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 which may not fully capture compartment‐specific microstructural changes.”
  • In 5xFAD mice, genes with higher expression in gray matter and lower expression in white matter showed significant correlations with diffusion metrics and were predominantly neuronal and oligodendrocyte-associated.

    “In 5xFAD mice, genes with higher expression in gray matter and lower expression in white matter showed significant correlations with diffusion metrics and were predominantly neuronal and oligodendrocyte‐associated, consistent with previous findings. 39”

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Authors
Shen, Y., Shen, Y., Wang, M., Jin, K., Yang, P., Cao, Z., Zhu, Q., Zhao, Z., Li, H., Han, L., Liu, S., Liao, J., Zhang, J., Fan, X., & Wu, D.
Affiliations
  • Zhejiang University (CN)
  • Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University (CN)
  • First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Fan, Xiaohui
  • Wu, Dan
Venue
Cell Reports
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-08
Volume
44
Issue
8
Pages
116073
ISSN
2211-1247 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4412855907
Cited by
10
References
75
Citations by year
2026: 10
FWCI
5.43
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (2021ZD0200202)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (32427802, U24A200313)
  • Zhejiang Province Natural Science Foundation (LQ23C090008)
  • Hangzhou Agriculture and Social Development Research Funds (20231203A13)
  • Science and Technology Department of Zhejiang Province
  • Science and Technology Program of Zhejiang Province (202006140, 2022C03057)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Functional Brain Connectivity Studies
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, diffusion MRI, fractional anisotropy, diffusion tensor imaging, spatial transcriptomics, myelination, oligodendrocytes, amyloid-beta deposition, cortical gradients, disease foci, mouse model, radiogenomics
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Brain, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Oligodendroglia, Gene Expression Profiling, Mice, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Transcriptome

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