Utility of T1 mapping and T2 mapping for non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis: preclinical results

ObjectiveTo explore the potential of T1 and T2 mappings in assessing liver fibrosis (LF) and investigate the relationships between MRI and liver fibrogenesis markers. Materials and methods A total of 39 male C57BL/6 mice were divided into the control group (n = 9) and the model group (n = 10 per subgroup) with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration for 2, 4, and 6 weeks. The METAVIR system (F0-4) was performed to stage fibrosis. MRI T1 and T2 mappings were performed and T1, and T2 values were calculated. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Spearmans rank correlation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were performed. ResultsT1 and T2 values increased with progressing severity of fibrosis induction (P < 0.01). T1 and T2 were significantly correlated with LF stages ({rho} = 0.854, 0.697, P < 0.001). The area under the curves (AUCs) range of T1 and T2 for predicting [≥]F1, [≥]F2, [≥]F3, and F4 were 0.842-0.994 and 0.808-0.883, respectively. T1 and T2 showed moderate to strong correlations with collagen-associated protein and inflammatory factors. DiscussionT1 and T2 mappings can evaluate and differentiate LF stages in the CCl4-induced model. T1 is better correlated with collagen deposition and inflammation of LF than T2.