SCI 발표논문

SCI 발표논문

← SCI 발표논문 목록

Theranostics. 2025;15(15):7440-7453.

AI-powered 3D pathology protocol enhances enteric nervous system visualization and quantification for clinical diagnostics.

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

제1저자 윤영현, 정기영 · 교신저자 고성준, 최형진

소속 (10)
  1. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  3. Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
  4. Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  5. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  6. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  7. Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  8. Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  9. Wide River Institute of Immunology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
  10. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

Rationale: Accurate diagnosis and understanding of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Hirschsprung's disease remain challenging due to the limitations of traditional two-dimensional (2D) histopathology in capturing the intricate three-dimensional (3D) architecture and dynamic microenvironment of GI tissues. This study explores the potential of integrating 3D imaging techniques with artificial intelligence (AI)-based analysis to improve histological evaluation and diagnostic accuracy. Methods: Using advanced imaging and computational tools, we identified critical structural and functional details of the enteric nervous system and associated tissues that are often missed by 2D approaches. Results: The results showed that 3D imaging coupled with AI significantly improves diagnostic accuracy and provides new insights into disease mechanisms, enabling earlier and more precise detection of pathological changes. In addition, this approach enhances our understanding of the pathophysiology of GI diseases, bridging gaps in both clinical and basic research. Conclusions: These findings underscore the transformative potential of 3D imaging and AI to revolutionize diagnostic workflows and advance our knowledge of GI diseases, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and innovative research methodologies.

© The author(s).

Keywords

Hirschsprung diseaseartificial intelligenceenteric nervous systemtissue clearingulcerative colitis

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1 Colon biopsy and surgical sample processing workflow and non-artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-powered image analysis. (A) Colon biopsy and surgical samples at various stages of the tissue clearing protocol. (B) Timeline and procedures for two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) immunohistochemistry (IHC) of colon biopsy samples. (C) Timeline for image analysis of colon biopsy samples using manual counting, non-AI, and AI-powered software. (D) Timeline and procedures for 2D and 3D IHC of surgical samples. (E) Timeline for image analysis of surgical samples using manual counting, non-AI, and AI-powered software.
Figure 2
Figure 2 Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered image analysis workflow for three-dimensional (3D) image processing of mucosal-submucosal colon biopsy and full-thickness surgical colon samples. (A) AI-powered workflow for a 3D raw image of tissue sample, with and without pre-trained models. (B) Training a pixel classifier on a raw image creates a pre-trained model for a 3D image of colon biopsy sample. (C) Training a structure per plexus layer results in a pre-trained model for a 3D image of a surgical sample.
Figure 3
Figure 3 Comparison of non-artificial intelligence (AI) and AI visualization of a mucosal-submucosal colon biopsy sample. (A) Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed non-AI image of the colon biopsy sample showing epithelial cells (red) and nerve fibers (green). (B) Top view and enlarged view of multiple crypt structures from the non-AI image. (C) Top view and enlarged view of a neuron structure in the non-AI image. (D) Side view and enlarged crypt structure in the non-AI image. (E) Side view and enlarged neuron structure in the non-AI image. (F) Bottom view of the neuron structure in the submucosal plexus (SMP) region of the non-AI image. (L) AI-powered image of the colon biopsy sample with epithelial cells (orange) and nerve fibers (green). (G) Top view of crypts and surrounding nerve fibers in the non-AI image. (H) Incomplete AI-powered 3D structure of the crypts (top view). (I) Side view and enlarged crypt structure in the AI-powered image. (J) Side view and enlarged neuron structure in the AI-powered image. (K) Bottom view of the neuron structure in the SMP region in the AI-powered image. (M-O) Internal views of crypt walls. (P) Crypts and surrounding nerve fibers. (Q) Complete AI-powered 3D structure of the crypts. (R-T) Internal views of crypt walls. (U) Cross-section of an incomplete crypt structure in the non-AI 3D image. (V) Cross-section of a fully reconstructed crypt in the AI-powered 3D image.
Figure 4
Figure 4 Comparison between non-artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-powered analysis of a colon biopsy mucosal-submucosa sample. (A and B) Five crypt region of interest (ROI) regions of a patient colon biopsy sample. (C) Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed images of ROI regions from patient colon biopsy sample image. (D) A measurement of the maximum and minimum axes in a crypt cross-section. (E) A measurement of the length of the crypt depth. (F) A measurement of the crypt area. (G) Conceptual schematic for crypt circularity. (H) Categorization of crypts by type on a colon biopsy sample two-dimensional image. (I) Single-crypt phenotyping considers the area and circularity of the crypt. (J) A comparison of 3D image analysis methods using manual, non-AI, and AI method. (K) Comparison of 3D images and volume quantitative values between non-AI and AI for multiple crypts. (L) Comparison of 3D images and quantitative metric values between non-AI and AI for crypt neuronal axonal fibers. (M) Comparison of manual and AI-powered length measurements for axon fiber length. (N) Comparison of manual and AI-powered measurements of axon fiber diameter.
Figure 5
Figure 5 Comparison of non-artificial intelligence (AI) and AI visualization of surgical full-thickness samples. (A) Non-AI 3D light sheet image of full-thickness enteric nervous system (ENS) in an Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) patient's surgical sample. (B) AI-enhanced three-dimensional (3D) light sheet image of full-thickness ENS in an HSCR patient sample. (B-V) Both non-AI and AI-generated 3D images of a HSCR surgical sample were color-coded by layer, with red representing the mucosa and blue the serosa. (C-G) Non-AI 3D confocal images of full-thickness ENS in an HSCR sample. (H-K) AI-powered 3D confocal images of full-thickness ENS in an HSCR sample. (M-Q) Non-AI confocal images of an HSCR sample. (R-V) AI-powered 3D confocal images of an HSCR sample.
Figure 6
Figure 6 Comparison between non-artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-powered analysis of patient surgical samples. (A) Non-AI three-dimensional (3D) image of a Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) patient's surgical sample. (B-D) Non-AI 3D images of ganglionic region in a HSCR sample. (E) Non-AI 3D image of transition zone in HSCR sample. (F) Non-AI 3D image of aganglionic region in HSCR sample. (G) AI-powered 3D image of a HSCR patient's surgical sample with a gradient color coding applied to tissue layers, showing the mucosa in red gradually transitioning to blue at the serosa. (H-J) AI-powered 3D images of ganglionic zone in HSCR sample. (K) AI-powered 3D image of transition zone in HSCR sample. (L) AI-powered 3D image aganglionic region in HSCR sample. (M and N) Quantitative comparison between Non-AI and AI-powered analysis in total enteric nervous system. (O and P) Quantitative analysis of myenteric plexus from AI-powered 3D images.

그림 출처: PubMed Central 공개 논문 (PMC12315810)

Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

그 밖의 정보
출판 형태
Journal Article
저널
Theranostics · eISSN 1838-7640
전자 출판
2025-06-20
MeSH
Enteric Nervous System* / diagnostic imaging / pathology · Imaging, Three-Dimensional* / methods · Humans · Artificial Intelligence* · Hirschsprung Disease / diagnostic imaging / pathology / diagnosis · Gastrointestinal Diseases* / diagnostic imaging / diagnosis / pathology · Animals · Colitis, Ulcerative / diagnostic imaging / pathology / diagnosis
참고문헌
35편