AI-based Tissue Staining to Detect Amyloid Deposits Without Chemical Stains or Microscopy

LOS ANGELES - Amzeal -- Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have pioneered a groundbreaking approach in the imaging and detection of amyloid deposits in tissue samples. The innovative method leverages deep learning and autofluorescence microscopy to achieve virtual birefringence imaging and histological staining, eliminating the need for polarization imaging and traditional chemical stains like Congo red.

Systemic amyloidosis, a condition characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in organs and tissues, poses significant diagnostic challenges. Amyloidosis affects several million people every year, often leading to severe organ damage, heart failure, and high mortality rates if not diagnosed and treated early. Traditionally, Congo red staining under polarized light microscopy has been the gold standard for visualizing amyloid deposits. However, this method is labor-intensive, costly, and subject to variability that can lead to false diagnoses.

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The new technique utilizes a single neural network to transform autofluorescence images of label-free tissue into high-fidelity brightfield and polarized microscopy images that mirror those obtained through traditional histochemical staining and polarization microscopy. The technique was tested on cardiac tissue samples, showing that virtually stained images provided consistent and reliable identification of amyloid patterns compared to traditional methods, also eliminating the need for chemical staining and specialized polarization microscopes, potentially speeding up diagnosis and reducing costs. This virtual staining process not only matches but, in some cases, surpasses the quality of conventional methods, as validated by multiple board-certified pathologists from UCLA as well as USC and the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center.

Dr. Aydogan Ozcan, the senior author of the study and the Volgenau Chair for Engineering Innovation at UCLA, explains, "Our deep learning model can perform both autofluorescence-to-birefringence and autofluorescence-to-brightfield image transformations, offering a reliable, consistent, and cost-effective alternative to traditional histology methods. This breakthrough could greatly enhance the speed and accuracy of amyloidosis diagnosis, reducing the risk of false negatives and improving patient outcomes."

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The study's findings suggest that this virtual staining approach could be seamlessly integrated into existing clinical workflows, facilitating the broader adoption of digital pathology. The method requires no specialized optical components and can be implemented on standard digital pathology scanners, making it accessible to a wide range of healthcare settings.

The researchers plan to expand their evaluations to other tissue types, such as kidney, liver, and spleen, to further validate the model's clinical utility across different amyloidosis manifestations. They also aim to explore the development of automated detection systems to assist pathologists in identifying problematic areas, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing false negatives.

Funding: This research was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Original publication: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-52263-z