Real-Time Metabolic Probe Into Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Hyperpolarized Carbon-13

Philip Lee¹, Maegan Lim², Weiping Han², George Radda¹

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induces changes in liver metabolism. In order to measure such functional aberration, we injected hyperpolarized carbon-13-labeled pyruvate into a mouse model of hepatic steatosis and followed its metabolism in real-time and in-vivo. Initial results showed elevation in malate and aspartate levels, suggesting an increase in pyruvate carboxylase flux. Glucose tolerance test reveals glucose intolerance, a harbinger of diabetes. Quantification of pyruvate carboxylase flux via hyperpolarized pyruvate, as well as measures of downstream malate and aspartate metabolite pools could serve as alternative biomarkers of hepatic steatosis.