METHODS: Hepatitis was induced in mice (n = 16) via hydrodynamic injection of HBV 1.2 plasmid (25 μg). Among them, liver fibrosis was induced in the mice (n = 8) through weight-adapted administration of thioacetamide with ethanol. Normal control mice (n = 8) were injected with a phosphate buffer solution. Subsequently, a hyperpolarized 13C MRI was performed on the mouse liver in vivo. The level of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in blood serum was measured. Statistical analysis involved comparing the differential metabolite ratios, blood biochemistry values, and body weight among the three groups using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance.
RESULTS: HBsAg was absent in the normal and fibrosis groups, while it was detected in the hepatitis group. The ratios of [1-13C] lactate/pyruvate, [1-13C] alanine/pyruvate, [1-13C] lactate/total carbon, and [1-13C] alanine/total carbon were significantly lower in the normal control group than in the hepatitis and fibrosis groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, these ratios were significantly higher in the fibrosis group than in the hepatitis group (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in either [1-13C] pyruvate-hydrate/pyruvate or [1-13C] pyruvate-hydrate/total carbon among the three groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The levels of [1-13C] lactate and [1-13C] alanine in vivo may serve as valuable indicators for differentiating between HBV-related hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and normal liver.
方法:通过流体动力注射HBV1.2质粒(25μg)在小鼠(n=16)中诱导肝炎。其中,小鼠(n=8)通过适应体重的硫代乙酰胺和乙醇给药诱导肝纤维化。正常对照小鼠(n=8)注射磷酸盐缓冲液。随后,在体内对小鼠肝脏进行超极化13CMRI。测量血清中乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)的水平。统计分析涉及比较不同的代谢物比率,血液生物化学值,使用Kruskal-Wallis单向方差分析,三组之间的体重。
结果:正常和纤维化组没有HBsAg,而在肝炎组中检测到。[1-13C]乳酸/丙酮酸的比率,[1-13C]丙氨酸/丙酮酸,[1-13C]乳酸/总碳,[1-13C]丙氨酸/总碳在正常对照组中显著低于正常肝炎组和纤维化组(p<0.05)。此外,纤维化组的这些比率明显高于肝炎组(p<0.05)。然而,三组间[1-13C]丙酮酸水合物/丙酮酸或[1-13C]丙酮酸水合物/总碳均无显著差异.
结论:体内[1-13C]乳酸和[1-13C]丙氨酸的水平可能是区分HBV相关肝炎的有价值的指标,肝纤维化,和正常的肝脏。