Motivation: Clinical diagnosis and management of acute kidney injury rely on systemic blood biomarkers, lacking specificity and sensitivity of associated renal metabolism. Goal(s): To examine changes of renal oxidative and gluconeogenic metabolism induced by acute kidney injury. Approach: Hyperpolarized (HP) 1-13Cpyruvate and HP 1,4-13C2fumarate were separately used to assess pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activities in rat kidneys with unilateral ischemia reperfusion injury. Results: 13CBicarbonate produced from HP 1-13Cpyruvate and HP 1,4-13C2fumarate decreased, suggesting suppressed PDH flux and gluconeogenic pathway, respectively. Impact: The proposed imaging methods and biomarkers can be broadly applicable to other types of tissue injuries, as well as renal or hepatic diseases that affect metabolism.
Dewage et al. (Tue,) studied this question.