Monitoring glycogen levels and treatment effect in a mouse model of Pompe disease

Motivation: Pompe disease is a glycogen storage disease featuring abnormal glycogen accumulation in tissues. Noninvasive methods for assessing disease progression and treatment effect are highly needed. Goal(s): To use glycoNOE MRI to assess muscle glycogen levels in Pompe disease and the effect of treatment on these levels. Approach: GlycoNOE MRI and a lineshape fitting model were used to detect glycogen levels in skeletal muscle in a mouse model of Pompe disease. Various therapies were assessed. Results: GlycoNOE MRI glycogen quantification can discriminate between controls, mice with Pompe disease, and different treatment effects. Impact: Monitoring of glycogen levels is essential for assessing Pompe disease load and treatment efficacy. GlycoNOE MRI offers the possibility to non-invasively map glycogen levels in tissue using standard MRI scanners.