New insights into NAFLD based on preclinical MRI studies. (May 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bamburowicz-Klimkowska, Magdalena; Ruzycka-Ayoush, Monika; Cieszanowski, Andrzej; Szeszkowski, Wojciech; Bialek, Malgorzata; Malkowska, Anna; Grudzinski, Ireneusz P.
• Is Part Of: Chemistry and physics of lipids. Volume 244(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-05
• Subjects: ADC – apparent diffusion coefficient -- DWI – diffusion weighted-imaging -- f – perfusion fraction -- FA – fatty acid -- FAME – fatty acid methyl esters -- H&E – hematoxylin and eosin -- HFD – high – fat diet -- IR – inversion recovery -- MRI – magnetic resonance imaging -- MUFA – monounsaturated fatty acids -- OBCFA – odd- and branched- chain fatty acids -- PUFA – polyunsaturated fatty acid -- ROI – region of interest -- SI – signal intensity -- SFA – saturated fatty acids -- TAG – triglyceride -- TE – echo time -- TR – repetition time -- TSE – turbo spin echo; Fatty liver -- Whole-body fat distribution -- Magnetic resonance imaging -- Rats; Lipids -- Periodicals; Lipids -- Periodicals; Lipides -- Périodiques; Lipids; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.77
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2022.105192
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3084

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be the leading cause of liver pathologies worldwide. Accurate diagnosis and staging of NAFLD is of utmost prognostic importance. Herein, we propose the application of multiparametric MRI in whole-body fat imaging that may serve in obesity and NAFLD diagnosis as we established based on an experimental preclinical model of high-calorie diet-induced NAFLD rats. Methods and results: Sprague Dawley male rats randomly divided into control and high-fat diet (HFD) groups to develop NAFLD were used in the experiments. After 12 weeks of the feeding the animals were subjected to MRI modalities based on the Dixon mode and DWI following T2-weighted imaging. Moreover, serum TAG, liver histopathological examination and liver fatty acids analysis (GC-MS) were also performed. The qualitative analysis of DWI images revelated the decrease of signals in the liver of rats subjected to HFD. The statistical analysis of signals from the water- and fat-separated voxels on Dixon images also showed the increase of the fat tissue along with the decrease of water molecules in the liver parenchyma of obese animals. The quantitative analysis of Dixon images allowed to estimate the statistically significant changes of whole-body fat profiles in both normal and obese rats. Histological analysis of the liver tissues, serum TAG and fatty acids profile in the livers confirmed the changes in the fat profile as demonstrated in MRI studies. Conclusions: The MRI-based modalities such as DWI and Dixon method provide both qualitative and quantitative data on the whole-body fat distribution and adipose tissues in the liver parenchyma of obese rats. The results show that MRI is a promising and reliable method and has potential to be used as a non-invasive translational biomarker in NAFLD. Highlights: Non-invasive MRI can detect liver steatohepatitis in rats on a high-calorie diet. Successful MRI application of fat distribution in the rat liver parenchyma. Dixon and DWI allow whole body fat content and NAFLD determination in obese rats. MRI as a translational tool for NAFLD diagnosis. MRI modalities may aid in new drug development.