Imaging Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Model Using H-1 and F-19 MRI.

Purpose: We explore the use of intravenously delivered perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsion and ¹⁹ F MRI for detecting inflammation in a mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Correlative studies of ¹ H-based liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF) and T ₁ measurements and histology are also evaluated.
Procedures: C57BL/6 mice were fed standard or high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks to induce NAFLD. ¹ H MRI measurements of PDFF and T ₁ relaxation time were performed at baseline to assess NAFLD onset prior to administration of a PFC nanoemulsion to enable ¹⁹ F MRI of liver PFC uptake. ¹ H and ¹⁹ F MRI biomarkers were acquired at 2, 21, and 42 days post-PFC to assess changes. Histopathology of liver tissue was performed at experimental endpoint.
Results: Significant increases in liver volume, PDFF, and total PFC uptake were noted in HFD mice compared to Std diet mice. Liver fluorine density and T ₁ relaxation time were significantly reduced in HFD mice.
Conclusions: We demonstrated longitudinal quantification of multiple MRI biomarkers of disease in NAFLD mice. The changes in liver PFC uptake in HFD mice were compared with healthy mice that suggests that ¹⁹ F MRI may be a viable biomarker of liver pathology.
(© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to World Molecular Imaging Society.)