Multi-parametric hyperpolarized imaging of renal ischemia reperfusion injury

Motivation: Renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) significantly contributes to kidney morbidity and mortality, highlighting the need for noninvasive diagnostic strategies. Goal(s): To investigate the effects of IRI severity on kidney function using co-hyperpolarized (HP) pyruvate and urea in a female mouse model, and test 1-13C lysine as a novel biomarker. Approach: Female mice underwent ischemia for 28 or 45 minutes, followed by co-HP pyruvate and urea imaging. Separately, HP lysine imaging was performed in controls. Results: All mice exhibited decreased urea signal in the IRI kidney. The lactate-to-urea ratio differentiated between moderate and severe injuries. Lysine imaging demonstrated strong signal localized to the kidneys. Impact: Our results suggest that co-polarized pyruvate and urea imaging could serve as a sensitive diagnostic tool to distinguish IRI severity. Additionally, the feasibility of lysine imaging suggests the potential to enhance the specificity of HP imaging for renal IRI diagnosis.