Figure 4b:

Molecular MPO-Gd–enhanced MR imaging depicted inflammatory activity in diet-induced NASH. (a, b) Precontrast, 15 minutes, and 60 minutes after MPO-Gd injection on T1-weighted MR images, and CNR maps of mice with diet-induced NASH (a) and steatosis (b). An increased signal was seen at 60 minutes after injection of contrast agent (a), which reflected elevated in vivo MPO activity. This was also demonstrated by the CNR map (higher values represent higher MPO activity). In mice with steatosis, no enhancement was observed at 15 or 60 minutes after MPO-Gd injection, indicating absence of MPO activity and thus inflammation. (c) MR imaging of whole-liver voxel-by-voxel quantification showed sensitivity of MPO-Gd in NASH and steatosis. ** P < .01. All data are mean ± standard error of the mean.