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Liver Metabolic Functions in Patients With Citrin Deficiency and Healthy Subjects
Sponsor: Johannes Haeberle
Summary
Citrin is an aspartate-glutamate transporter in the liver that facilitates the urea cycle pathway for ammonia detoxification via ureagenesis. It is also thought to be involved in liver energy metabolism as a component of the malate-aspartate shuttle. The clinical presentation in patients supports the hypothesis that liver glycolytic, gluconeogenic and lipogenic functions are compromised in citrin deficiency, but none of the key hepatic pathway fluxes have been measured in patients to date. This is the first study that will examine the liver metabolic fluxes in patients with citrin deficiency. Liver metabolic functions will be examined by metabolic flux assays and biochemical measurements after application of stable isotopes 2H2O and \[U-13C6\]-fructose. Urea cycle metabolites and their enrichment after application of a stable isotope tracer 15NH4Cl will be measured to examine the liver's ability to detoxify ammonia into urea.
Official title: Assessment of Liver Metabolic Alterations in Vivo in Patients With Citrin Deficiency and Healthy Subjects by Metabolic Labeling With Stable Isotopes
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
20
Start Date
2025-10-20
Completion Date
2026-09
Last Updated
2026-01-08
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
liver metabolic flux
All participants will be given heavy water (2H2O, deuterium-labelled) and \[U-13C6\]-fructose orally, each followed by the collection of one blood plasma sample. Additional biochemical and clinical parameters including liver fat content by MRI, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis by ultrasound imaging and plasma biochemical profiles will be analyzed.
ureagenesis capacity
urea and urea cycle metabolites and their enrichment after oral administration of a stable isotope tracer 15NH4Cl will be measured to examine the liver's ability to detoxify ammonia.
Locations (1)
University Children's Hospital Zurich
Zurich, Switzerland