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Product Description
his product is intended for the in vitro quantitative determination of alanine levels in human blood. By co-measuring fasting plasma glucagon levels, the Glucagon-alanine index (GAI) can be calculated. Clinically, GAI serves as an indicator for assessing glucagon resistance and reflects the functional status of the liver-alpha cell axis; an elevated index signifies dysfunction of this axis.
Product Description
This kit utilizes a highly sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme analysis method, specifically designed for the in vitro quantitative measurement of alanine concentration in human blood samples. It is intended for use in conjunction with glucagon testing to calculate the Glucagon-Alanine Index (GAI), enabling precise assessment of the liver-alpha cell axis function. This provides a critical quantitative metric for research and clinical diagnosis of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) and glucagon resistance.
What is the liver-alpha cell axis?
A physiological feedback system exists between the liver and pancreatic α-cells, termed the liver-alpha cell axis: glucagon regulates plasma levels of amino acids, which in turn feedback to regulate the secretion of glucagon.
Glucagon enhances amino acid metabolism by both non-transcriptional and transcriptional mechanisms. Hyperglucagonaemia may reflect disturbances in the physiological feedback loop between amino acid metabolism and the pancreatic alpha cells, rather than abnormalities of glucose metabolism.
Research demonstrates that hepatic steatosis via defective glucagon signalling/glucagon resistance would lead to impaired ureagenesis and, hence, increased plasma concentrations of glucagonotropic amino acids and, subsequently, glucagon. The glucagon-alanine index is suggested as a relevant marker for hepatic glucagon signalling.
Glucagon-Alanine Index (GAI)
GAI = Fasting Plasma Glucagon (pmol/L) × Fasting Plasma Alanine (mmol/L)
Clinical Significance
Assessment of Glucagon Resistance: GAI is a sensitive indicator of glucagon receptor signaling function, enabling objective quantification of glucagon resistance severity.
Monitoring the liver-alpha cell axis Function: GAI accurately reflects hepatic amino acid metabolic capacity; an abnormally elevated index directly indicates liver-alpha cell axis dysfunction.
Risk Prediction: GAI exhibits a significant positive correlation with fatty liver severity once hepatic fat content exceeds 0.5%. Compared to conventional markers, GAI detects metabolic disturbances induced by hepatic steatosis at earlier stages.
Differential Diagnosis: Facilitates differentiation between isolated diabetes mellitus and hyperglucagonemia secondary to hepatic steatosis, guiding targeted clinical interventions.
Therapeutic Efficacy Monitoring: Dynamic changes in GAI pre- and post-intervention provide a quantitative basis for evaluating treatment response.