Cerebral metabolic dysfunction is a critical pathological hallmark observed in the aftermath of traumatic brain injury (TBI), as extensively documented in clinical investigations and experimental models. An in‐depth understanding of the bioenergetic disturbances that occur following TBI promises to reveal novel therapeutic targets, paving the way for the timely development of interventions to improve patient outcomes. The 13C isotope tracing technique represents a robust methodological advance, harnessing biochemical quantification to delineate the metabolic trajectories of isotopically labeled substrates. This nuanced approach enables real‐time mapping of metabolic fluxes, providing a window into the cellular energetic state and elucidating the perturbations in key metabolic circuits. By applying this sophisticated tool, researchers can dissect the complexities of bioenergetic networks within the central nervous system, offering insights into the metabolic derangements specific to TBI pathology. Embraced by both animal studies and clinical research, 13C isotope tracing has bolstered our understanding of TBI‐induced metabolic dysregulation. This review synthesizes current applications of isotope tracing and its transformative potential in evaluating and addressing the metabolic sequelae of TBI.

中文翻译：

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追踪破坏路径：13C同位素在创伤性脑损伤引起的代谢功能障碍中的应用

脑代谢功能障碍是创伤性脑损伤 (TBI) 后观察到的一个重要病理标志，临床研究和实验模型中有大量记录。对 TBI 后发生的生物能量紊乱的深入了解有望揭示新的治疗靶点，为及时制定干预措施以改善患者预后铺平道路。这13C同位素示踪技术代表了方法论上的重大进步，利用生化定量来描绘同位素标记底物的代谢轨迹。这种细致入微的方法可以实时绘制代谢通量图，提供了解细胞能量状态的窗口并阐明关键代谢回路中的扰动。通过应用这种复杂的工具，研究人员可以剖析中枢神经系统内生物能量网络的复杂性，从而深入了解 TBI 病理学特有的代谢紊乱。受到动物研究和临床研究的欢迎，13C 同位素示踪增强了我们对 TBI 引起的代谢失调的理解。本综述综合了同位素示踪的当前应用及其在评估和解决 TBI 代谢后遗症方面的变革潜力。