BACKGROUND: The interaction between T-cells/fatty acids involved in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis progression is poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of T-cell profiles of NAFLD patients to better understand their relationship with fatty acids and relevance to liver fibrosis. METHODS: We analyzed the differences in T-cell profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) between 40 NAFLD patients and 5 healthy volunteers (HVs), and their relationship with liver fibrosis stage or progression. Moreover, we analyzed the relationship between T-cell profiles and fatty acid compositions in vivo, and changes in T-cell profiles after treatment with fatty acids in vitro. RESULTS: T-cell profiles of NAFLD patients were different from those of HVs. The CD25+CD45+CD4+ T-cell frequency was increased in NAFLD patients with high liver fibrosis stage and progression, and this indicated immune activation. Despite such a state of immune activation, the PD1+CD4+ T-cell frequency was decreased in the same patients group. The PD1+CD4+ T-cell frequency had a significantly negative correlation with the serum fatty acid composition ratio C16:1n7/C16:0. Moreover, the PD1+CD4+ T-cell frequency was significantly decreased by in vitro treatment with fatty acids. In addition, its rate of frequency change was significantly different between C16:0 and C16:1n7 and decreased by artificially increasing the C16:1n7/C16:0 ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of PBMCs in NAFLD patients showed that T-cell profiles were different from those of HVs. And, it suggested that fatty acids modified T-cell profiles and were involved in liver fibrosis in NAFLD patients.
BACKGROUND: The interaction between T-cells/fatty acids involved in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver fibrosis progression is poorly understood. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of T-cell profiles of NAFLDpatients to better understand their relationship with fatty acids and relevance to liver fibrosis. METHODS: We analyzed the differences in T-cell profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) between 40 NAFLDpatients and 5 healthy volunteers (HVs), and their relationship with liver fibrosis stage or progression. Moreover, we analyzed the relationship between T-cell profiles and fatty acid compositions in vivo, and changes in T-cell profiles after treatment with fatty acids in vitro. RESULTS: T-cell profiles of NAFLDpatients were different from those of HVs. The CD25+CD45+CD4+ T-cell frequency was increased in NAFLDpatients with high liver fibrosis stage and progression, and this indicated immune activation. Despite such a state of immune activation, the PD1+CD4+ T-cell frequency was decreased in the same patients group. The PD1+CD4+ T-cell frequency had a significantly negative correlation with the serum fatty acid composition ratio C16:1n7/C16:0. Moreover, the PD1+CD4+ T-cell frequency was significantly decreased by in vitro treatment with fatty acids. In addition, its rate of frequency change was significantly different between C16:0 and C16:1n7 and decreased by artificially increasing the C16:1n7/C16:0 ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of PBMCs in NAFLDpatients showed that T-cell profiles were different from those of HVs. And, it suggested that fatty acids modified T-cell profiles and were involved in liver fibrosis in NAFLDpatients.
Authors: Jose Cesar Rosa Neto; Philip C Calder; Rui Curi; Philip Newsholme; Jaswinder K Sethi; Loreana S Silveira Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2021-08-06 Impact factor: 5.923