Correlation between T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Regulatory T Cells, and Hepatic Fibrosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver - PubMed (original) (raw)

Correlation between T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Regulatory T Cells, and Hepatic Fibrosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Xia Wang et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022.

Retraction in

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between T-lymphocyte subsets, regulatory T cells (Treg), and hepatic fibrosis in patients with a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 64 NAFLD patients (research group) and 73 healthy subjects (control group) in our hospital from January 2020 to December 2021. T-lymphocyte subsets (Th17) and Treg, liver function (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)), hepatic fibrosis indexes (type III procollagen (PCIII), type IV collagen (CIV), laminin (LN), hyaluronic acid (HA)), inflammatory factors (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8)), and oxidative stress (OS) response ((superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), malondialdehyde (MDA)) were tested. The relationship between Th17/Treg and the abovementioned indexes in NAFLD patients was analyzed.

Results: In comparison to the control group, Th17 and Th17/Treg were higher in the research group (P < 0.05). In addition, liver function, liver fibrosis markers, inflammatory factors, and MDA were elevated, while SOD and GSH-PX decreased (P < 0.05). Subsequently, NAFLD patients were divided into groups A (Th17/Treg <1.15, n = 33) and B (Th17/Treg ≥1.15, n = 31) based on their median Th17/Treg levels. It was seen that liver injury, hepatic fibrosis, inflammation, and OS in group A were more severe (P < 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficient revealed that Th17/Treg was positively correlated with AST, ALT, PCIII, MDA, and inflammatory factors but negatively correlated with SOD and GSH-PX (P < 0.05).

Copyright © 2022 Xia Wang et al.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as potential conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Comparison of T-lymphocyte subsets and Treg. (a) Th17 comparison. (b) Treg comparison. (c) Th17/Treg comparison. ∗ P < 0.05.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Comparison of liver function and hepatic fibrosis. (a) ALT comparison. (b) AST comparison. (c) PCII comparison. (d) CIV comparison. (e) LN comparison. (f) HA comparison. ∗ P < 0.05.

Figure 3

Figure 3

Comparison of inflammatory factors. (a) hs-CRP comparison. (b) IL-6 comparison. (c) IL-8 comparison. ∗ P < 0.05.

Figure 4

Figure 4

Comparison of OS responses. (a) SOD comparison. (b) MDA comparison. (c) GSH-PX comparison. ∗ P < 0.05.

Figure 5

Figure 5

Relationship between T-lymphocyte subsets, Treg, and liver function. (a) Comparison of liver function indicators. (b) Correlation of Th17/Treg with AST. (c) Correlation of Th17/Treg with ALT. ∗ P < 0.05.

Figure 6

Figure 6

Relationship between T-lymphocyte subsets, Treg, and hepatic fibrosis. (a) Comparison of liver fibrosis indicators. (b) Correlation of Th17/Treg with PCIII. (c) Correlation of Th17/Treg with CIV. (d) Correlation of Th17/Treg with LN. (e) Correlation of Th17/Treg with HA. ∗ P < 0.05.

Figure 7

Figure 7

Relationship between T-lymphocyte subsets, Treg, and inflammatory factors. (a) Comparison of inflammatory factors. (b) Correlation of Th17/Treg with hs-CRP. (c) Correlation of Th17/Treg with IL-6. (d) Correlation of Th17/Treg with IL-8. ∗ P < 0.05.

Figure 8

Figure 8

Relationship between T-lymphocyte subsets, Treg, and oxidative stress responses. (a) Comparison of oxidative stress. (b) Correlation of Th17/Treg with SOD. (c) Correlation of Th17/Treg with MDA. (d) Correlation of Th17/Treg with GSH-PX. ∗ P < 0.05.

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