Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Türkiye.
Department of Gastroenterology, School of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Türkiye.
Front Immunol. 2024 Aug 1;15:1445634. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1445634. eCollection 2024.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by the excessive accumulation of fat within the cytoplasm of hepatocytes (exceeding 5% of liver weight) in individuals without significant alcohol consumption, has rapidly evolved into a pressing global health issue, affecting approximately 25% of the world population. This condition, closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome, encompasses a spectrum of liver disorders ranging from simple steatosis without inflammation to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and cirrhotic liver disease. Recent research has illuminated the complex interplay between metabolic and immune responses in the pathogenesis of NASH, underscoring the critical role played by T and B lymphocytes. These immune cells not only contribute to necroinflammatory changes in hepatic lobules but may also drive the onset and progression of liver fibrosis. This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive exploration of the effector mechanisms employed by T cells, B cells, and their respective subpopulations in the pathogenesis of NASH. Understanding the immunological complexity of NASH holds profound implications for the development of targeted immunotherapeutic strategies to combat this increasingly prevalent and burdensome metabolic liver disease.
非酒精性脂肪性肝病（NAFLD）是一种在无大量饮酒史的个体中，肝细胞浆内脂肪过度堆积（超过肝重的 5%）的疾病，它已迅速成为一个紧迫的全球健康问题，影响着全球约 25%的人口。这种疾病与肥胖、2 型糖尿病和代谢综合征密切相关，涵盖了一系列肝脏疾病，从单纯性脂肪变性（无炎症）到非酒精性脂肪性肝炎（NASH）和肝硬化。最近的研究揭示了 NASH 发病机制中代谢和免疫反应之间的复杂相互作用，强调了 T 和 B 淋巴细胞的关键作用。这些免疫细胞不仅导致肝小叶的坏死性炎症变化，而且可能驱动肝纤维化的发生和进展。本综述旨在全面探讨 T 细胞、B 细胞及其各自亚群在 NASH 发病机制中的效应机制。了解 NASH 的免疫学复杂性对于开发针对这种日益流行和负担沉重的代谢性肝病的靶向免疫治疗策略具有深远意义。
