Hepatic lymphocytes involved in the pathogenesis of pediatric and adult non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

ABSTRACT: The immune response is critical in NAFLD pathogenesis, but the liver infiltrate's composition and the role of each T cell population is still up for debate. To characterize liver pathogenesis in pediatric and adult cases, frequency and localization of immune cell populations [Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes (CD8+), T helper Lymphocytes (CD4+), Regulatory T lymphocytes (Foxp3+) and Th17 (IL-17A+)] were evaluated. In portal/periportal (P/P) tracts, both age groups displayed a similar proportion of CD8+ and CD4+ lymphocytes. However, comparable Foxp3+ and IL-17A+ cell frequencies were observed in pediatric cases, meanwhile, in adults Foxp3+ was higher than IL-17A+ cells. Interestingly, IL-17A+ lymphocytes seemed to be nearly exclusive of P/P area in both age groups. In intralobular areas, both pediat

SUBMITTER: Cairoli V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7933421 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature