Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Apr 7, 2011; 17(13): 1725-1731
Published online Apr 7, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i13.1725
Intrahepatic natural killer T cell populations are increased in human hepatic steatosis
Michael Adler, Sarah Taylor, Kamalu Okebugwu, Herman Yee, Christine Fielding, George Fielding, Michael Poles
Michael Adler, Sarah Taylor, Kamalu Okebugwu, Herman Yee, Christine Fielding, George Fielding, Michael Poles, New York University School of Medicine New York, NY 10016, United States
Author contributions: Poles M was responsible for study concept design direction, supervision, formulating the hypothesis and obtaining funding; Fielding G and Fielding C were responsible for obtaining the liver samples during bariatric surgery; Adler M enrolled patients, performed flow cytometry and drafted the manuscript; Taylor S enrolled patients and performed flow cytometry; Okebugwu K performed flow cytometry; Yee H reviewed the liver biopsies for steatosis.
Supported by The Irma T Hirschl/Monique Weill-Caulier Charitable Trust and The Michael Saperstein Medical Scholars Research Fund
Correspondence to: Michael A Poles, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, Manhattan VA Medical Center, New York University School of Medicine, 423 East 23rd Street, Room 11097-S, New York, NY 10010, United States. michael.poles@nyumc.org
Telephone: +1-212-6867500 Fax: +1-212-9513481
Received: June 1, 2010
Revised: August 6, 2010
Accepted: August 13, 2010
Published online: April 7, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To determine if natural killer T cell (NKT) populations are affected in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS: Patients undergoing bariatric surgery underwent liver biopsy and blood sampling during surgery. The biopsy was assessed for steatosis and immunocyte infiltration. Intrahepatic lymphocytes (IHLs) were isolated from the remainder of the liver biopsy, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from the blood. Expression of surface proteins on both IHLs and PBMCs were quantified using flow cytometry.

RESULTS: Twenty-seven subjects participated in this study. Subjects with moderate or severe steatosis had a higher percentage of intrahepatic CD3+/CD56+ NKT cells (38.6%) than did patients with mild steatosis (24.1%, P = 0.05) or those without steatosis (21.5%, P = 0.03). Patients with moderate to severe steatosis also had a higher percentage of NKT cells in the blood (12.3%) as compared to patients with mild steatosis (2.5% P = 0.02) and those without steatosis (5.1%, P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION: NKT cells are significantly increased in the liver and blood of patients with moderate to severe steatosis and support the role of NKT cells in NAFLD.

Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Natural killer T cells; Natural killer T-like cells; Lymphocytes; Hepatic steatosis