Research Article Details
Article ID: | A11698 |
PMID: | 30787925 |
Source: | Front Immunol |
Title: | The Differential Roles of T Cells in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Obesity. |
Abstract: | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) constitutes a spectrum of disease states characterized by hepatic steatosis and is closely associated to obesity and the metabolic syndrome. In non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), additionally, inflammatory changes and hepatocellular damage are present, representing a more severe condition, for which the treatment is an unmet medical need. Pathophysiologically, the immune system is one of the main drivers of NAFLD progression and other obesity-related comorbidities, and both the innate and adaptive immune system are involved. T cells form the cellular component of the adaptive immune system and consist of multiple differentially active subsets, i.e., T helper (Th) cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells, and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells, as well as several innate T-cell subsets. This review focuses on the role of these T-cell subsets in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, as well as the association with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, reviewing the available evidence from both animal and human studies. Briefly, Th1, Th2, Th17, and Th22 cells seem to have an attenuating effect on adiposity. Th2, Th22, and Treg cells seem to decrease insulin resistance, whereas Th1, Th17, and Tc cells have an aggravating effect. Concerning NAFLD, both Th22 and Treg cells appear to have an overall tempering effect, whereas Th17 and Tc cells seem to induce more liver damage and fibrosis progression. The evidence regarding the role of the innate T-cell subsets is more controversial and warrants further exploration. |
DOI: | 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00082 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
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S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
S05 | Anti-inflammatory | inflammatory | Bile acid; TNF-a inhibitor; Dual PPAR-α and -δ agonists; Toll-Like Receptor; (TLR)-4 antagonist; Caspase inhibitor; ASK-1 inhibitor | Ursodeoxycholic Acid; Pentoxifylline; Elafibranor; JKB-121; Emricasan; Selonsertib; | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
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Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |