Neutrophil: An emerging player in the occurrence and progression of metabolic associated fatty liver disease

Shiwei Chen; Huiting Guo; Mingjie Xie; Cheng Zhou; Min Zheng

doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107609

Neutrophil: An emerging player in the occurrence and progression of metabolic associated fatty liver disease

Int Immunopharmacol. 2021 Aug:97:107609. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107609. Epub 2021 Apr 19.

Authors

Shiwei Chen¹, Huiting Guo¹, Mingjie Xie¹, Cheng Zhou², Min Zheng³

Affiliations

¹ The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China; National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China.
² The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China; National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China. Electronic address: zhoucheng0113@zju.edu.cn.
³ The State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310000, China; National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310000, China. Electronic address: minzheng@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 33887577
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107609

Abstract

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a common type of chronic liver disease characterized by excessive lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, but the pathogenesis is still unclear. Neutrophils, the most abundant immune cells in the human body, defend against pathogens and regulate the inflammatory response. Recent studies have indicated that excessive liver infiltration of neutrophils is a significant histological hallmark of MAFLD, and neutrophils and their derived granule proteins participate in different stages of MAFLD, including hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hence, in this review, we summarize the role of neutrophils in the occurrence and progression of MAFLD and provide a perspective for the clinical application of neutrophils in MAFLD diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords: Fibrosis; Hepatic steatosis; Inflammation; Insulin resistance; Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD); Neutrophils.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / diagnosis
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / immunology*
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
Disease Models, Animal
Disease Progression
Hepatocytes / immunology
Hepatocytes / metabolism
Humans
Lipid Metabolism / immunology
Liver / cytology
Liver / immunology
Liver / pathology
Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis
Liver Cirrhosis / immunology*
Liver Cirrhosis / metabolism
Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis
Liver Neoplasms / immunology*
Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
Liver Neoplasms / pathology
Neutrophils / immunology*
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / diagnosis
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / immunology*
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / pathology