1. Investigating peripheral blood monocyte and T-cell subsets as non-invasive biomarkers for asymptomatic hepatic steatosis: results from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
- Author
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Rhys W. Niedecker, Joseph A. Delaney, Margaret F. Doyle, Andrew D. Sparks, Colleen M. Sitlani, Petra Buzkova, Irfan Zeb, Russell P. Tracy, Bruce M. Psaty, Matthew J. Budoff, and Nels C. Olson
- Subjects
hepatic attenuation ,liver-spleen index ,metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease ,computed tomography ,T cells ,peripheral blood monocular cells ,Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,RC581-607 - Abstract
BackgroundCirculating immune cells have gained interest as biomarkers of hepatic steatosis. Data on the relationships between immune cell subsets and early-stage steatosis in population-based cohorts are limited.MethodsThis study included 1,944 asymptomatic participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) with immune cell phenotyping and computed tomography measures of liver fat. Participants with heavy alcohol use were excluded. A liver-to-spleen ratio Hounsfield units (HU) 30% liver fat content, respectively. Logistic regression estimated cross-sectional associations of immune cell subsets with liver fat parameters adjusted for risk factors. We hypothesized that higher proportions of non-classical monocytes, Th1, Th17, and memory CD4+ T cells, and lower proportions of classical monocytes and naive CD4+ T cells, were associated with liver fat. Exploratory analyses evaluated additional immune cell phenotypes (n = 19).ResultsNone of the hypothesized cells were associated with presence of liver fat. Higher memory CD4+ T cells were associated with >30% liver fat content, but this was not significant after correction for multiple hypothesis testing (odds ratio (OR): 1.31, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.66). In exploratory analyses unadjusted for multiple testing, higher proportions of CD8+CD57+ T cells were associated with liver fat presence (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.44) and >30% liver fat content (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.69).ConclusionsHigher circulating memory CD4+ T cells may reflect liver fat severity. CD8+CD57+ cells were associated with liver fat presence and severity, but replication of findings is required.
- Published
- 2024
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