Human Neutrophil α-Defensins 1–3 Are Upregulated in the Microenvironment of Fibrotic Liver

Autor: Rami Abu Fanne, Emad Maraga, Eiass Kassem, Gabriel Groisman, Naama Amsalem, Abdel-Rauf Zeina, Moran Abu Mouch, Randa Taher, Saif Abu-Mouch
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Medicina, Vol 59, Iss 3, p 496 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 59030496
1648-9144
1010-660X
DOI: 10.3390/medicina59030496
Popis: Background and Objectives: Neutrophil infiltration is an established signature of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Steatohepatitis (NASH). The most abundant neutrophilic peptide, alpha-defensin, is considered a new evolving risk factor in the inflammatory milieu, intimately involved in lipid mobilization. Our objective is to assess for potential association between alpha-defensin immunostains and NAFLD severity. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively investigated the liver biopsies of NAFLD/NASH patients, obtained at Hillel Yaffe Medical center between the years 2012 and 2016. Patients’ characteristics were recorded, including relevant blood tests at the time of biopsy. Each biopsy was semi-quantitatively scored using NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) and NASH fibrosis stage. The biopsies were immunostained for alpha-defensin. The precipitation of alpha-defensin was correlated to NAS and fibrosis. Results: A total of 80 biopsies were evaluated: male ratio 53.2%, mean age 44.9 ± 13.2 years, 54 had fibrosis grades 0–2, and 26 were grade 3–4. Conventional metabolic risk factors were more frequent in the high-grade fibrosis group. Immunostaining for alpha-defensin disclosed higher intensity (a.u.) in grade 3–4 fibrosis relative to grades 0–2, 25% vs. 6.5%, p < 0.05, respectively. Moreover, alpha-defensin staining was nicely co-localized with fibrosis. Conclusions: In our group of NASH/NAFLD patients, higher metabolic risk profile was associated with higher fibrosis grade. Immunostaining for alpha-defensin showed patchy intense staining concordant with high fibrosis, nicely co-localized with histological fibrosis. Whether alpha-defensin is a profibrotic risk factor or merely risk marker for fibrosis must be clarified in future studies.
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