Progression from Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Is Marked by a Higher Frequency of Th17 Cells in the Liver and an Increased Th17/Resting Regulatory T Cell Ratio in Peripheral Blood and in the Liver.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is increasing in prevalence. It can be subdivided into nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Five to twenty percent of cases progress from NAFL to NASH. Increased hepatic Th17 cells and IL-17 expression were observed in NASH mice and patients, respectively. We analyzed CD4(+) effector T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) from peripheral blood and livers of NAFL and NASH patients. A total of 51 NAFL patients, 30 NASH patients, 31 nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients (without histology), and 43 healthy controls were included. FACS analysis was performed on PBMCs and intrahepatic lymphocytes. Compared with healthy controls, a lower frequency of resting Tregs (rTregs; CD4(+)CD45RA(+)CD25(++)) and higher frequencies of IFN-γ(+) and/or IL-4(+) cells were detected among CD4(+) T cells of peripheral blood in NASH, and to a lesser degree in NAFL. In hepatic tissue, NAFL to NASH progression was marked by an increase in IL-17(+) cells among intrahepatic CD4(+) T cells. To define immunological parameters in peripheral blood to distinguish NAFL from NASH, we calculated different ratios. Th17/rTreg and Th2/rTreg ratios were significantly increased in NASH versus NAFL. The relevance of our findings for NASH pathogenesis was highlighted by the normalization of all of the changes 1 y after bariatric surgery. In conclusion, our data indicate that NAFL patients show changes in their immune cell profile compared with healthy controls. NAFL to NASH progression is marked by an increased frequency of IL-17(+) cells among intrahepatic CD4(+) T cells and higher Th17/rTreg and Th2/rTreg ratios in peripheral blood.

Ex vivo expansion of autologous, donor-derived NK-, γδT-, and cytokine induced killer (CIK) cells post haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation results in increased antitumor activity.

Posttransplant treatment strategies are narrowed by the vulnerability of bone marrow. Building on immune cells with antitumor activity is a growing field in cancer therapy. Thus, transfer of expanded and preactivated immune cells is a promising intensification of treatment in high-risk tumor patients. We tested ex vivo expanded NK-, γδT-, and CIK cells that were generated by coincubation with irradiated K562-mb15-41BBL and Il2 and compared the expansion conditions of PBMCs versus CD3-depleted PBMCs as well as static versus semi-automated expansion. The median fold expansion was significantly higher using PBMCs and static expansion conditions. Expanded cells were preactivated with a CD56brightCD69high immunophenotype exerting excellent direct cellular cytotoxicity as well as ADCC in various tumor entities. We established a large-scale clinical-grade ex vivo expansion and activation protocol of NK-, γδT-, and CIK cells from donor-derived PBMCs of patients after haploidentical HSCT. In a patient with AML, NK/γδT/CIK cell transfer was associated with MRD response. A significant increase of direct antitumor activity and ADCC post cell transfer was documented. The results that we report here provide the rationale for clinical testing of expanded, preactivated NK/γδT/CIK cells for cancer therapy.

Intestinal vitamin D receptor modulates lipid metabolism, adipose tissue inflammation and liver steatosis in obese mice.

OBJECTIVE: Hypovitaminosis D is common in the obese population and patients suffering from obesity-associated disorders such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, resulting in suggestions for vitamin D supplementation as a potential therapeutic option. However, the pathomechanistic contribution of the vitamin D-vitamin D receptor (VDR) axis to metabolic disorders is largely unknown. METHODS: We analyzed the pathophysiological role of global and intestinal VDR signaling in diet-induced obesity (DIO) using global Vdr-/- mice and mice re-expressing an intestine-specific human VDR transgene in the Vdr deficient background (Vdr-/- hTg). RESULTS: Vdr-/- mice were protected from DIO, hepatosteatosis and metabolic inflammation in adipose tissue and liver. Furthermore, Vdr-/- mice displayed a decreased adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and a reduced capacity to harvest triglycerides from the circulation. Intriguingly, all these phenotypes were partially reversed in Vdr-/- hTg animals. This clearly suggested an intestine-based VDR activity on systemic lipid homeostasis. Scrutinizing this hypothesis, we identified the potent LPL inhibitor angiopoietin-like 4 (Angptl4) as a novel transcriptional target of VDR. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests a VDR-mediated metabolic cross-talk between gut and adipose tissue, which significantly contributes to systemic lipid homeostasis. These results have important implications for use of the intestinal VDR as a therapeutic target for obesity and associated disorders.

Open Versus Endovascular Revascularization of Below-Knee Arteries in Patients With End-Stage Renal Disease and Critical Limb Ischemia.

BACKGROUND:: Evaluation of below-the-knee open revascularization (OR) versus endovascular revascularization (EVT) in patients with end-stage renal disease and critical limb ischemia (CLI) was performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS:: Seventy-seven dialysis patients with CLI and infrapopliteal involvement from 2007 to 2017 were included. Thirty-five patients received OR and 42 patients were treated with EVT. Survival, amputation-free survival (AFS) and wound-healing were evaluated. Furthermore, both groups were analyzed for differences as to anatomic (lesion length, runoff, pedal arch classification) and clinical (VSG risk score, WIfI score) characteristics. RESULTS:: Amputation-free survival (1-year AFS: OR 54.5% vs 47.6% in EVT, 2-year AFS OR 38.3% vs 23.9% EVT, P = .201) did not significantly differ between OR and EVT nor did the wound healing rate (29% OR vs 31% EVT, P = .532). Overall survival was noticeably poor (1-year survival: 66.7% in OR and 49% in EVT, 2-year survival OR 47.4% vs EVT 27.7%; P = .088); evaluation of peripheral runoff (Rutherford score 6.9 OR vs 7.1 EVT, P = .499) and pedal arch classification as well as WIfI or VSG risk score (9.8 OR vs 9.6 EVT, P = .673) could not detect significant differences as to both the groups. Treated median lesion length was significantly increased in OR patients (OR 26 cm vs EVT 7 cm, P < .001), whereas the incidence of major adverse cardiac events was higher in EVT patients (67% in EVT vs 40% OR, P = .023). CONCLUSION:: OR and EVT showed comparable outcomes as to AFS and wound healing. Poor overall survival remains the determining factor in patients with ESRD having CLI. Both groups differ in terms of anatomic features as lesion length and severity of comorbidities; considering the comparable long-term outcomes, decision-making should be based on these premises; individually applied, each method can contribute to limb salvage, although the overall survival remains limited.