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Systemic inflammation and immune cell phenotypes are associated with neuro‐psychiatric symptoms in patients with chronic inflammatory liver diseases
Author(s) -
Aregay Amare,
Dirks Meike,
Schlaphoff Verena,
Owusu Sekyere Solomon,
Haag Kim,
Falk Christine Susanne,
Hengst Julia,
Bremer Birgit,
Schuppner Ramona,
Manns Michael P.,
Pflugrad Henning,
Cornberg Markus,
Wedemeyer Heiner,
Weissenborn Karin
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/liv.13869
Subject(s) - immune system , inflammation , medicine , immunology , cirrhosis , autoimmune hepatitis , phenotype , chronic hepatitis , primary biliary cirrhosis , hepatitis , biology , virus , biochemistry , gene
Background & Aims Chronic inflammatory liver diseases are frequently associated with neuropsychiatric and cognitive dysfunctions. We hypothesized that symptomatic patients may show altered levels of soluble inflammatory mediators ( SIM s) as well as changes in immune cell phenotypes. Methods A comprehensive immune‐phenotyping including investigation of 50 SIM s as well as ex‐vivo phenotypes of NK ‐cells, CD 3+, CD 4+, CD 8+ and regulatory T cells in 40 patients with viral and autoimmune chronic liver diseases was performed. The patients’ cognitive functions were assessed using an extensive battery of neuropsychological testing. Results and Conclusion Overall, our data indicate that while SIM s are significantly up‐regulated, NK ‐ and T‐cells are less‐activated in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms accompanying chronic inflammatory liver diseases compared to patients without these symptoms. Moreover, HCV patients showed a unique pattern of immune alterations as compared to patients with HBV , autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis. These findings hint towards potential mechanisms explaining these symptoms in patients with chronic liver diseases.