Increased production of IL-1α and TNF-α in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated blood from obese patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine production is considered a pathogenic factor in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Peripheral blood production of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was studied in relation to the severity of histological changes of the liver in obese NAFLD patients. Basal levels in serum and production of IL-1α and TNF-α in peripheral blood cell cultures after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assays) were measured in 11 patients with steatosis and 15 with steatohepatitis, who underwent gastrectomy with a gastro-jejunal anastomosis in roux and Y, and in 9 controls who underwent anti-reflux surgery. Production of IL-1α and TNF-α was 122 and 67% higher in patients with steatosis than control values, respectively. In patients with steatohepatitis, IL-1α production was 300 and 80% higher and that of TNF-α 110 and 26% higher, as compared with controls and steatosis patients, respectively. Production of IL-1α was positively correlated with that of TNF-α (r = 0.78, p < 0.0001). IL-1α and TNF-α production were both positively correlated with the degree of steatosis (r = 0.68, p < 0.001 and r = 0.74, p < 0.0001) and steatohepatitis (r = 0.77 and r = 0.75, p < 0.0001) at liver biopsy, and with the homeostasis model assessment index (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001 and r = 0.63, p < 0.01), respectively. Basal serum IL-1α and TNF-α levels were comparable in the three groups studied. It is concluded that elevated production of IL-1α and TNF-α by in vitro stimulated whole blood cell cultures occurs in NAFLD obese patients, which might play a pathophysiological role upon inflammatory leukocyte infiltration of the liver.