Role and mechanism of T helper 17 cells/regulatory T cells immune balance regulated by the TGF-‍β1/Smad signaling pathway mediated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

WANG Qian, LI Kaiyang, YANG Mei, ZHANG Hang, ZHU Shengjin, ZHAO Qi, HUANG Jing

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Journal of Clinical Hepatol ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (05) : 942-947. DOI: 10.12449/JCH250521
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Role and mechanism of T helper 17 cells/regulatory T cells immune balance regulated by the TGF-‍β1/Smad signaling pathway mediated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

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Abstract

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hepatocyte fatty degeneration and ballooning degeneration，and it plays an important role in the progression of hepatic steatosis. Recent studies have shown that immune homeostasis imbalance between T helper 17 （Th17） and regulatory T （Treg） cells are closely associated with the pathological process of NASH. Transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） is a key cytokine for regulating the differentiation and proliferation of Th17/Treg cells，and TGF-β1 binds to its receptor and activates the Smad signaling pathway，thereby regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells and the expression of inflammatory factors and participating in the repair of liver inflammation. This article systematically reviews the molecular mechanism of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in affecting NASH by regulating the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells，in order to provide a theoretical basis for the research on the pathogenesis of NASH and related treatment strategies.

Key words

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Smad Proteins / T-Lymphocytes，Helper-Inducer / T-Lymphocytes，Regulatory

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WANG Qian , LI Kaiyang , YANG Mei , et al . Role and mechanism of T helper 17 cells/regulatory T cells immune balance regulated by the TGF-‍β1/Smad signaling pathway mediated in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Journal of Clinical Hepatol. 2025, 41(05): 942-947 https://doi.org/10.12449/JCH250521

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(82160866)
Science and Technology Plan Project of Guizhou Province （Guizhou Science and Technology base-ZK ［2023］ General 433）
Science and Technology Fund of Guizhou Provincial Health Commission(gzwkj2023-208)
Key Laboratory of Higher Education in Guizhou Province （Guizhou Education Technology ［2023］017）

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