Lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Objective This study aimed to elucidate the correlations among dyslipidemia, immune function, and clinical outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), with particular emphasis on the clinical significance of lipid metabolism and cellular immune parameters in hepatitis B...

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Main Authors: Neng Wang, Yu Zheng, Shuai Tao, Liang Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04004-9
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author Neng Wang
Yu Zheng
Shuai Tao
Liang Chen
author_facet Neng Wang
Yu Zheng
Shuai Tao
Liang Chen
author_sort Neng Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective This study aimed to elucidate the correlations among dyslipidemia, immune function, and clinical outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), with particular emphasis on the clinical significance of lipid metabolism and cellular immune parameters in hepatitis B virus-associated ACLF (HBV-ACLF). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 803 patients with HBV-ACLF admitted to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from January 2014 to January 2024. Patients were stratified into deceased (n = 414) and survival (n = 389) groups based on clinical outcomes. Clinical baseline data, lipid metabolic indices, and cellular immune parameters were collected. The Spearman correlation coefficient was utilized to assess the correlation between lipid metabolic indices and cellular immune parameters, and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was applied to analyze risk factors for mortality. Results Compared to the survival group, lipid metabolism indices in the deceased group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Lipid metabolism indices, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1), apolipoprotein B (APOB), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG), demonstrated significant negative correlations with the severity of liver failure (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis with lymphocyte subset counts revealed positive correlations between low-density lipoprotein, TG, TC, APOB, and CD3 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and CD45 + T cells (P < 0.05). APOA1 and HDL-C were positively correlated with B cells and NK cells (P < 0.05). TG and APOB showed significant negative correlations with the CD4/CD8 ratio (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age, creatinine, total bilirubin, international normalized ratio (INR), hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatorenal syndrome as independent risk factors affecting the short-term prognosis of HBV-ACLF, while sodium, APOA1, and APOB were identified as independent protective factors for ACLF (HR = 0.984, 95% CI: 0.974–0.995, P < 0.001, HR = 0.267,95% CI: 0.120–0.596, P = 0.001, HR = 0.486, 95% CI: 0.282–0.838, P = 0.010). Conclusion Patients with HBV-ACLF exhibit decreased levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, APOA1, and APOB. These alterations in serum lipid profiles are associated with immune dysfunction and disease progression in HBV-ACLF. Notably, APOA1 and APOB serve as protective factors against 90-day mortality in hospitalized ACLF patients. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the relationship between lipid metabolism disturbances and peripheral immunity in ACLF.
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spelling doaj-art-53ecb72e01174ccdabbb1562765fc21c2025-08-20T03:45:30ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-07-0125111210.1186/s12876-025-04004-9Lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort studyNeng Wang0Yu Zheng1Shuai Tao2Liang Chen3Department of Liver Disease, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan UniversityCenter of Infectious Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan UniversityDepartment of Liver Disease, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan UniversityDepartment of Liver Disease, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan UniversityAbstract Objective This study aimed to elucidate the correlations among dyslipidemia, immune function, and clinical outcomes in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF), with particular emphasis on the clinical significance of lipid metabolism and cellular immune parameters in hepatitis B virus-associated ACLF (HBV-ACLF). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on 803 patients with HBV-ACLF admitted to the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center from January 2014 to January 2024. Patients were stratified into deceased (n = 414) and survival (n = 389) groups based on clinical outcomes. Clinical baseline data, lipid metabolic indices, and cellular immune parameters were collected. The Spearman correlation coefficient was utilized to assess the correlation between lipid metabolic indices and cellular immune parameters, and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was applied to analyze risk factors for mortality. Results Compared to the survival group, lipid metabolism indices in the deceased group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Lipid metabolism indices, including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1), apolipoprotein B (APOB), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG), demonstrated significant negative correlations with the severity of liver failure (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis with lymphocyte subset counts revealed positive correlations between low-density lipoprotein, TG, TC, APOB, and CD3 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and CD45 + T cells (P < 0.05). APOA1 and HDL-C were positively correlated with B cells and NK cells (P < 0.05). TG and APOB showed significant negative correlations with the CD4/CD8 ratio (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox analysis identified age, creatinine, total bilirubin, international normalized ratio (INR), hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatorenal syndrome as independent risk factors affecting the short-term prognosis of HBV-ACLF, while sodium, APOA1, and APOB were identified as independent protective factors for ACLF (HR = 0.984, 95% CI: 0.974–0.995, P < 0.001, HR = 0.267,95% CI: 0.120–0.596, P = 0.001, HR = 0.486, 95% CI: 0.282–0.838, P = 0.010). Conclusion Patients with HBV-ACLF exhibit decreased levels of TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, APOA1, and APOB. These alterations in serum lipid profiles are associated with immune dysfunction and disease progression in HBV-ACLF. Notably, APOA1 and APOB serve as protective factors against 90-day mortality in hospitalized ACLF patients. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the relationship between lipid metabolism disturbances and peripheral immunity in ACLF.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04004-9Hepatitis B virusAcute-on-chronic liver failureApolipoproteinsLymphocyte subsetsImmune response
spellingShingle Neng Wang
Yu Zheng
Shuai Tao
Liang Chen
Lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort study
BMC Gastroenterology
Hepatitis B virus
Acute-on-chronic liver failure
Apolipoproteins
Lymphocyte subsets
Immune response
title Lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort study
title_full Lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr Lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort study
title_short Lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective cohort study
title_sort lipid metabolism disturbance and immune dysfunction in hbv related acute on chronic liver failure a retrospective cohort study
topic Hepatitis B virus
Acute-on-chronic liver failure
Apolipoproteins
Lymphocyte subsets
Immune response
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04004-9
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AT shuaitao lipidmetabolismdisturbanceandimmunedysfunctioninhbvrelatedacuteonchronicliverfailurearetrospectivecohortstudy
AT liangchen lipidmetabolismdisturbanceandimmunedysfunctioninhbvrelatedacuteonchronicliverfailurearetrospectivecohortstudy