The impact of T cells on immune-related liver diseases: an overview

Abstract The liver presents a unique immune system. Liver diseases are closely associated with the immune system. Disruption of the tightly regulated balance between immune activation and tolerance induction leads to the development and worsening of immune-related liver diseases. T cells play divers...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yuzo Koda, Ryosuke Kasuga, Nobuhito Taniki, Takanori Kanai, Nobuhiro Nakamoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Inflammation and Regeneration
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41232-025-00387-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849335295400476672
author Yuzo Koda
Ryosuke Kasuga
Nobuhito Taniki
Takanori Kanai
Nobuhiro Nakamoto
author_facet Yuzo Koda
Ryosuke Kasuga
Nobuhito Taniki
Takanori Kanai
Nobuhiro Nakamoto
author_sort Yuzo Koda
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The liver presents a unique immune system. Liver diseases are closely associated with the immune system. Disruption of the tightly regulated balance between immune activation and tolerance induction leads to the development and worsening of immune-related liver diseases. T cells play diverse crucial roles in the immune system, and they have long been known to induce inflammation through direct tissue damage by effector molecules and the recruitment of effector cells via chemokines. Additionally, T cells interact with B cells to induce autoantibodies, promoting tissue inflammation and dysfunction through the deposition of IgG and immune complexes in the tissues. Recent advances in omics technologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, have elucidated the role of T cells in the progression and recovery of liver fibrosis. Moreover, comprehensive and unbiased information can now be obtained from small samples of human and mouse tissues, which advances our understanding of tissue-specific functions of T cells, including resident memory T cells, peripheral helper T cells, and tissue Tregs. However, significant unmet needs remain in the fields of immune-related liver diseases. In this review, we discuss the T cell biology and its role in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which are non-viral liver diseases exhibiting a strong involvement of immunity and inflammation. Furthermore, the latest therapeutic concepts for the diseases and associated drugs targeting T cells have been overviewed.
format Article
id doaj-art-aae0dd27c878493dbbaf0ea6e0047fad
institution Kabale University
issn 1880-8190
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Inflammation and Regeneration
spelling doaj-art-aae0dd27c878493dbbaf0ea6e0047fad2025-08-20T03:45:19ZengBMCInflammation and Regeneration1880-81902025-07-0145111610.1186/s41232-025-00387-0The impact of T cells on immune-related liver diseases: an overviewYuzo Koda0Ryosuke Kasuga1Nobuhito Taniki2Takanori Kanai3Nobuhiro Nakamoto4Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of MedicineDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of MedicineDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of MedicineDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of MedicineDivision of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of MedicineAbstract The liver presents a unique immune system. Liver diseases are closely associated with the immune system. Disruption of the tightly regulated balance between immune activation and tolerance induction leads to the development and worsening of immune-related liver diseases. T cells play diverse crucial roles in the immune system, and they have long been known to induce inflammation through direct tissue damage by effector molecules and the recruitment of effector cells via chemokines. Additionally, T cells interact with B cells to induce autoantibodies, promoting tissue inflammation and dysfunction through the deposition of IgG and immune complexes in the tissues. Recent advances in omics technologies, including single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, have elucidated the role of T cells in the progression and recovery of liver fibrosis. Moreover, comprehensive and unbiased information can now be obtained from small samples of human and mouse tissues, which advances our understanding of tissue-specific functions of T cells, including resident memory T cells, peripheral helper T cells, and tissue Tregs. However, significant unmet needs remain in the fields of immune-related liver diseases. In this review, we discuss the T cell biology and its role in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which are non-viral liver diseases exhibiting a strong involvement of immunity and inflammation. Furthermore, the latest therapeutic concepts for the diseases and associated drugs targeting T cells have been overviewed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41232-025-00387-0T cellsCD4+ T cellsCD8+ T cellsResident memory T cellsImmune-related liver diseases
spellingShingle Yuzo Koda
Ryosuke Kasuga
Nobuhito Taniki
Takanori Kanai
Nobuhiro Nakamoto
The impact of T cells on immune-related liver diseases: an overview
Inflammation and Regeneration
T cells
CD4+ T cells
CD8+ T cells
Resident memory T cells
Immune-related liver diseases
title The impact of T cells on immune-related liver diseases: an overview
title_full The impact of T cells on immune-related liver diseases: an overview
title_fullStr The impact of T cells on immune-related liver diseases: an overview
title_full_unstemmed The impact of T cells on immune-related liver diseases: an overview
title_short The impact of T cells on immune-related liver diseases: an overview
title_sort impact of t cells on immune related liver diseases an overview
topic T cells
CD4+ T cells
CD8+ T cells
Resident memory T cells
Immune-related liver diseases
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41232-025-00387-0
work_keys_str_mv AT yuzokoda theimpactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT ryosukekasuga theimpactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT nobuhitotaniki theimpactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT takanorikanai theimpactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT nobuhironakamoto theimpactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT yuzokoda impactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT ryosukekasuga impactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT nobuhitotaniki impactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT takanorikanai impactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview
AT nobuhironakamoto impactoftcellsonimmunerelatedliverdiseasesanoverview