Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role ofatorvastatin in treating patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).Methods 148 patients with NAFLD were admitted to our hospital between June 2016 and June 2019, and were randomly divided into control (n=74) and observation group (n=74), receiving conventional therapy and atorvastatin treatment at base of conventional therapy,respectively, for 24 weeks. Serum interleukin-10(IL-10), IL-17 and IL-18 were detected by ELISA, and flow cytometry was used to detect the percentages of peripheral blood Treg and Th17 cells.Results At the end of 24 week treatment, blood levels of TC, TG, ALT and AST in the observation group were (2.0±0.6) mmol/L, (1.2±0.4) mol/L, (43.8±8.2) U/L and (25.2±7.4) U/L, significantly lower than [(2.6±0.6) mmol/L, (1.5±0.3) mmol/L, (49.9±8.4) U/L and (29.2±8.1) U/L, respectively, P<0.05]in the control; serum level of IL-10 was (31.7±4.4) ng/L, significantly higher than [(26.3±4.2) ng/L, P<0.05], while serum levels of IL-17 and IL-18 were (89.5±31.0) pg/ml and (41.8±9.1) pg/ml, both significantly lower than [104.2±29.5) pg/ml and (52.3±9.2) pg/ml, respectively, P<0.05]in the control; the percentages of peripheral blood Treg cells and the ratio of Treg / Th17 cells were (1.2±0.2)% and (1.1±0.4), significantly lower than [(1.3±0.2)% and (1.3±0.5), respectively, P<0.05], while that of Th17 cells was (1.1±0.2)%, significantly higher than [(1.0±0.2)% , P<0.05]in the control; the total improved rate ofhepatic steatosis was 94.6%, significantly higher than 73.0% in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The administration of atorvastatin might have a potential role inameliorating liver steatosis in patients with NAFLD,tentatively related to the alleviation of systemic inflammatory reactions and the regulation of Treg / Th17 cellimbalance.

Key words: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Atorvastatin, Liver steatosis, Regulatory T lymphocyte, T helper cell 17, Therapy