Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to explore the implications of peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocyte (PBMC) thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP)/nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods A total of 150 patients with NASH and 45 persons with simple fatty liver (SFL) were recruited in our hospital between January 2019 and January 2021, and all had their PBMCs being separated to detect the TXNIP/NLRP3 mRNA. All patients with NASH had liver biopsies at presentation for determination of liver tissues injury degrees as mild, moderate and severe, and had a second time liver biopsies a year after recruitment as for determination of progressive or non-progressive diseases. Results Serum ALT and AST levels in patients with NASH were (72.2±6.9)U/L and (61.8±5.1)U/L, both significantly higher than [(33.4±4.0)U/L and (31.3±3.1)U/L, respectively, P＜0.05] in patients with SFL; the PBMCs TXNIP mRNA, NLRP3 mRNA and the ratio of TXNIP/NLRP3 in patients with NASH were (1.9±0.1), (1.5±0.1) and (1.3±0.1), all significantly higher than [(0.7±0.1), (0.6±0.1) and (1.1±0.1), respectively, P＜0.05] in patients with SFL; the PBMCs TXNIP mRNA, NLRP3 mRNA and the ratio of TXNIP/NLRP3 in 33 patients with severe NASH were (2.4±0.2), (1.9±0.2) and (1.6±0.1), significantly higher than [(1.5±0.1), (1.2±0.1) and (1.0±0.1), respectively, P＜0.05] in 49 patients with mild NASH or [(2.0±0.2), (1.5±0.1) and (1.4±0.1), respectively, P＜0.05] in 68 patients with moderate NASH; the PBMCs TXNIP mRNA, NLRP3 mRNA and the ratio of TXNIP/NLRP3 in 31 patients with progressive NASH were (2.1±0.2), (1.7±0.2) and (1.5±0.1), all significantly higher than [(1.8±0.1), (1.4±0.1) and (1.2±0.1), respectively, P＜0.05] in 119 patients without progressive NASH. Conclusion The PBMC TXNIP/NLRP3 mRNA in patients with NASH significantly increase, seemingly have some correlation to the liver tissue injuries, and needs further investigation.

Key words: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, Thioredoxin-interacting protein, Nod-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing protein 3, Peripheral blood mononuclear lymphocytes, Progression