title: Impairment of innate immune responses in cirrhotic patients and treatment by branched-chain amino acids.
abstract: It has been reported that host defense responses, such as phagocytic function of neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cell activity of lymphocytes, are impaired in cirrhotic patients. This review will concentrate on the impairment of innate immune responses in decompensated cirrhotic patients and the effect of the treatment by branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) on innate immune responses. We already reported that phagocytic function of neutrophils was significantly improved by 3-mo BCAA supplementation. In addition, the changes of NK activity were also significant at 3 mo of supplementation compared with before supplementation. Also, Fisher's ratios were reported to be significantly increased at 3 mo of BCAA supplementation compared with those before oral supplementation. Therefore, administration of BCAA could reduce the risk of bacterial and viral infection in patients with decompensated cirrhosis by restoring impaired innate immune responses of the host. In addition, it was also revealed that BCAA oral supplementation could reduce the risk of development of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients. The mechanisms of the effects will also be discussed in this review article.
authors: Ikuo Nakamura, Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan.
authors: Ikuo
authors: I
authors: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000597:Amino Acids, Branched-Chain
keywords: Branched-chain amino acids; Innate immunity; Liver cirrhosis; Natural killer cell activity of lymphocytes; Phagocytic function of neutrophils