Dietary salt intake worsens the Th17-dependent inflammatory profile of patients with cirrhosis

Amalia Tzoumpa; Beatriz Lozano-Ruiz; Yin Huang; Joanna Picó; Alba Moratalla; María Teresa Pomares; Iván Herrera; Juanjo Lozano; María Rodríguez-Soler; Cayetano Miralles; Pablo Bellot; Paula Piñero; Fabián Tarín; Pedro Zapater; Sonia Pascual; José Manuel González-Navajas

doi:10.1172/jci.insight.191354

Dietary salt intake worsens the Th17-dependent inflammatory profile of patients with cirrhosis

Amalia Tzoumpa,¹ Beatriz Lozano-Ruiz,¹ Yin Huang,¹ Joanna Picó,¹ Alba Moratalla,¹ María Teresa Pomares,¹ Iván Herrera,¹ Juanjo Lozano,² María Rodríguez-Soler,¹ Cayetano Miralles,¹ Pablo Bellot,¹ Paula Piñero,¹ Fabián Tarín,¹ Pedro Zapater,¹ Sonia Pascual,¹ and José Manuel González-Navajas¹

Published July 24, 2025 - More info

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Abstract

Background & Aims

Liver cirrhosis is characterized by chronic inflammation and fibrosis, with Th17 cells playing a crucial role in its progression. Recent evidence suggests that dietary salt influences immune diseases by modulating Th17 differentiation. This study assessed the impact of dietary salt on Th17-driven inflammation in patients with compensated cirrhosis and explored its effects on liver injury in mouse models.

Methods

A non-drug, open-label, non-randomized study involved 37 patients with compensated cirrhosis, who were given personalized guidelines to reduce salt intake over three months. Changes in Th17-driven inflammation and liver function markers were assessed at baseline and after salt restriction. In parallel, the impact of a high-salt diet on hepatic CD4⁺ T cells was analyzed in mouse models of acute liver injury and fibrosis. Results

High salt intake was associated with Th17-mediated inflammation and correlated with markers of impaired liver function in these patients. Importantly, moderating salt intake through a personalized nutritional intervention was sufficient to reduce CD4⁺ T cell- mediated inflammation. Furthermore, analysis of RNA-seq data revealed enrichment of salt-induced Th17 gene signatures in both liver tissue and peripheral cells from patients with liver disease. Similarly, mice fed a high salt diet showed hepatic enrichment of Th17 cells and exacerbated liver fibrosis upon injury. Mechanistic studies revealed that high sodium conditions activated NF-κB and induced IL-6 production in hepatocytes, which may promote Th17 responses.

Conclusion

Dietary salt exacerbates Th17-driven inflammation and contributes to cirrhosis progression. Salt reduction may represent a viable therapeutic approach to manage inflammation in compensated cirrhosis.

Dietary salt intake worsens the Th17-dependent inflammatory profile of patients with cirrhosis

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