Abstract: Abstract: Objective To explore the role of Foxp3 + T cells (Tregs) in liver injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia. Methods Thirty-two male Wister rats were divided into four groups: control group (A), high-fat diet group (B), intermittent hypoxia group (C), and high- fat diet and intermittent hypoxia group (D). After 4 weeks, blood samples were collected and livers were surgically removed. Using the standard automatic clinical analyzer to test serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL- C), alanina aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartato aminotransferase (AST). The MDA content of liver tissue was measured by colorimetrc method. The levels of TNF-α and IL- 1β were measured by radiommunoassay, and the expression of Foxp3 protein was measured by Western blotting technique. Results Serum levels of TC and LDL-C were significantly higher in B group than those of A, C and D groups, and which were higher in D group than those of A and C groups (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in serum levels of TC and LDL-C between A group and C group. Serum levels of ALT, AST, MDA, TNF-α and IL-1β were significantly higher in C group than those of A group, and which were significantly higher in D group than those of A, B and C groups (P＜0.05). There were no significant differences in these indicators between A group and B group, and between B group and C group. Foxp3 protein expression in liver was significantly lower in D group than that of other groups (P＜0.05). Conclusion Foxp3+ T regulatory cells involve in the regulation of hepatic injury induced by chronic intermittent hypoxia on the basis of a high-fat diet, and which may play an important role in this process of protective immune response.

Key words: forkhead transcription factors, chronic intermittent hypoxia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, oxidative stress, inflammation, Foxp3+Tregs