Enhanced liver injury and fibrosis markers after anti-PD-1 treatment in an HFD/CCl4-accelerated MASH-fibrosis mouse model

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors show variable efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma depending on etiology. In metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), PD-1+ CD8+ T cells may paradoxically drive liver injury. We investigated whether PD-1 blockade exacerbates liver fibrosis in a non-neoplastic MASH environment. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 18 weeks, with weekly carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) during the final 12 weeks. Mice received anti-PD-1 antibody or isotype control every 3 days during the HFD/CCl4 phase. Liver injury, immune cell accumulation, and fibrosis were evaluated via biochemistry, histology, flow cytometry, and transcriptomic analysis. The HFD/CCl4 model exhibited significant hepatic accumulation of PD-1+ CD8+ T cells. PD-1 blockade increased AST/ALT and LDH levels, alongside heightened necroinflammation. Whole-liver transcriptomic analysis showed upregulation of exhaustion-associated and cytotoxicity-related genes. Histologically, anti-PD-1 treatment was associated with periportal accumulation of F4/80+ macrophages and increased collagen deposition. Notably, we observed close spatial proximity between F4/80+ macrophages and α-smooth muscle actin+ myofibroblasts, suggesting a pro-fibrotic immune-stromal axis. PD-1 inhibition aggravated liver injury and was associated with enhanced fibrogenic remodeling in this MASH model. These findings suggest that PD-1 blockade may provoke unintended pathological consequences in the context of chronic metabolic liver injury.