Using CyTOF and bioinformatic methods to compare circulating immune cell changes in NAFLD Study Highlights• In this study, we studied the differences between blood immune cells in people with different stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.• We used cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF) with bioinformatics analysis to detect previously uncharacterizable changes in peripheral immune cells in early and late stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.• We found that blood immune cells, particularly T and B cells, NK cells, and monocytes change in NASH and become less active. The pathogenic role of immune cells in this condition warrants further attention.