Methyl butyrate attenuates concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis by inhibiting Th1-cell activation and homing to the liver

•Methyl butyrate attenuates Con A-induced hepatitis and reduced the expression of inflammatory factors in the liver.•Methyl butyrate inhibits the CXCL9-11/CXCR3 axis and affected the homing of Th1 cells to the liver in AIH mice.•In vitro, methyl butyrate interferes with the stimulation of both human and mouse lymphocytes by Con A.•Methyl butyrate downregulates TLR3 in the liver.