PNPLA3 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Adiponectin mRNA levels according to PNPLA3 genotype and NASH are shown in Figure 1B. The presence of the 148 M variant was associated with lower adiponectin even in the absence of NASH (2.2±2, n = 10 vs. 9.0±10, n = 9; p = 0.050).