CES2 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Low hepatic expression of Ces2c/CES2 has been linked to NAFLD development in obese mice and humans.6, 7 The aforementioned studies suggested that reduced Ces2c/CES2 expression during metabolic stress lowers hepatic TG catabolism at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), thereby decreasing hepatic FAO but stimulating ER stress–induced lipogenesis.