As expected, a number of well-known NASH-related genes, including CXC motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), SH3 domain–binding protein 5 (SH3BP5), cytochrome P450 2R1 (CYP2R1), fatty acid-binding protein 1 (FABP1) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1), were detected (Fig. 1a)13,23–26. Here, CYP2R1 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.