In a large cohort of patients with histological diagnosis of NAFLD, the protective AA genotype was associated with lower MERTK hepatic expression (fibrosis F2-F4 in 19% of patients with MERTK AA compared to 30% of those with MERTK GG/GA); the AA genotype remained associated with clinically significant fibrosis also at multiple logistic regression analysis. The gene discussed is MERTK; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.