In addition, a significant increase in the number of P2RX7+ cells were observed in the NASH-affected liver biopsies compared to healthy control (Fig 1A), despite similar levels of expressed P2RX7 mRNA (Fig 1G), suggesting that the observed increase in P2RX7 expression was not due to changes in transcription, but could be attributed to a greater number of cells expressing P2RX7. This evidence concerns the gene P2RX7 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.