Overall, these findings indicate that the YAP-CTGF axis in HSCs may be a key player modulating the acute liver injury caused by brain death in the non-steatotic liver, and TGF-β/CTGF may account for the major mechanism contributing to moderate/high NAFLD severity after brain death35,36. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.