PNPLA3 and hepatocellular carcinoma: PNPLA3, also known as adiponutrin, is a member of the patatin-like phospholipase family and PNPLA3 gene encodes a membrane-bound triacylglycerol lipase that mediates triacylglycerol hydrolysis and its polymorphisms have been widely associated with the progression of liver fibrosis and development of HCC (20, 25–28).