PNPLA3 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Indeed, the histological pattern of NAFLD patients carrying the PNPLA3 I148M variation was featured by macro and microvesicular steatosis, portal inflammation, high proliferation of hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs), ductular reaction, myofibroblast and HSCs activation, thus sustaining portal fibers deposition and systemic oxidative stress [17].