Moreover, in NAFLD mice, the addition of the calcium-dependent protease calpain-2 resulted in the degradation of recombinant ATG7 in the key ATG12-ATG5 complex involved in the phagocytic membrane extension of autophagy vesicles, resulting in defects and reductions in autophagy and diminished NAFLD progression [93]. This evidence concerns the gene ATG7 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.