In accordance with the contradictory functions of liver macrophages, it was shown that increased TREM2+ macrophage recruitment in fibrotic NASH livers and higher soluble TREM2 levels in circulating blood, were associated with better outcome in patients, suggesting protective functions of TREM2+ macrophages notably through lipid-metabolism regulatory functions. The gene discussed is TREM2; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.