ZBTB18 and Hepatic fibrosis: Accumulating evidence suggests that a prolonged abnormal hepatic accumulation of lipids leads to excessive deposition of fibrous connective tissue and an imbalance of extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation in the liver, thereby advancing NASH progression.29 Considering the obvious effects of Zbtb18 in decreasing hepatic lipid deposition, we suspected that it might exert a significant protective effect against liver fibrosis.