TREM2 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: In addition, in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed, liver TIM4negCX3CR1hi macrophages and adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) have strong similarities with lipid-associated macrophages (LAMs) with increased expression of Trem2, Spp1, Cd63, Cd9, and Gpnmb, which also share expression of a subset of genes associated with scar-associated macrophages (SAMs) from human cirrhosis (CD9, CD63, LAGLAS3, SPP1), and may protect against NASH fibrosis potentially via the containment and/or clearance of dead cells or excess toxic lipids 7.