HMOX1 expression is increased in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients (Malaguarnera et al., 2005) and an in vitro study suggests that HMOX1 may have a protective role by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress in hepatocytes (Li X. et al., 2020). Here, HMOX1 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.