In the methionine choline-deficient (MCD) diet-fed NASH model, the primary role of caspase-8 is to prevent excessive activation of necroptosis and caspase-8-deficient mice develop large amounts of RIPK3 in hepatocytes, leading to severe liver injury and fibrosis. The gene discussed is CASP8; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.