Considering that PLIN5 is a crucial regulator of MAFLD-induced HCC (Krizanac et al., 2023) and that its depletion markedly reduces the progress of MAFLD and attenuates MAFLD-HCC formation in two animal models (Mass-Sanchez et al., 2024), the question has arisen about whether these findings are also characterized by specific changes at the gut microbiome level. Here, PLIN5 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.