Hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α) plays a crucial role in controlling KC death in MASLD, as evidenced by the fact that HIF-2α decreases lysosomal and phagocytic gene expression in KCs by inducing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent inhibitory transcription factor EB (TFEB) phosphorylation [48]. This evidence concerns the gene MTOR and keratoconus.