Therefore, female mice seem to be more susceptible than male mice to the lack of IL-22 receptor signaling (IL22RA1 knockout); in this regard, fibrosis progressed in female, but not male IL22RA1 knockout mice with NAFLD, suggesting a potential sex-dependent hepatoprotective effect of IL-22 [86], which, however, warrants further research. The gene discussed is IL22RA1; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.