Analysis of NHANES data corroborated these findings, showing that in patients with concurrent viral hepatitis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the fatty liver index (FLI) and triglyceride levels correlate linearly with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Collectively, our study identifies the STING-lipotoxicity axis as a key driver of viral hepatotoxicity, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for liver injury. The gene discussed is STING1; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.