The Protection Conferred by HSD17B13 rs72613567 on Hepatic Fibrosis Is Likely Mediated by Lowering Ballooning and Portal Inflammation

Hydroxysteroid 17-β dehydrogenase 13 (HSD17B13) splice donor (rs72613567) variant is associated with a lower risk of inflammation and fibrosis among patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).1,2 The mechanism whereby rs72613567 protects against fibrosis development is unclear, but it could be a direct effect and/or indirectly through intermediate histologic lesions such as lobular inflammation, ballooning, and portal inflammation. Understanding the pathways through which rs72613567 might lead to fibrosis is a critical step for the development of more precise and targeted therapies that could halt the disease progression.