We found ATG5 rs17067724 (G vs A: OR = 0.80; 95% CI = 0.65-0.98; P = 0.031), ATG10 rs1864183 (G vs A: OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.07-1.57; P = 0.009), ATG10 rs10514231 (C vs T: OR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.15-1.73; P = 0.001), ATG12 rs26537 (C vs T: OR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.02-1.33; P = 0.030), and ATG16L1rs4663402 (T vs A: OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.01-1.63; P = 0.044) were significantly associated with HCC risk.
Thus, peretinoin prevents the progression of NASH and the development of HCC through activating the autophagy pathway by increased Atg16L1 expression, which is an essential regulator of autophagy and anti-inflammatory proteins.