Inhibiting MERTK for fibrotic diseases

Inhibiting the TGFβ-inducible receptor tyrosine kinase MERTK, which has been linked to fibrosis by genome-wide association studies (GWAS), could help treat fibrotic diseases by inducing decreases in chromatin accessibility and RNA polymerase II activity for genes regulating fibrosis.

MERTK mRNA and protein expression were higher in liver samples from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients with fibrosis than in samples from healthy individuals. Soluble MERTK levels were higher in serum from MASLD patients with Stage 2-4 fibrosis than in serum from MASLD patients with Stage 0-1 fibrosis, and higher soluble MERTK levels positively correlated with degree of liver injury. ...