Although the secretory phenotype of senescent hepatocytes remains unknown, studies in other cell types (such as fibroblasts) have demonstrated that senescent cells secrete a spectrum of proteins that have been previously implicated in the promotion of disease progression in NAFLD, including pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., IL-6, IL-8), matrix-degrading enzymes (e.g., MMPs), and other cell signalling molecules and growth factors important to liver disease (e.g., hepatocyte growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and connective tissue growth factor). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.