Surprisingly, the expression of only three genes, which encoded epithelial membrane protein 1 (Emp1), IKBKB interacting protein (Ikbip) and decorin (Dcn), was consequently up-regulated during NASH progression, with Dcn showing an over threefold change in the NASH samples compared to normal liver. Here, IKBIP is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.