ADIPOQ and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Subsequently, adiponectin may serve not only as a diagnostic marker for NASH [26] but also as a useful hepatoprotective treatment due to its pleiotropic ability to reduce the apoptosis of hepatocytes, subdue the degree of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, decrease the influx of free-fatty-acids (FFAs) to the liver, and induce expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines [25].