CD34 and endothelial dysfunction: To prove the role of leptin and leptin signaling through its receptor in sinusoidal endothelial dysfunction in our model of NASH, we studied the key biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and injury (mRNA expression of VEGFR-2, ICAM-1, E-selectin, VCAM-1, Cadherin-5 (Cdh5), VEGF-α and CD34, using ob/ob (Lep KO) and db/db (Lepr KO) mice.