Then, through in vivo experiments that sought to clarify the potential roles of ATX and LPA in liver fibrosis, we found that serum ATX and plasma LPA levels increase with the stage of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C [13, 14] and in those with surgically treated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [15]. The gene discussed is ENPP2; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.