Correlation analysis showed that the level of LPS in plasma was progressively elevated in NASH rats, which was positively related to elevated HOMA-IR, elevated levels of ALT, TNF-α, MCP-1 in plasma, and elevated levels of TGs, FFAs, and TNF-α in liver homogenates (Figure 2A-2C). Here, TNF is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.