Furthermore, in NASH HCCs, IPA predicted significant activation (z-score ≥ 2.0) of TGF-β, transforming growth factor β1 (TGFB1), TGF-β receptor type 1 (TGFBR1) and type 2 (TGFBR2), SMAD1, SMAD3, Stat3-Stat3, CTNNB1 (β-catenin), CMYC, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein β (CEBPβ), transcriptional factor Sp1 (SP1), nuclear factor κ-light-chain-binding protein (NFκB), interleukins β (IL1B) and 6 (IL6), NFE2L2 (Nrf2), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). This evidence concerns the gene SMAD3 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.