Caspase-2 is markedly upregulated in patients and animal models of NASH, contributing for lipoapoptosis and progression of lipid-induced liver fibrosis.22, 23 In agreement, active caspase-2 progressively increased by ~2- and 3-fold in the livers of 2 and 8 weeks MCD-fed WT mice, respectively (P<0.05), compared with controls. This evidence concerns the gene CASP2 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.