One alternative strategy to target JNK/p38 MAPK signaling is blockade of the upstream kinase, ASK1, which is currently in phase 2 clinical trials in patients with stage 3/4 diabetic kidney disease (NCT02177786) and in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis associated liver fibrosis (NCT02466516). Here, MAPK8 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.