Stimulation of PBMCs (Fig. 3g–i) and HepG2 (Fig. 3h–j) with serum depleted of HSP70 or GRP78 did not change the expression of Plin2, while stimulation with complete serum from the same obese IR, NAFLD subjects increased significantly Plin2 MFI. Here, PLIN2 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.