ADIPOQ and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: In this NASH model of HCC, we observed a significant reduction in serum adiponectin levels as compared to mice fed standard chow (10.5 ± 0.79 vs. 17.3 ± 0.94; p < 0.01), and pioglitazone administration increased circulating serum adiponectin in DEN+CDAHFD mice (29.7 ± 3.2 vs. 10.5 ± 0.79; p < 0.01) (Fig. 7a).