SPP1 and Hepatitis: The phosphoprotein osteopontin, encoded by the gene Spp-1, is a glycosylated molecule that was originally characterized as part of the rat bone matrix [15, 16], and later shown to induce Th1 responses, promote pathogenic Th17 survival, enhance NKT cell activation of concanavalin A-induced hepatitis, and regulate the homeostasis and function of NK cells [17–21].