ZHX2 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Furthermore, ZHX2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly decreased in the liver from STZ–HFD induced NAFLD–HCC mice, and the reduction of ZHX2 was clearly observed in both liver steatosis and HCC stage (Fig. 1d, e), indicating the potential involvement of ZHX2 in progress of NAFLD to HCC.