At the molecular level, we found that 29 genes related to fibrosis and inflammation were upregulated in the liver of NASH mice, including transcripts for ECM remodeling enzymes (mmp-1a, -3, -8, -14, and Timp-1), Tgf-β and Tgf-β signaling molecules, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and Tnf-α) and chemokines (Ccl3 and Ccl2), and chemokine receptor (CXCR4). Here, CXCR4 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.