The severity of NASH in MCD + circRNA_002581 shRNA group was alleviated when comparing with MCD and MCD + ctrl shRNA groups, as shown by the significantly decreased hepatocellular lipid accumulation and inflammation (see NAS score in Supplementary Table 1), intrahepatic TG contents (Fig. 4b), levels of apoptosis degree, ALT, AST, TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, and H2O2 as well as the significantly restored ATP level (Fig. 4). Here, CCL2 is linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.