LCN2 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: Since NAFLD progression to NASH requires the development of inflammation, inflammatory marker gene transcription including the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (Ccl2), Lipocalin 2 (Lcn2), interleukin-6 (Il-6), Tnf-α, Il-1β, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (Inos) were analyzed (Figure 5A).