Visceral fat accumulation is considered an independent risk factor in NASH patients, as it has been suggested that a higher visceral fat level in these patients leads to higher liver fibrosis and inflammation: this could be linked to proinflammatory cytokines activity, like interleukin-6 (IL-6) (van der Poorten et al., 2008; Wieckowska et al., 2008), or activation of tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme (TACE), as observed in the experimental animal model (Fiorentino et al., 2010; de Meijer et al., 2011). Here, ADAM17 is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.