CCR9 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Additionally, Morikawa et al. provided multiple lines of evidence indicating that the CCL25-CCR9 axis also plays a pivotal role in NASH pathogenesis [41]: (1)Serum CCL25 and hepatic CCR9 and CCL25 levels were higher in patients with NASH compared with healthy volunteers and patients with simple fatty liver.