TM4SF5 and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Regarding the roles of TM4SF5 in NASH and HCC development, in hepatocytes, TM4SF5 is involved in crosstalk with immune cells, in particular, macrophages (MFs) [9] and NK cells [13], which are critical for the development of an inflammatory environment in NASH or HCC associated with fibrosis.