We found that these hepatokines are involved in NAFLD and NASH progression through the following signaling pathways: farnesoid x receptor (FXR)/retinoic X receptor (RXR); pregnane X receptor (PXR)/RXR; liver X receptor (LXR)/RXR; hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation; fibrogenesis; adipogenesis; nuclear factor - kappa B (NF-κB); peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR); PPARα/retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα); AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and T2DM (Figures 1–5). The gene discussed is RARA; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.