TBCE and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: In addition, lipotoxic hepatocytes can release mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to induce nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) dependent inflammation by binding to transmembrane protein 173 (TMEM173 or STING) on the surface of KCs (24), while KCs themselves can activate the NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome via mtDNA released from mitochondria thereby promoting the progression of NASH (25).