Previous studies also found that hepassocin not only promotes hepatocyte cell proliferation via an extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2)-dependent autocrine mechanism [21] but also plays an important role in the development of obesity [22] and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [23]. The gene discussed is MAPK3; the disease is metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.