ADIPOQ and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis: Furthermore, increased oxidative stress, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and fibrosis have also been reported in NASH animal models with reduced adiponectin levels, while increased expression of adiponectin in the methionine-choline deficiency model has been shown to lead to the suppression of these events (25), suggesting that decreased levels of adiponectin may be involved in the pathogenesis of NASH.