MMP9 and Hepatic steatosis: However, there are other reports demonstrating that LCN2 can promote the progression of hepatic steatosis to NASH by enhancing the cross‐talk between neutrophils and hepatic macrophages40 or by activating hepatic stellate cell, a critical signal of leptin‐mediated fibrosis, through matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9)/STAT3 signaling pathway.41