SMOC2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Larsen et al (38) recently observed elevated hepatic and plasma levels of SMOC2 in individuals with MASH compared to those without MASLD and showed that SMOC2 is primarily expressed by hepatic stellate cells, which play a pivotal role in fibrogenesis. SMOC2 levels were also elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue relative to normal tissue, and SMOC2 overexpression promoted hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation (39).